Tender

Soft Body Armour

UNITE PROCUREMENT UK LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

03 Jul 2025 at 14:46

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Unite Procurement UK Limited, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, has announced a tender titled "Soft Body Armour," classified under protective and combat gear, to be sourced for the Ministry of Defence Guard Service. This procurement falls under the selective procurement method using a catalogue purchase process. The location for this procurement is the United Kingdom, with applications accepted until 17th July 2025. The contract period is set from 18th July 2025 to 17th July 2026. Opportunities exist for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) to supply body armour meeting the Home Office Body Armour Standard. The procurement stage is currently in the tender phase.

This tender offers significant prospects for businesses specialising in the supply of high-quality protective gear. Companies experienced in manufacturing certified body armour that complies with stringent standards for police use will find this an excellent opportunity to expand. Given the requirement for both male and female fittings, businesses with versatile production capabilities stand to benefit. The requirement to list products on the Mercateo Procurement Portal indicates innovative business models may be needed, making it suitable for businesses ready to engage in digital procurement platforms. This procurement provides potential growth for suppliers capable of fulfilling large-scale government requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Soft Body Armour

Notice Description

Unite Procurement UK Limited (part of Unite Holding SE), on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, is seeking suppliers to join the Mercateo Procurement Platform to support the provision of soft body armour for the Ministry of Defence Guard Service (MGS). The Mercateo Procurement Platform (www.mercateo.co.uk) offers a compliant route to market for UK Public Sector organisations to manage their low-value, high-volume procurement activities. This specific opportunity focuses on the supply and ongoing provision of soft body armour designed for the defeat of stab and slash threats, in accordance with the Home Office Body Armour Standard (2017), publication number 012/17. The required body armour must provide, at a minimum, KR1 (Knife Resistance Level 1) and SP1 (Spike Resistance Level 1) protection, as recommended for general police duties. The soft body armour must be overt, flexible, and enable the wearer to maintain operational effectiveness while providing visible protection. Additional requirements include compliance with BS EN 471 Class 2 Hi Visibility Standards, resistance to knife and spike damage, and coverage for the spine, ribs, and all vital organs. The armour should be lightweight, comfortable, fully adjustable, and available in a wide range of sizes and fits for both male and female personnel. We welcome reliable and experienced suppliers who can deliver high-quality, certified soft body armour solutions that meet all specified standards and operational requirements. Successful applicants will be required to list the agreed products on the Mercateo Procurement Portal. Further details can be found on the attached onboarding link. Please contact us with any enquiries. Applications are welcomed throughout the duration of this opportunity.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-fb486d58-21da-41ea-9df4-38d306492e87
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a6bb44f7-e310-4817-87dc-72d8b32f3956
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Catalogue purchase
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

CPV Codes

18143000 - Protective gear

35812300 - Combat gear

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,350,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
16 Jul 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UNITE PROCUREMENT UK LIMITED
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
ccstailspend@unite.eu
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
WC2B 5AH
Post Town
Central London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI36 Camden
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Camden
Electoral Ward
Holborn & Covent Garden
Westminster Constituency
Holborn and St Pancras

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts. 

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