Provision of an Autonomous Surface Vessel

***AWARD OF CONTRACT** for the delivery of one or more surface vessels applicable for the development and understanding of autonomous surface vessel behaviours and collection of high quality scientific data. The vessel/s will primarily be used as a general test bed for: 1.Engineering research in autonomous behaviour including 2.Collision avoidance 3.Navigational Planning 4.Fault tolerance and system reliability analysis 5.Multi-dimensional communication with sub-surface and above surface assets 6.Bespoke sensor package development and evaluation 7.Scientific research including: 8.High grade survey of littoral, river and estuary regions 9.Seabed and above water feature mapping 10.Bathometry **PLEASE NOTE** This requirement has already been fulfilled therefore this notice is published for transparency purposes only.**

Additional information: The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool (In-Tend: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton) to manage this procurement and to communicate with bidders. All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from the In-Tend portal. Bidders are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued to organisations and all communications with the University including the submission of PQQ and Invitation to Tender Responses will be conducted via the In-Tend portal. Regular monitoring of the portal is the responsibility of the bidder. If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the tender documentation. Once you have logged in as a supplier: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your company against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'. Bidders are advised that formal expressions of interest in the project must be by way of completion and return of the relevant Pre-Qualification (if applicable) or Invitation to Tender documents via the In-Tend portal. Further instructions for the submission of Invitation to Tender responses are below.

To submit your return, please follow the instructions below: 1. Log In 2. Click 'Tenders' 3. Locate the relevant project 4. View Details 5. Click on the tab relating to the relevant project stage (e.g. 'Invitation to Tender') 6. Click on the 'Attach Documents' button and upload your return. 7. Check ALL your response documents are uploaded and displayed in the "My Tender Return" panel. The system will only permit your organisation to make one return. 8. Click the red "Submit Return" button.

Please note that, to preserve the integrity of the tendering procedure, all queries must made be via the correspondence function within the In-Tend portal.

In accordance with Regulation 50, paragraph (2) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and subject to Article 5 and Annex 5, Part D (13) of Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (if applicable), the University intends to publish the value of any resulting contract at the award stage, and reserves the right to do so. By submitting a tender response, bidders are consenting to publication of this information unless otherwise agreed in advance with the University.

If you are not already registered as a supplier with the In-Tend Portal, you will need to register before accessing the tender documents.

We advise you to register either a minimum of 2 addresses within your company, or else a group address (eg sales@...) which is regularly checked by more than one person. This will help to ensure that you will receive any information relating to the