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714155450 - Personal Hard Armour Framework

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 10 releases in its history.

Tender

20 Jan 2026 at 12:00

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

17 Jul 2025 at 16:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

17 Jul 2025 at 15:55

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
PlanningUpdate

29 May 2025 at 14:16

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Planning

22 May 2025 at 15:28

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
PlanningUpdate

15 Apr 2025 at 12:37

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

11 Apr 2025 at 13:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

11 Apr 2025 at 12:28

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

11 Apr 2025 at 12:02

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

25 Mar 2025 at 15:21

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), a division of the UK Ministry of Defence, has initiated a tender process for establishing a Personal Hard Armour Framework. This procurement process is at the tender stage and involves setting up a closed, non-committal Defence and Security Framework that will last for eight years. The framework aims to support UK Armed Forces Personnel by facilitating the procurement of personal ballistic protection and is expected to deliver consistency, agility, financial savings, and innovation in procuring personal hard armour. The procurement, estimated to be worth up to £250 million, will undergo a competitive flexible procedure including a multi-stage process with deadlines for expression of interest on 17 February 2026 and enquiry period ending 9 February 2026. The main procurement category is goods, with CPV classifications covering combat gear, cover plates, protective gear, and bullet-proof vests. The contract is expected to start on 29 May 2026 and end on 28 May 2034, and suppliers interested must submit their proposals electronically through the Defence Sourcing Portal.

This framework presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in manufacturing and providing personal protective equipment, particularly those specializing in ballistic protection solutions. With an emphasis on both low- and high-quantity procurement to meet emerging demands, this framework is well-suited for businesses looking to expand their footprint in government defence contracts. SMEs are encouraged to participate, given the framework's design to accommodate a wide supplier base and promote innovation. Suppliers with capacities in advanced armour technology, such as buoyant and covert plates, or those offering non-standard shaped plates with complex curvatures, would particularly benefit from this opportunity, ensuring their products meet the stringent legal, financial, and technical standards outlined in the tender process.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

714155450 - Personal Hard Armour Framework

Notice Description

The UK Ministry of Defence is establishing a Framework for the procurement of Personal Hard Armour to support its Armed Forces Personnel. The Personal Hard Armour Framework will facilitate the procurement of personal ballistic protection through the pre-approval of suppliers and will deliver agility, consistency, and financial savings in the procurement of personal hard armour - whilst encouraging innovation and optimising organisational outputs. Defence requires the ability to procure personal hard armour in low and high quantities, with the agility to meet emerging demands. Potential future requirements and technologies that may utilise the Framework are as below: a. Osprey Replacement. b. Reduced threat plates. c. Buoyant plates. d. Non-standard shaped plates (complex curvature). e. Covert plates. The Authority therefore intends to establish a Closed, non-committal, Defence and Security Framework for an 8 year duration.

Planning Information

Previous engagement: Market engagement has been conducted during the DE&S wide SME engagement day held at Abbey Wood on 20th March 2024. Further engagement has taken place through events such as DSEI 2023, DVD 2024, visiting various stands throughout the events. Project and Commercial leads used these as an opportunity to promote the Framework and advised on signing up to the Defence Sourcing Portal. AUSA Washington USA – 14-16 October 24 Enforcetac – Germany - 24-26 February 25 Members of the project team attended AUSA and Enforcetac on the above dates to promote the Personal Hard Armour Framework to suppliers in the hard armour market. A key objective of setting up and promoting the framework is to broaden and strengthen our supply base for Personal Hard Armour, giving the UK MOD the potential to surge and meet evolving demands, as well as further building our understanding of the wider market. Through attending these key exhibitions the team were able to gain knowledge of suppliers, products, and new technologies on offer. The team visited a number of stands that were recorded as suppliers of ballistic plates or were showcasing ballistic plates and discussed with them the UK MODs intent on setting up a Framework to be the main commercial route for all the Authority's hard armour requirements. Information was provided on how to sign up to the Defence Sourcing Portal, estimated timelines for the framework, as well as information on the type of requirements that could be going through the Framework. Upcoming engagement: **The market engagement day that was previously intended to be run has now been cancelled** 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 market engagement day coming up.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04f88f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004752-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
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

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

CPV Codes

18143000 - Protective gear

35812300 - Combat gear

35815100 - Bullet-proof vests

44431000 - Cover plates

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£208,333,333 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£208,333,333 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jan 20267 months ago
Submission Deadline
9 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
25 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 May 2026 - 28 May 2034 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Defence Equipment and Support
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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