Scope
Description
The provision of specialist diving equipment required to maintain essential operational capability.
Contract 1
Supplier
Contract value
- £276,130.40 excluding VAT
- £331,356.48 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
30 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 30 January 2026 to 29 May 2026
- 4 months
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 37412241 - Breathing apparatus for diving
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Extreme and unavoidable urgency
Commercial X, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (“the Authority”), intends to award a new contract for the purchase of specialist diving equipment from Reel Diving AB at a total value of £276,130 exclusive of VAT.
This award falls to be governed by the Procurement Act 2023 (the “PA 2023”) Chapter 3, Section 41: Direct Award in Special Cases. It is considered that the direct award to Reel Diving AB is lawful in accordance with PA 2023 Schedule 5, paragraph 13. This is because (i) the goods to be supplied are strictly necessary for reasons of extreme and unavoidable urgency which was not attributable to or could have been foreseen by the Authority; and (ii) as a result the contract cannot be awarded on the basis of a competitive tendering procedure.
Delivery of the goods is required as soon as possible to meet an urgent operational requirement. The lead times associated with the manufacture and delivery of the required goods mean that a competitive tendering process, including minimum timescales for competition and contract award, could not be completed in time to meet this deadline.
Failure to procure and deploy the equipment within the required timeframe would result in an unacceptable capability gap, adversely impacting MOD training and operational readiness. This loss of capability cannot be mitigated through alternative arrangements, making direct award the only viable option to meet the Authority’s immediate requirements.
Supplier
Reel Diving AB
- Companies House: n.a
Kraketorpsgatan 10 S
Molndal
431 53
Sweden
Email: catchall@reeldiving.com
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
Ministry of Defence
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ
Zone D, Ground Floor, Ministry of Defence Main Building
London
SW1A 2EA
United Kingdom
Email: Benjamin.callistan101@mod.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government