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. Potential future requirements and technologies that may 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.
Please note that the estimated release date of the UK 4 Tender Notice is still subject to change
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)
- 7 November 2025 to 6 November 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
4 June 2025
Engagement process description
Previous engagement:
Market engagement has been conducted during the DE&S wide SME engagement day held at Abbey Wood on 20th March 2024. Further engagement has taken place through events such as DSEI 2023, DVD 2024, visiting various stands throughout the events. Project and Commercial leads used these as an opportunity to promote the Framework and advised on signing up to the Defence Sourcing Portal.
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, estimated timelines for the framework, as well as information on the type of requirements that could be going through the Framework.
Upcoming engagement:
The project team also intend to conduct a market engagement day during June 2025 to further promote this Personal Hard Armour Framework and share the details of the project going forward. The dates are still subject to change.
If you would like to register your interest for the market engagement day please contact DESLESTSP-DCC-ComrclTeam@mod.gov.uk
Further details for the Market Engagement day will be shared with all suppliers who have registered their interest, once they are confirmed.
Suppliers that have already registered their interest do not need to re-apply.
Please note, the release of this UK 2 Preliminary Market engagement Notice is not the formal start to the competition process. You will have an opportunity to participate in the Tender process when it formally starts with the release of the UK 4 Tender Notice, which will be advertised via the Defence Sourcing Portal and Find a Tender Service via the Central Digital Platform in the future. At this stage suppliers are only able to register interest for the market engagement day coming up.
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
5 June 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: DESLESTSP-DCC-ComrclTeam@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