Scope
Reference
715728455 - Procurement and In-Service Support of Remote Case Entry (RCE) System
Description
The requirement is for the Procurement and In-Service Support of 4 x Remote Case entry systems, with the option to purchase and support 2x additional systems if required.
The in-service support shall include, but not be limited to, the provision of spares, repairs, servicing and maintenance, training, and obsolescence management.
The Remote Case Entry system shall provide a portable abrasive cutting capability, capable of performing cuts either remotely or semi-remotely through materials up to 40mm thick mild steel cases of Air Dropped weapons, and it should be operable at a safe distance of 250m. The cutting process must be designed to generate no significant heat, thereby mitigating the risk of inadvertently triggering or activating any sensitive devices in the vicinity. The system is expected to be portable, deployable, and robust, suitable for use in all environmental conditions. It shall have a working area footprint of 3m (width) x 3m (depth) x 2m (height) and must be portable through a corridor measuring 1m wide, 3m long, and 2m high, while also being manoeuvrable through a 90-degree turn in a corridor that is 1m wide and 2m high.
The requirement is for the delivery of Initial Operating Capability (IOC) of x 1 system within 6 months of Contract Award. FOC (4 systems in total) shall be delivered within 1 year and 4 months of Contract Award. In-Service Support shall commence from IOC and continue for a period of 8 years from acceptance of Full Operating Capability (FOC) with options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years.
The system shall provide means of viewing/monitoring the Case Entry action remotely in real time from the Incident Control Point (ICP).
The Risk Assessment Reference (RAR) number is RAR-SMB9GT8 resulting in a cyber risk profile of Level 1. A full description of the Cyber Risk levels is available at DEFSTAN 05-138. Suppliers should make themselves familiar with the requirements against the profile assessment for this risk level.
The Modern Slavery Risk Assessment has been identified as Medium for this procurement, the winning tenderer will be required to complete the Modern Slavery Assessment Tool (MSAT) post contract award- https://supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/msat
The highest classification of the requirements and data managed through any resulting Contracts is OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE.
Prospective contractors are required to hold Quality Management System certification to ISO9001:2015 or suitable alternative standard, with the appropriate scope to deliver contract requirements, issued by a Nationally Accredited Certification Body. You will be required to provide a copy of the certificate(s) as directed by any Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) or
Invitation to Tender (ITT) associated with this Notice, and in any event, the winning supplier will be required to provide it for review prior to contract award. The contractual condition for quality will be Allied Quality Assurance Publication (AQAP) 2110.
Total value (estimated)
- £5,308,000 excluding VAT
- £6,369,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 16 December 2026 to 16 April 2036
- Possible extension to 16 April 2038
- 11 years, 4 months, 1 day
Description of possible extension:
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Any resulting Contract will include the following Contract Options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years:
Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period.
Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period.
The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option(s) listed above. Further information on the option(s) will be provided in the Invitation to Tender
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Any resulting Contract will include the following Contract Options to procure and provide In Service Support for an additional 2 x systems.
Additional procurement and In Service Support of 1x system
Additional procurement and In Service Support of 1x system
Any resulting Contract will include the following Contract Options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years:
Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period.
Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period.
The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option(s) listed. Further information on the option(s) will be provided in the Invitation to Tender.
The Authority reserves the right to procure and support additional systems while the contract is valid, in addition to the options stated above.
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 35333100 - Bombs
- 35300000 - Weapons, ammunition and associated parts
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
The legal and financial capacity conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and PSQ supporting documentation.
Suppliers, associated persons and tier one suppliers are required registered on the Central Digital Platform and share up-to-date information.
The Authority shall assess suppliers (or where relevant, a connected person), an associated person or a sub-contractor to determine whether mandatory or discretionary grounds for exclusion apply, in accordance with The Procurement Act 2023.
Please see Part 3 in the PSQ for full information on financial requirements.
Part 1 –Confirmation of Core Supplier Information
Supplier Guidance
Documentation
Preliminary SI Basic Information
Part 2 – Additional Exclusion Information
Associated Persons
List of all Intended Sub-Contractors
Part 3 – Conditions of Participation
Financial Assessment
Insurance
Technical ability conditions of participation
Part 3 – Conditions of Participation - Technical (Pass / Fail and Scored)
Russian / Belarusian Entities
Equality
Quality Assurance
Health & Safety
Evidence of Sub-Contractor Management
Equipment Delivery – Scored – 25%
Project Management – Scored - 25%
Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) – Scored – 25%
Safety – Scored – 25%
Questions where a ‘fail’ or a score of 0 will result in exclusion from the competition have been clearly identified within the evaluation criteria against each question in PSQ and PSQ supporting document.
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
27 March 2026, 2:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
10 April 2026, 2:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
PSQ responses should be submitted by the Authority using the DSP by the deadline. Responses submitted via any other medium will not be accepted or considered - https://contracts.mod.uk.
PSQ reference can be found here - https://contracts.mod.uk/go/60830303019C95B13D90
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
16 December 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions of Participation PSQ | Suppliers will be evaluated against both Qualification Technical criteria, with the top six highest scoring compliant Suppliers, in accordance with the evaluation criteria, will be invited to tender.... |
Quality | 100% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Defence and security
Competitive flexible procedure description
The Remote Case Entry Systems are currently being procured through the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 ('The Act').
The following steps to arrive at contract award decision are as follow;
Project Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) – All compliant suppliers shall be invited to Invitation to Tender (ITT). PSQ reference https://contracts.mod.uk/go/60830303019C95B13D90
Invitation to Tender, the evaluation shall have two stages;
Stage 1 - Paper Based evaluation – the top 3 compliant suppliers with the highest technical scores will progress to confirmation trials.
Stage 2 - Confirmation Trials – the proposed solution shall be tested against specific system requirements as set out in the ITT.
Full information on how the procurement procedure, including evaluation criteria, strategy and stages of evaluation shall be provided within the ITT.
The Authority reserves the right under the Procurement Act 2023 to:
To cancel the procurement procedure at any stage.
Not to award a contract as a result of the procurement process.
Make any modifications during a competitive flexible procedure, provided that the deadline to participate or submit a first or only tender has not passed (section 31(1)(b))
Make non substantial modifications, during a competitive flexible procedure, up to the deadline of the final tendering stage (section 31(2)(a))
Refine or supplement the award criteria during a competitive flexible procedure (section 24(1))
The issue of the procurement specific questionnaire or MOD exempt procurement specific questionnaire is not a commitment by the Authority to subsequently issue an invitation to tender, invitation to negotiate or place a contract. Neither does the issue of this or subsequent documents create any implied contract between the Authority and any participant, and any such implied contract is expressly excluded.
Documents
Documents to be provided after the tender notice
PSQ Supporting documentation Ref 20260227_715728455_RCE_CoP_Support_Document_O, 20250218_MoD_Covered _Procurement_PSQ _Supplier_Explainer and 20260227_Project Specific Questionnaire_FAQs_O.
Following completion of the PSQ evaluation, ITT documentation will be issued to all compliant Suppliers via DSP
Contracting authority
Defence Equipment and Support
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVRL-5831-GLMM
MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
United Kingdom
Contact name: PROTECT DT
Email: DES-LESTSP-SEEC-Commercial@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