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707770451 - Type 31 Through Life Support

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

22 Jul 2026 at 09:45

Tender Notice
Tender

29 Nov 2023 at 13:34

Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

07 Jul 2021 at 22:45

Tender Notice
TenderUpdate

29 Jun 2021 at 22:45

Tender Notice
Planning

28 Jun 2021 at 22:45

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence sought a through-life support solution for five new Type 31 ‘Inspiration Class’ frigates operated by the Royal Navy. The requirement covers management and support across the service, maintenance, supply chain, design, engineering, support information, safety, environmental protection and security. The purpose is to maintain high availability and operational service for frigates serving UK defence commitments and operating globally alongside allies. This is a specialist warship repair and maintenance services requirement, with work centred on the Type 31 fleet and the Ministry of Defence’s support arrangements in Bristol. The support solution was intended to be collaborative and hybrid, combining the capabilities needed to sustain the ships throughout their service.

The procurement reached tender: the Ministry of Defence invited offers through a selective, negotiated competitive procedure under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011, with between three and six candidates intended for the second stage. The tender deadline was 29 January 2024 at 17:00 UTC. The proposed contract period was a minimum of eight years, with two one-year extension options. The estimated value was £240 million to £300 million. Selection covered supplier and subcontractor suitability, economic standing and technical capability, with a signed Statement Relating to Good Standing required. Tender responses were to be submitted in English and could involve handling SECRET and SECRET UK EYES ONLY information. The authority subsequently cancelled further activity, stating that programme, commercial and enterprise-support assumptions had changed and continuation was not in its best interests.

This requirement suited established naval-support, ship-repair, marine engineering and defence-service providers able to coordinate complex through-life support for a fleet of frontline frigates. Relevant capability included service and maintenance management, supply-chain control, design and engineering support, technical information management, and safety, environmental-protection and security assurance. Suppliers needed the organisational capacity to sustain high ship availability across demanding operational conditions and a global range of activity. The procurement also allowed participation by subcontractors, but bidders had to identify intended subcontracted work and proposed subcontractors, including any changes during delivery. Providers needed to complete the required cyber assurance questionnaire and be capable of handling SECRET and SECRET UK EYES ONLY information.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

707770451 - Type 31 Through Life Support

Notice Description

The Ministry of Defence (the "Authority") has a requirement to provide a through-life support solution for five (5) new Type 31 ("T31") 'Inspiration Class' frigates for the Royal Navy (RN). These ships are intended to replace five general-purpose Type 23 frigates which have served the RN since the early 1990s. T31 will be at the heart of the RN's surface fleet, deterring aggression and maintaining the security of the UK's interests. They will work alongside our Allies to deliver credible UK warship presence across the globe. Flexible and adaptable by design, T31 frigates will undertake missions such as interception and disruption of those using the sea for unlawful purposes, collecting intelligence, conducting defence engagement and assisting those in need. The RN will therefore require an efficient and economically viable T31 support solution that achieves the high levels of availability required to sustain operations at the intensity and global range that the UK's defence commitments demand. A contract covering a minimum of an eight-year period with 2 additional option years is to be secured and delivered through the Competitive Negotiated procedure under DSPCR 2011. The aim is to create a collaborative, hybrid solution in order to optimise the availability and operational service of all T31 frigates. The management and support requirements as part of this contract (but not limited to) have been grouped into the following sections: Manage the Service; Manage Maintenance; Manage the Supply Chain; Manage Design Services; Manage Engineering Services; Manage Support Information; Manage Safety, Environmental Protection and Security.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-02c11f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/068980-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50640000 - Repair and maintenance services of warships

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£300,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
29 Jan 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
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
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
TLK12 Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

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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