Award

MHC Block 2 Remote Command Centre (RCC) Integration and Supply

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

19 Dec 2025 at 15:53

Award

08 Apr 2025 at 16:35

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the "MHC Block 2 Remote Command Centre (RCC) Integration and Supply" is orchestrated by the Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom, focusing on the design, integration, and manufacturing of Remote Command Centres for RN Mine Hunting Capability platforms. This tender, identified by the code ocds-h6vhtk-04ff2e-085058-2025, is categorised under the industry of Command, Control, Communication Systems. The specific delivery locations include Somerset, Cheadle, and Reading, showcasing a blend of strategic regional involvement in the project. The procurement stage is at the award phase as of December 2025, and the procurement method is limited due to technical reasons, indicating that the services can only be provided by a particular entity, in this case, Thales UK Ltd, who was awarded a contract worth £3.9 billion, signed on 16th December 2025, lasting approximately 1170 days.

This tender offers significant business growth opportunities, particularly for entities capable of supporting or partnering in high-technology military and defence systems. Businesses specialising in tactical systems integration, advanced communication technologies, and defence sector supplies would find this contract particularly suited to their capabilities. Given the complexity and technical specificity of this contract, partnerships with Thales UK Ltd or subcontracting opportunities might appeal to SMEs with specialised knowledge or products that align with the requisite command and integration technology. Entities adept in providing complementary services such as software development, training, and technical consulting are also well-positioned to capitalise on the ancillary demands of this expansive defence project.

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Notice Title

MHC Block 2 Remote Command Centre (RCC) Integration and Supply

Notice Description

Contract for the design, integration and subsequent manufacture and supply of Remote Command Centres for RN Mine Hunting Capability platforms.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The requirement for the Authority's MHC team covers: 1. The requirement to integrate the currently disparate and separately controlled range of key MHC platforms and autonomous capabilities into the Thales MMCM RCC to deliver a single, unified RCC, thereby allowing integrated command, control and operation of the full range of MHC platforms, systems and sub-systems. 2. The potential provision of additional unified RCCs - to the same or slightly amended specification. 3. The provision of associated software, training and SME technical advice in support of the integration activities and wider MHC capability delivery.

Options: The proposed contract will include 3 options for an additional 12 months each in duration.

Procurement Information

The Secretary of State for Defence, acting through DE&S (the "Authority") intends to award Thales UK Limited ("Thales") a direct contract for the supply of up to a maximum of 8 (eight) [Remote Command Centre(s) ("RCC ")] as part of the Authority's Mine Hunting Capability ("MHC"). The proposed contract duration will be for a maximum of 72-months, comprising a fixed 36-month period with three 12-month (consecutive) options. The total value of the proposed contract is up to a maximum of PS100,000,000.00 (one hundred million pounds). The requirement for the Authority's MHC team covers: 1. The requirement to integrate the currently disparate and separately controlled range of key MHC platforms and autonomous capabilities into the Thales MMCM RCC to deliver a single, unified RCC, thereby allowing integrated command, control and operation of the full range of MHC platforms, systems and sub-systems. 2. The potential provision of additional unified RCCs - to the same or slightly amended specification. 3. The provision of associated software, training and SME technical advice in support of the integration activities and wider MHC capability delivery. In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement 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 a contract to Thales using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 (as amended) for technical reasons. This is because the Authority has identified a strict technical impracticality for a supplier other than Thales to achieve the Authority's technical requirements as it is necessary to use specific knowledge, tools or means which only Thales currently has at its disposal. More specifically, the Thales RCC has been developed as part of the International collaborative Maritime Mine Counter Measures ("MMCM") programme and makes extensive use of Thales' background Technical information and know-how, to deliver a technically complex and mature capability, providing the essential safe-to-operate and operationally-secure remote command and control for the complex MMCM system of systems. This pre-existing RCC will form the basis for the new combined RCC, into which other hardware and software elements will be integrated. The absence of the specific knowledge, tools or means to achieve the Authority's technical requirements prohibits other potential suppliers from effectively delivering the requirement and thus also prohibits meaningful competition. Subsequently, given the high degree of technical and safety-related complexity involved within the scope of the proposed RCC integration, and the necessity for the modification of Thales' existing RCC to ensure all software and hardware operates safely and collaboratively, Thales are the only commercial entity that possess both the relevant expertise and suitably qualified & experienced personnel to effectively deliver the totality of this requirement.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ff2e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085058-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
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

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


CPV Codes

35711000 - Command, control, communication systems

35712000 - Tactical command, control and communication systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£4,000,000,000 £1B-£10B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Apr 202510 months 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
Attn: Garry Ogborne, Mr Garry Ogborne
Contact Email
garry.ogborne100@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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
TLD3 Greater Manchester, TLJ11 Berkshire, TLK23 Somerset CC

Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THALES

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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