Scope
Reference
714600450
Description
Integrated Warfare Centre (IWC) requires a suitable Contractor to provide professional services support in the form of 8 full time personnel working across the Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC, formerly UK STRATCOM) footprint, within the following Departments; IWC, Analysis and Assurance (A&A) Team, Military Strategic Headquarters (MSHQ), Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), jHUB and the Defence Experimentation and Wargaming Hub (DEWH). Lessons Contractors will be responsible for collecting, analysing, actioning, implementing and validating lessons from UK Defence operations and exercises, wargaming events, experimentation, and innovation activities. This will be conducted in accordance with relevant Defence Lessons Policies, which will be shared with Lessons Contractors during an initial mobilisation period, and using tools, primarily the Defence Lessons Identified Management System (DLIMS).
This Contract Award Notice is for the award of a public contract through an Open Procedure in accordance with the Competitive Tendering Procedures under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA2023). In accordance with Section 7, the requirement falls within the Defence and Security Requirement derogations (e), (f) and (g) for the goods, services or works for military purposes, and services that are otherwise relevant to the operational capability, effectiveness, readiness for action, safety or security of the armed forces. Therefore, the relevant provisions of the PA 2023 relating to Defence and Security contracts are applicable.
The Lessons Contract will initially be for two (2) years at a cost of £3,048,269.71 ex VAT. If the two (2) proposed option years are taken (on a 1 year + 1 year basis), subject to affordability and approval, this may take the value to £6,531,793.57 ex VAT. The second option year is subject to indexation in accordance with the formula outlined within the Invitation to Tender (ITT).
This will be a Service based Contract, with a security classification of up to and including SECRET. Further security requirements were detailed during the tender process as part of ITT.
The Cyber Risk Profile for this requirement identified by the Cyber Risk Assessment is High (Reference - RAR 250605A01)
TUPE provisions were outlined within the ITT.
A UK1 Pipeline notice was published under Notice Reference 2025/S 000-026958.
A UK4 Tender notice was published under Notice Reference 2025/S 000-034026.
Contract 1. 714600450 - Lessons
Supplier
Contract value
- £6,531,793.57 excluding VAT
- £7,838,152.28 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Award decision date
8 December 2025
Date assessment summaries were sent to tenderers
8 December 2025
Standstill period
- End: 17 December 2025
- 8 working days
Earliest date the contract will be signed
23 January 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 7 February 2026 to 6 February 2028
- Possible extension to 6 February 2030
- 4 years
Description of possible extension:
1 + 1 year option periods
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Two Optional Extension Years are included and may be invoked on Authority request on a one year plus one year basis.(1+1)
CPV classifications
- 79994000 - Contract administration services
- 80511000 - Staff training services
Information about tenders
- 5 tenders received
- 5 tenders assessed in the final stage:
- 2 submitted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- 0 submitted by voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
- 1 supplier awarded contracts
- 4 suppliers unsuccessful (details included for contracts over £5 million)
Unsuccessful suppliers
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Defence and security
Suppliers
Engage Technical Solutions Ltd
- Companies House: 07825541
Units 1 and 4, Forest Gate
Chippenham, Wiltshire
SN15 3RS
United Kingdom
Region: UKK15 - Wiltshire CC
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
GRANT THORNTON UK LLP
- Companies House: OC307742
8 Finsbury Circus
London
EC2M 7EA
United Kingdom
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Mass Consultants Ltd
- Companies House: 01705804
Enterprise House, Great North Road, Little Paxton, St Neots
Cambridgeshire
PE19 6BN
United Kingdom
Email: contact@mass.co.uk
Website: http://www.mass.co.uk/
Region: UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1. 714600450 - Lessons
QINETIQ TRAINING AND SIMULATION LIMITED
- Companies House: 02250553
Cody Technology Park, Ively Road
Farnborough
GU14 0LX
United Kingdom
Region: UKJ37 - North Hampshire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
WHITETREE GROUP LTD
- Companies House: 11365046
1 New Street, Somerset
Wells
BA5 2LA
United Kingdom
Region: UKK23 - Somerset
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contracting authority
Ministry of Defence
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ
Faringdon Road
Shrivenham
SN6 8LA
United Kingdom
Email: UKStratCom-Comrcl-JFD@mod.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Region: UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government