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Provision of Link 16 Network Management System (L16 NMS)

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

02 Sep 2026 at 10:14

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence procured Link 16 Network Management System services to manage and monitor all Link 16 activity within the United Kingdom and support up to two deployed operations. The system enables network management operators to monitor activity, modify network architecture and maintain optimal operating conditions. It also checks compliance with the Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation Authority UK Frequency Clearance Agreement. The requirement covers data network management services, including support for the existing equipment and its installed software. The work supports Link 16 activity across platforms operating in the United Kingdom Flight Information Region, with the buying organisation based in Bristol. The service is categorised as services, with CPV 72315200 for data network management services.

The procurement is complete and was awarded following a direct single tender action below the applicable threshold. The tender submission deadline was 31 July 2026 at 12:00. The contract was awarded to Thales UK Limited on 6 August 2026 for £9,820,902, including the stated currency of GBP. The contract period runs from 7 August 2026 to 6 August 2028. The direct award was based on Thales being the original equipment manufacturer with proprietary rights over the installed software, and holding the technical information, tools and expertise required to support the unique existing system. The buyer assessed that changing the system could disrupt Link 16 use and reduce operational training capability. The opportunity was unsuitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

This award indicates a specialist defence technology requirement centred on Link 16 network management, operational monitoring and modification of network architecture. A credible future supplier would need original equipment manufacturer-level control of, or authorised access to, the relevant proprietary software, together with the technical information, tools and expertise needed to support the existing equipment. It would also need to understand Link 16 activity across multiple platforms, deployed operations and the United Kingdom Flight Information Region, including compliance with the Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation Authority frequency clearance arrangements. The buyer’s stated concern about continuity shows that proven ability to maintain an established system without disrupting training or operations would be important. This is a large, highly specialised defence systems support requirement rather than general IT network management work.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Link 16 Network Management System (L16 NMS)

Notice Description

The United Kingdom (UK) Defence has an enduring requirement to manage and monitor all Link 16 activity within the UK and support up to 2 deployed operations. The NMS allows the Network Management operators to monitor network activity and modify the network architecture to provide optimal Link 16 network operating conditions. NMS also monitors all Link 16 activity to ensure compliance with the MOD/Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) UK Frequency Clearance Agreement (FCA). The current equipment set up is unique and the software installed on the equipment is owned and supported by the Contractor. As the OEM with proprietary rights for the software that is installed on the equipment, support can only be provided by Thales UK Limited, as only they hold the technical information, tools and expertise required. In the immediate term changing the system would have a potentially detrimental impact and could result in an inability to utilise the Link 16 network across all platforms in the UK Flight Information Region (FIR). This would significantly curtail pan domain platform's ability to train for operations.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-7446df6d-10c0-4707-b711-9ba8f642e136
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/91a2a140-7297-4f04-a2c6-305c04dda254
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Single tender action (below threshold)
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

72315200 - Data network management services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£9,820,902 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£9,820,902 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
6 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
7 Aug 2026 - 6 Aug 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Ministry of Defence
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Postcode Area
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Thales UK Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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