Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Bristol
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Defence
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Contract Award Notice (CAN) for Archer Artillery System Short Term (9 months) In -Service Support Contract
Reference number
714034453
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 50840000 - Repair and maintenance services of weapons and weapon systems
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
INTERIM 155 CAPABILITY PROJECT – Archer Artillery System Short Term (9 months) In-Service Support Contract
The Secretary of State for Defence, acting through the Interim 155 Capability Team of the Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”) informs of the Authority’s intention to award BAE Systems Bofors AB an Archer Artillery System Short Term In-Service Support Contract for the Archer Artillery Systems, commencing in November 2025 , addressing equipment and components via technical design and configuring the Archer Artillery System, providing training, maintenance, repair, obsolescence and configuration management of the Archer Artillery Systems for a short term period of 9 months. The estimated value of the contract is £4.8m.
Please note this Contract was awarded on January 13th 2026
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £4,800,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
INTERIM 155 CAPABILITY PROJECT – Archer Artillery System Short Term (9 months) In-Service Support Contract
The Secretary of State for Defence, acting through the Interim 155 Capability Team of the Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”) informs of the Authority’s intention to award BAE Systems Bofors AB an Archer Artillery System Short Term In-Service Support Contract for the Archer Artillery Systems, commencing in November 2025 , addressing equipment and components via technical design and configuring the Archer Artillery System, providing training, maintenance, repair, obsolescence and configuration management of the Archer Artillery Systems for a short term period of 9 months. The estimated value of the contract is £4.8m.
In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate.
It is considered that award of the contract using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons.
The Archer Artillery System is designed, developed and supported solely by BAE Systems Bofors AB. Only BAE Systems Bofors AB have the necessary and specific technological skills, knowledge in the underlying design and expertise to be able to provide support services required by the MOD to deliver the required outputs of the Interim 155 Capability Project. As the Design Authority (DA) and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), BAE Systems Bofors AB have ownership of essential drawings, technology and are only manufacturer of long lead bespoke items. The Authority does not have sufficient rights to provide such data to any third party.
BAE Systems Bofors AB are the only company that can combine technical re-design with maintenance and repair activities with the requirement for supporting the equipment. No other party has the necessary technical expertise and knowledge required to support the equipment and access to proprietary design information and specialist tooling and testing equipment such that only they can provide an acceptable safety case to the reasonable satisfaction of the Authority.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to restricted procedure
- The services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
The Secretary of State for Defence, acting through the Interim 155 Capability Team of the Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”) informs of the Authority’s intention to award BAE Systems Bofors AB an Archer Artillery System short term In-Service Support Contract for the Archer Artillery Systems, commencing in November 2025 , addressing equipment and components via technical design and configuring the Archer Artillery System, providing training, maintenance, repair, obsolescence and configuration management of the Archer Artillery Systems for a short term period of 9 months. The estimated value of the contract is £4.8m.
In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate.
It is considered that award of the contract using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons.
The Archer Artillery System is designed, developed and supported solely by BAE Systems Bofors AB. Only BAE Systems Bofors AB have the necessary and specific technological skills, knowledge in the underlying design and expertise to be able to provide support services required by the MOD to deliver the required outputs of the Interim 155 Capability Project. As the Design Authority (DA) and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), BAE Systems Bofors AB have ownership of essential drawings, technology and are only manufacturer of long lead bespoke items. The Authority does not have sufficient rights to provide such data to any third party.
BAE Systems Bofors AB are the only company that can combine technical re-design with maintenance and repair activities with the requirement for supporting the equipment. No other party has the necessary technical expertise and knowledge required to support the equipment and access to proprietary design information and specialist tooling and testing equipment such that only they can provide an acceptable safety case to the reasonable satisfaction of the Authority.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-004830
Section five. Award of contract
Contract No
714034453
Title
Archer Artillery System Short Term (9 months) In -Service Support Contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
13 January 2026
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
BAE Systems Bofors AB
Karlskoga
Country
Sweden
NUTS code
- SE - Sweden
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £4,800,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The High Court of England and Wales
London
Country
United Kingdom