Award

N/A

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

22 Sep 2025 at 13:36

Award

14 Apr 2025 at 14:58

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence, located in Bristol, UK, has successfully completed the procurement process for a "Battery Storage Management System" under a direct award procedure to Zero Alpha Solutions Ltd. The procurement falls within the industry category of "Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment" and is considered a procurement of goods. The contract is valued at up to £650,000, covering the supply of up to 6 militarised lithium battery storage containers, suitable for both UK and global transportation. The contract period started on 1st May 2025 and is expected to end on 30th September 2025. This procurement, managed through a direct award process, leveraged the authority provided under the Procurement Act 2023 due to specific technical requirements and tight timelines.

This tender presents a solid opportunity for businesses specialising in the defence sector, particularly those with expertise in manufacturing and supplying specialised battery storage solutions. The direct award to Zero Alpha Solutions Ltd underscores the potential for companies with unique, technically advanced capabilities and knowledge, particularly those that have products with specific safety and regulatory accreditations. While this contract required the exclusive skills of Zero Alpha Solutions Ltd, it highlights the demand for innovative solutions in defence-related equipment, opening avenues for businesses capable of developing or supplying similarly regulated and certified technologies. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the defence and security industries might find opportunities in providing complementary services or niche products that meet stringent safety requirements and contribute to long-term strategic projects like this one.

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Notice Title

N/A

Notice Description

Battery Storage Management System

Procurement Information

As a covered procurement, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that the direct award of the contract is lawful in accordance with section 41(1) and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 (the "PA 2023"). The Secretary of State for Defence, acting through DE&S (the "Authority") intends to procure up to 6 (six) lithium battery storage containers in support of Project Asgard for experimentation and operational purposes. The estimated value of this contract is up to PS650,000.00 (six hundred and fifty thousand pounds) and the proposed term is 5 (five) months. In accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the PA 2023, the Authority wishes to directly award a contract for these containers to Zero Alpha Solutions Ltd ("ZASL") for technical reasons. ZASL is the Original Equipment Manufacturer of a militarised lithium battery storage container solution, which has previously been procured by the Authority. Only ZASL produces the containers that satisfy the Authority's safety assurance requirements for safe operation and use in-service, as well as accreditation for UK and global transportation regulatory requirements. Therefore, there is an absence of competition for technical reasons as no other supplier is able to supply containers that meet the Authority's requirements and there are no reasonable alternatives to these goods. The Authority has identified strict technical impracticality for a supplier other than ZASL to achieve the Authority's technical requirements as it is necessary to use specific knowledge and tools which only ZASL currently has at its disposal. More specifically this relates to the safety and deployment of the requirement. Due to the timescales for this requirement, only ZASL can achieve the Authority's strict and necessary deadlines for production and delivery of the storage containers to ensure there is no detrimental effect on the management of the batteries. Obtaining goods from any other supplier would result in unacceptable technical, capability and safety risks to users when conducting operational and experimentation activities.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0502bf
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058546-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Restricted procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

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


CPV Codes

31158100 - Battery chargers

35000000 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£650,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£308,952 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Apr 202510 months ago
Contract Period
30 Apr 2025 - 30 Sep 2025 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Amanda Fry
Contact Email
anjana.nair101@mod.gov.uk, defcomrcl-systemsguidance@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
07815039859

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

ZERO ALPHA SOLUTIONS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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