UK Research & Innovation is using Delta eSourcing to run this tender exercise
| Notice Summary |
|---|
| Title: | UKRI-4855 North Sea Late Cenozoic Environments |
| Notice type: | UK2: Preliminary market engagement notice |
| Authority: | UK Research & Innovation |
| Nature of contract: | Services |
| Procedure: | Above threshold - Open procedure |
| Short Description: | The British Geological Survey (BGS), acting on behalf of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD), requires a marine coring capability and suitable vessel to operate in the North Sea Basin, offshore Denmark, for a scientific drilling, coring campaign for a period of 90 days (estimated) between May and September 2026. This scientific coring project seeks to extend our understanding of Earth’s dynamics during the last 50 ice ages and the warmer periods between them. The North Sea Basin is an area that was heavily impacted by these ice age cycles as climate fluctuated between fully glacial to warmer-than-present conditions. The continuous sediment accumulation found in this marine environment should be thought of as a ‘tape recorder’ that contain an almost complete record of glacial-interglacial episodes, providing insight on Europe’s past climate, ecology, and large river systems over the last ~3.3 million years. In this expedition, we aim to collect geological samples to gain insight into the baseline dynamics and thresholds for depositional and ecosystem regime shifts, as well as biodiversity turnover driven by rapid climate changes. This research will help us better understand the environmental responses to modern-day warming. The project requires a contractor to provide a suitable platform or vessel from which to drill one borehole 1200 metres below the sea floor from a water depth ranging between 28 metres and 60 metres |
| Published: | 09/04/2025 17:17 |
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Scope
Scope: UKRI-4855 North Sea Late Cenozoic Environments
Description:
The British Geological Survey (BGS), acting on behalf of the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD), requires a marine coring capability and suitable vessel to operate in the North Sea Basin, offshore Denmark, for a scientific drilling, coring campaign for a period of 90 days (estimated) between May and September 2026.
This scientific coring project seeks to extend our understanding of Earth’s dynamics during the last 50 ice ages and the warmer periods between them. The North Sea Basin is an area that was heavily impacted by these ice age cycles as climate fluctuated between fully glacial to warmer-than-present conditions. The continuous sediment accumulation found in this marine environment should be thought of as a ‘tape recorder’ that contain an almost complete record of glacial-interglacial episodes, providing insight on Europe’s past climate, ecology, and large river systems over the last ~3.3 million years. In this expedition, we aim to collect geological samples to gain insight into the baseline dynamics and thresholds for depositional and ecosystem regime shifts, as well as biodiversity turnover driven by rapid climate changes. This research will help us better understand the environmental responses to modern-day warming.
The project requires a contractor to provide a suitable platform or vessel from which to drill one borehole 1200 metres below the sea floor from a water depth ranging between 28 metres and 60 metres
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-title/5X56S85A5M
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/5X56S85A5M
Total value (estimated):
EUR 15,000,000 excluding VAT EUR 18,000,000 including VAT
Contract dates (estimated)
01/12/2025 to 30/09/2026
CPV Classifications:
76320000 - Offshore drilling services.
76340000 - Core drilling.
Delivery regions:
DK DANMARK
NL NEDERLAND
Engagement
Engagement deadline
30/06/2025
The engagement was carried out before this notice was published. Engagement process description:
UKRI are seeking to engage with interested contractors prior to going to market, Contractors are encouraged to express their interest in the opportunity via the Delta esourcing portal. Following an expression of interest, contractors may be invited to further engagement activities to be completed in April and May 2025.
To express interest in this opportunity, please go to: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/respond/5X56S85A5M
Contracting authority
UK Research & Innovation, PDQJ-7126-JDHG
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1FL, United Kingdom
Tel. +44 1793442000, Email: NERCProcurement@ukri.org
Contact: Commercial
Address of the buyer profile: www.ukri.org
Organisation type: BODY_PUBLIC
Devolved regulations that apply: None