Scope
Reference
714155450 - Personal Hard Armour Framework
Description
The UK Ministry of Defence is establishing a Framework for the procurement of Personal Hard Armour to support its Armed Forces Personnel. The Personal Hard Armour Framework will facilitate the procurement of personal ballistic protection through the pre-approval of suppliers and will deliver agility, consistency, and financial savings in the procurement of personal hard armour - whilst encouraging innovation and optimising organisational outputs.
Defence requires the ability to procure personal hard armour in low and high quantities, with the agility to meet emerging demands. Future requirements and technologies that are forecast to utilise the framework are as below:
a. Osprey Replacement.
b. Reduced threat plates.
c. Buoyant plates.
d. Non-standard shaped plates (complex curvature).
e. Covert plates.
The Authority therefore intends to establish a non-committal Open Framework with an estimated whole-life contract value potentially reaching £250m (Inc VAT) over the period of 8 years.
Commercial tool
Establishes a framework
Total value (estimated)
- £208,333,333.33 excluding VAT
- £250,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 31 October 2025 to 30 October 2033
- 8 years
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 35812300 - Combat gear
- 44431000 - Cover plates
- 18143000 - Protective gear
- 35815100 - Bullet-proof vests
Engagement
Engagement deadline
19 May 2025
Engagement process description
Market Engagement has been conducted via the SME engagement day held at Abbey Wood on 20th March 2024. This included short meetings between the Project and Commercial leads as an opportunity to promote the Framework and Defence Sourcing Portal. Further engagement has taken place through events such as DSEI 2023, DVD 2024, visiting various stands throughout the events.
AUSA Washington USA - 14-16 October 24
Enforcetac - Germany - 24-26 February 25
Members of the project team attended AUSA and Enforcetac on the above dates to promote the Personal Hard Armour Framework to suppliers in the hard armour market. A key objective of setting up and promoting the framework is to broaden and strengthen our supply base for Personal Hard Armour, giving the UK MOD the potential to surge and meet evolving demands, as well as further building our understanding of the wider market. Through attending these key exhibitions the team were able to gain knowledge of suppliers, products, and new technologies on offer. The team visited a number of stands that were recorded as suppliers of ballistic plates or were showcasing ballistic plates and discussed with them the UK MODs intent on setting up a Framework to be the main commercial route for all the Authority's hard armour requirements. Information was provided on how to sign up to the Defence Sourcing Portal, key dates for the framework, as well as information on the type of requirements that could be going through the Framework.
The project team also intend to conduct a market engagement day during May 2025 to further promote this Personal Hard Armour Framework. Further details are to be announced in the near future when they are confirmed. This will be advertised on the Defence Sourcing Portal in due course.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
23 May 2025
Procedure
Special regime
Defence and security
Contracting authority
Defence Equipment and Support
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVRL-5831-GLMM
MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
United Kingdom
Contact name: Ryan Yung
Email: Ryan.Yung100@mod.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-equipment-and-support
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government