Defence Online

A pipeline has been launched for Supply and Support of Electronic Chart data for Border Force Cutters.The contract start Date is 1 April 2025. Approach to market date is 3 February 2025.Border Force is a law enforcement arm of the Home Office and operates a fleet of five sea going Cutters operating in both UK National and International waters under the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) Load Line Regulations.Provision of Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) & Port Data is required to support safe navigation both within and outside the territorial waters of the UK, including to other EC countries, the Channel Isles and the Isle of Man.The Cutters currently operate a suite of Simrad Argus NSTR and Simrad PLECDIS. The requirement will include all supporting software, licences, software updates, access codes, encryption codes and encryption keys as applicable.This is a potential opportunity from the government, and the pipeline gives advance notice of an opportunity that might be offered by the public sector in the future – allowing potential suppliers to plan accordingly. When a public sector organisation publishes a pipeline notice, it does not necessarily mean that an opportunity will be offered in the future.For more information contact: Home Office, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF. Email: maritimeprocurement@homeoffice.gov.uk