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The Provision of In Barrack Engineering Support (IBES) to Watchkeeper

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

ContractAmendment

10 Oct 2025 at 11:24

UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Award

29 Aug 2025 at 13:35

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

15 Aug 2025 at 15:16

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

30 Apr 2025 at 12:03

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement process involves the Ministry of Defence contracting for the Provision of In Barrack Engineering Support (IBES) to the Watchkeeper Remotely Piloted Air System. The Ministry, based in Andover, United Kingdom, classified as a public authority in central government, has undergone both a direct award and contract amendment stage. Initially awarded on 29 August 2025 to MPI Limited for a duration extending until 31 March 2026, the contract has recently been modified on 27 October 2025 to include a value uplift of 12.4% due to unforeseeable circumstances. The procurement falls under the industry category of engineering support services and covers the deployment of technicians for maintenance services, with a substantial contract value exceeding £1.24 million, reflecting its significance and scale.

This procurement offers opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with specialised expertise in defence engineering support, particularly those capable of providing skilled technicians for maintenance of complex systems such as the Watchkeeper RPAS. Businesses with existing capabilities in engineering support services, especially those based within the UK, may find similar opportunities advantageous for growth due to the Ministry of Defence's need for specialised and responsive suppliers. Given the demand for continuity and readiness in defence operations, suppliers with a quick ramp-up capability and experience in high-stakes environments are ideally suited to compete for future contracts or renewals in this domain.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

The Provision of In Barrack Engineering Support (IBES) to Watchkeeper

Notice Description

The requirement is for the Provision of In Barrack Equipment Support (IBES) to Watchkeeper Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS). It will cover the deployment of technicians to provide maintenance services on Watchkeeper RPAS.

Procurement Information

The Authority intends to award a contract to MPI Limited for the Provision of In Barrack Engineering Support (IBES) to Watchkeeper Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS). The contract will cover the deployment at specific working locations of technicians as workforce enhancement, to provide maintenance services on Watchkeeper RPAS. The Contract is intended to be for a duration of 9 months commencing on 1 July 2025, with 1 x 6-month option period (or part thereof). The duration of the Contract aligns with the estimated out of service date of Watchkeeper, 31 March 2026. The Watchkeeper capability is required to remain at readiness level until a suitable replacement reaches its initial operating capability. The value of the Contract (including option year) is estimated to be PS911,536.95 exclusive of VAT. It is considered that this contract can be awarded in accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023, where competition is absent for technical reasons. MPI Limited is the only supplier with the requisite skills, knowledge and experience to provide the requisite engineering support to the Watchkeeper platform. The time taken to recruit and train technicians to the requisite standard would cause an unacceptable capability gap in the provision of the services resulting in an unacceptable risk to readiness levels of the platform and, therefore, operations.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050a0b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064092-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK10 - Contract Change Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71336000 - Engineering support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£911,536 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£911,536 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Oct 202510 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Apr 20251 years ago
Contract Period
29 Aug 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

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
ANDOVER
Postcode
SP11 8HT
Postcode Area
Salisbury
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ36 Central Hampshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Test Valley
Electoral Ward
Andover Millway
Westminster Constituency
North West Hampshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MPI Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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