Scope
Description
The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) requires access to Ballistic Testing Services to support new to service projects and ensure through life support of Personal Armour provided to its Armed Forces Personnel.
The MOD requires laboratories to be UKAS accredited to ISO 17025, including NATO AEP 2920.
The MOD intends to run a competition to award a contract for Ballistic Testing Services. The contract will have a headroom of £10m (Inc VAT) and will be for 5 years with 3 x 1 optional years. Testing will be carried out throughout the length of the contract as and when it is required.
The MOD are proposing that for the purposes of Ballistic Testing Services the contractor will need to have a UK located facililty.
Please note that the publication date of the UK 4 Tender Notice and Contract start date are an estimate and is still subject to change.
Total value (estimated)
- £8,333,333 excluding VAT
- £10,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 January 2026 to 2 January 2034
- 8 years, 1 day
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 73431000 - Test and evaluation of security equipment
- 73111000 - Research laboratory services
- 38970000 - Research, testing and scientific technical simulator
- 44431000 - Cover plates
- 35815100 - Bullet-proof vests
- 73432000 - Test and evaluation of firearms and ammunition
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Engagement
Engagement deadline
12 September 2025
Engagement process description
As part of the market engagement for this competition, the DCC Survivability Team plan to visit the facilities in the UK that register interest. The type of information the team will be interested in and would like to understand further as part of these visits is likely to include the below:
• Tour of the site, including a procedural walkthrough (no requirement for actual testing, but a step-by-step understanding of procedures based on facility capabilities).
• Range of testing services available (both in house and external)
• Standards, and certifications, traceability and licences
• Equipment (testing, measuring, calibrating etc)
• Environmental conditions and facilities
• Storage Facilities
• How the facility measures uncertainty and how expanded uncertainty is calculated and assured.
• Disposal procedures
• An understanding of facility personnel SQEP
• An understanding of past testing experiences
• Safe working procedures and practices
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 upcoming market engagement.
If you wish to take part please register your interest by emailing: rodney.gardiner114@mod.gov.uk and natalie.dean102@mod.gov.uk
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
15 September 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: Rod Gardiner
Email: rodney.gardiner114@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