Scope
Description
Contract Duration: 5 years with 2 (1+1) option years
Contract Start Date: 1st April 2026
Contract Value: £38M - £81M
Description
The Authority seeks pre selection questionnaire responses from qualified providers that have the capability to develop and provision a managed services arrangement for a new Enterprise End User Services mission partner. Through this arrangement the successful supplier(s) will be responsible for the delivery of all end user devices and services1 as well as the unified communications for a specialist user group.
The nature of this competitive edge requires industry partners to operate as part of a collaborative joint mission approach to maximise the effectiveness of the whole force, where technical risk is managed at the highest level. Operating in the SECRET Domain, the service will predominantly be UK based, but will operate globally. This creates opportunities for a combined problem centric approach to solving challenges at pace, experimenting with innovative solutions, as well as traditional support requirements.
The supplier is expected to support the current estate as well as working with The Authority towards technical refresh for approximately 5,500 end users across fixed UK locations and overseas deployments. This service must be provided as part of the service specification, which will be included within the Request for Solution document that will be provided to all companies who pass the Pre- Selection Questionnaire (PSQ).
The Contractor is further expected to provide, and work collaboratively with The Authority, and other suppliers (in accordance with the Enterprise Target Architecture):
Act as a mission partner and managed service provider
Support to deployed users
Solution design and supporting artefacts
Working in alignment with The Authority and the user group
Procurement, testing, building and deployment of all end user devices and the relevant supporting artefacts
Migration of existing applications and support of the applications once moved onto the new platform, including necessary interfaces with suppliers and teams where needed
Provide L2/L3/L4 support for all elements of the service line
Deployment and management of a unified communications solution
The initial Contract duration is estimated to be for a period of 5 years with 2 x 1 option years
Potential Providers are to note that in order to fulfil this requirement, the chosen supplier will be exposed to and required to safeguard nationally sensitive information/data bearing a security classification up to and including SECRET UK EYES ONLY level, therefore there is a requirement for a proportion of technical staff are required to be DV cleared.
The Authority also requires potential providers to have Provisional Facility Security Clearance 2 status or be willing to gain FSC status to manage these security requirements throughout the entire supply chain by the RFS issue date. Potential Providers who do not meet this minimum eligibility criteria will be sifted out during the DPSQ evaluation stage. Potential suppliers who wish to be sponsored through the FSC process by The Authority to note - there is no financial cost for Suppliers undertaking FSC accreditation, but they may be required to make changes to their site, infrastructure, and business administration, at their own cost, to meet the standards required for accreditation.
Based on the size and complexity of this requirement, SME involvement is essential to enable the solution to be as agile as possible. The Authority welcomes innovative ideas to be shared / discussed on how we can better understand and utilise SMEs throughout The Enterprise IT Target Architecture- End User Services (Edge) requirement.
It should be noted that a significant proportion of the Technical Assessment Criteria / Weighting will be allocated to SME involvement in both the PSQ and Tender documentation and incentivised in any subsequent Contract.
While the classification of this PSQ will be held at OS, if companies wish to they may send sensitive information that will be treated in accordance with the appropriate government classification by courier to The Authority. Any evidence submitted this way must follow the same guidelines as the OS submissions; evidence for each question is limited to one A4 page, font Arial 11 with no pictures or diagrams. If suppliers wish they may answer one question across two classifications, however the total response will still be limited to the one A4 page cap as detailed within the question set.
The documents must be double wrapped and sealed, the inner wrapping marked secret and addressed to Ella Roper, the outer wrapping should be addressed to THE SECURITY CONTROLLER of SPISN, MOD Abbey Wood, #8110 I Rowan 1c | Bristol | BS34 8JH. All hard copy documents must be with The Authority by COP the Wednesday before the deadline.
The package must be sent via approved courier.
The contents of the package must contain a receipt for our Security Controller to sign and return on receipt.
Only supplementary information will be accepted in paper form. Full responses must be completed in the DSP. Should you fail to provide your full response in the DSP and if suppliers only submit supplementary information, your submission will be deemed non- complaint and excluded from the tender process.
This contract suitable for SMEs; large enterprises must include a percentage of SME involvement within their expression of interest/ Dynamic Pre-Selection Questionnaire (DPSQ) response.
It should be noted that this requirement shall be classed as 'exempt' from PA 2023. This notice is being advertised out for an Expressions of Interest and Completion of Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) stage and shall then be withdrawn from the DSP platform and taken forward offline.
Total value (estimated)
- £81,000,000 excluding VAT
- £97,200,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031
- 5 years
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
2 x 1 year options for extension
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72222300 - Information technology services
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
11 July 2025, 4:00pm
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
21 July 2025, 4:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
If you are interested in participating in this competition, expressions of interest must be made through the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP).
The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) can be accessd via the direct DSP Opportunity Listing link attached: https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60016
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
27 February 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical ability | Will include as a minimum technical solution, delivery approach, risk, social vaue and behaviours |
Quality | 60% |
| Commercial | Will include price, commercial model factors and economc consideration |
Price | 40% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Special regime
Defence and security
Competitive flexible procedure description
Below are the procedure steps that will be followed. Futher detail will be communicated to the successful suppliers from the PSQ stage:
Tender Notice and PSQ published
Down select to 3-6 bidders
Request for Solution released to bidders
High level co creation workshops
Down select to 2 bidders
Detailed co creation workshops
Best and Final Offer
Contract Award
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
Market engagement has been completed however the PME ocds-h6vhtk-04fc5d is already linked to another Tender as it was a joint collaboration.
Contracting authority
Defence Equipment and Support
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVRL-5831-GLMM
MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
United Kingdom
Email: DESSPSN-Comrcl@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