Award

Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services Contract

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

04 Apr 2025 at 10:08

Summary of the contracting process

The UK Ministry of Defence, through its Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, is extending the Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK). The contract, identified as FsASTC/00107, focuses on training and simulation services related to aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. This procurement, valued at £25 million, will extend from 1 January 2026 for a period of 2 years 3 months, with an option to extend for an additional 6 months. The procurement stage is at the award phase, and the procurement method utilised is a limited, negotiated process without prior publication, allowing BDUK to continue providing vital system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment across various UK regions.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in defence training systems, particularly those with expertise in synthetic training environments and airborne systems. Companies that can provide high-tech solutions and possess extensive knowledge of the Gladiator system, as well as affiliated software and application process interfaces, will find this contract particularly fitting. Subcontracting opportunities may be available, making it advantageous for small and medium-sized enterprises with relevant technical capabilities to engage with larger contractors like BDUK. The upcoming planned procurement notice and early market engagement event in Q1 2026 will further present avenues for businesses to prepare and compete in future competitive procurements.

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Notice Title

Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services Contract

Notice Description

Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place an extension to contract FsASTC/00107 - a Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK), for continued system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Defence Equipment and Support, Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place - by way of extension to contract FsASTC/00107 - a Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK), for continued system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment, while Air Command & Control, Fast Air and Joint Fires platforms are integrated. Expiry of FsASTC/00107 before this, on 1 January 2026, presents an intolerable risk that the system is not suitably mature from an operate and maintain perspective to ensure optimal capability on future competition. The contract extension will be for a period of 2 years 3 months, with an Option to extend by 6 months, and have an estimated value of PS25m. In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. BDUK is the Gladiator system designer. It is the only economic actor with the familiarity with the capability, the software and Application Process Interfaces, and with the technical expertise and relationships, with sub-contractors and platform original equipment manufacturers, to be able to meet the requirement while essential platforms continue to be integrated. A Planned Procurement Notice providing outline details of the future competition is anticipated to be published in Q1 2026 with potential providers invited to attend an Early Market Engagement event communicated through the publication of a Preliminary market Engagement Notice.

Options: Option to extend by an additional six months.

Procurement Information

Defence Equipment and Support, Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place - by way of extension to contract FsASTC/00107 - a Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK), for continued system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment, while Air Command & Control, Fast Air and Joint Fires platforms are integrated. Expiry of FsASTC/00107 before this, on 1 January 2026, presents an intolerable risk that the system is not suitably mature from an operate and maintain perspective to ensure optimal capability on future competition. The contract extension will be for a period of 2 years 3 months, with an Option to extend by 6 months, and have an estimated value of PS25m. In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. BDUK is the Gladiator system designer. It is the only economic actor with the familiarity with the capability, the software and Application Process Interfaces, and with the technical expertise and relationships, with sub-contractors and platform original equipment manufacturers, to be able to meet the requirement while essential platforms continue to be integrated. A Planned Procurement Notice providing outline details of the future competition is anticipated to be published in Q1 2026 with potential providers invited to attend an Early Market Engagement event communicated through the publication of a Preliminary market Engagement Notice.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04fd29
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013022-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services


CPV Codes

80650000 - Training and simulation in aircrafts, missiles and spacecrafts

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£25,000,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Apr 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
2 Apr 20251 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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
Post Town
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

BOEING DEFENCE UNITED KINGDOM

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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