Upcoming
Naval Architecture Services
Northern Lighthouse Board · Central government
In brief
Northern Lighthouse Board has announced plans to buy architecture and engineering work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.
The estimated value is £1,900,000 excluding VAT.
The contract runs for 5 years, up to 7 years with extensions, starting 24 December 2026.
Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.
Can I win this?
Competition
Typical: a median of 4 bids per contract for this buyer (from 10 awards in the last 12 months).
What the notice says
NLB requires a Naval Architect to develop the concept design of a new SOLAS Class VII civil helicopter support and aids to navigation service (cargo) vessel.
The vessel will be registered in the UK, with its chosen Port of Registry as Leith, but with Oban serving as its primary operating port. However, the design shall enable operation from a range of ports throughout the UK and Ireland and shall not restrict international operations. The vessel shall be designed and certificated accordingly to permit such operations.
The appointed Naval Architect shall develop a concept technical specification to a level of maturity that enables prospective shipbuilders to submit fixed-price tenders for the detailed design and construction of the vessel.
The initial contract term will likely be 5 years, or until vessel delivery. The contract will have extension options to provision ongoing support to the vessel replacement programme as required by NLB.
How to bid
- Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
- Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
Timeline
- Pipeline notice · UK1, notice 084609-2026
- Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 084623-2026
About the buyer
Northern Lighthouse BoardLast 12 months
Procurements
51Awards
31Suppliers it has used most for architecture and engineering
- TRAC HLM Limited1 contract
- WSP UK Limited1 contract
Similar open tenders
All open architecture and engineering tenders- £4.5mframework ceiling
- Value not stated
- £750kestimated
- £5.2mframework ceiling
- £5.2mframework ceiling
From notice 084609-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 7 September 2026, last updated 7 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.