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Explosive Material Identification Procurement Project

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

23 Jul 2026 at 12:34

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

01 Aug 2025 at 17:00

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

18 Jun 2025 at 12:57

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

09 May 2025 at 13:04

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

09 May 2025 at 13:01

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support, part of the Ministry of Defence, procured explosive material identification equipment and its in-service support for use across the United Kingdom. The requirement covers two lots: hand-held FTIR spectrum analysers and hand-held Raman spectrum analysers. These are specialist analytical instruments used to identify explosive materials, supported by associated equipment delivery, technical support and integrated logistics. The procurement is for goods with continuing support services and falls within the defence and security sector. Both lots were awarded to the same supplier, allowing the authority to place one contract covering the complete FTIR and Raman requirement. The opportunity is relevant to manufacturers, distributors and specialist support providers of portable chemical or explosive-material detection systems.

The procurement has been awarded to Southern Scientific Ltd. The award date was 23 July 2026, with an awarded value of £8,250,000 excluding VAT and £9,900,000 including VAT, covering both lots. Lot 1, hand-held FTIR analysers and support, was valued at £3,800,000 excluding VAT (£4,560,000 including VAT); Lot 2, hand-held Raman analysers and support, at £4,200,000 excluding VAT (£5,040,000 including VAT). The contract period is 4 August 2026 to 4 December 2035, with two optional one-year extensions available to 4 December 2037. It used a selective competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023. Evaluation used weighted value-for-money criteria, with qualification and technical stages covering delivery, quality, project management, integrated logistics, safety and technical experience.

This award demonstrates demand from Defence Equipment and Support for portable FTIR and Raman analysers combined with long-term in-service support. A credible future competitor would need proven capability in explosive-material identification, supplying and maintaining hand-held analytical equipment, and delivering reliable support across a UK-wide defence requirement. Relevant experience includes equipment delivery, quality assurance, project management, integrated logistics support, safety and technical performance. Suppliers would also need sufficient legal, financial and technical capacity, appropriate insurance and data-protection arrangements, and the ability to manage subcontractors effectively. The evaluation also tested health and safety, modern-slavery controls and compliance requirements relating to Russian or Belarusian entities. The requirement was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Explosive Material Identification Procurement Project

Notice Description

The Protect Delivery Team, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to award a contract to Southern Scientific Ltd for the Procurement and In Service Support of Explosive Material Identification equipment. The contract shall be awarded under the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, utilising the weighted value for money evaluation criteria. Southern Scientific Ltd shall be awarded a Contract for both Lots, as they submitted compliant bids in accordance with the evaluation criteria set out in the Invitation to Tender. One Contract shall be placed with Southern Scientific Ltd for both Lot 1: The procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-Held FTIR Spectrum analysers and Lot 2: The procurement and in-service support of Hand-Held RAMAN spectrum analysers. The Contract shall be for a period of 9 years and 4 months, with the option to extend duration for a further 2 years (2x 1 year options). The total estimated Contract Value (including options) is PS8,250,000.00 ex VAT and PS9,900,000.00 inc VAT.

Lot Information

Procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-Held FTIR Spectrum Analysers

Options: Any resulting Contract of Lot 1 (Procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-held FTIR Spectrum Analysers) will include the following Contract Options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years: - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. Any resulting Contract of Lot 2 (Procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-held RAMAN Spectrum Analysers) will include the following Contract Options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years: - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option(s) listed above. Further information on the option(s) will be provided in the Invitation to Tender.

Renewal: Any resulting Contract of Lot 1 (Procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-held FTIR Spectrum Analysers) will include the following Contract Options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years: - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. Any resulting Contract of Lot 2 (Procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-held RAMAN Spectrum Analysers) will include the following Contract Options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years: - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option(s) listed above. Further information on the option(s) will be provided in the Invitation to Tender.

Procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-Held RAMAN Spectrum Analysers

Options: Any resulting Contract of Lot 1 (Procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-held FTIR Spectrum Analysers) will include the following Contract Options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years: - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. Any resulting Contract of Lot 2 (Procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-held RAMAN Spectrum Analysers) will include the following Contract Options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years: - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option(s) listed above. Further information on the option(s) will be provided in the Invitation to Tender.

Renewal: Any resulting Contract of Lot 1 (Procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-held FTIR Spectrum Analysers) will include the following Contract Options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years: - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. Any resulting Contract of Lot 2 (Procurement and In-Service Support of Hand-held RAMAN Spectrum Analysers) will include the following Contract Options to extend the in-service support duration for a further 2 years: - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. - Extension of In-Service Support for an additional one-year period. The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option(s) listed above. Further information on the option(s) will be provided in the Invitation to Tender.

Planning Information

The Authority intends to undertake further market engagement with interested suppliers until 24th July to understand the market for each Lot and potential solutions. The Authority will be contacting Suppliers identified in market research to understand the competitive market for each lot as well as providing suppliers with the opportunity for engagement sessions. The proposed engagement sessions will provide suppliers with the opportunity to present their capabilities to the Authority through face-to-face (F2F) meetings or, where F2F meetings are not feasible, virtual alternatives. Each meeting will be limited to 60 minutes in duration and will not delve into specific project details or information about the requirements. Please note all questions raised by interested suppliers will be collated by the Authority and subsequently shared to ensure transparency and uphold the principles of fair and open competition. Please contact deslestsp-seec-commercial@mod.gov.uk quoting reference ‘714783450’ by 04th July 2025 if you would like to arrange an engagement session. Please note if you do not quote reference '714783450' your email may not be seen. All information provided at each Market Engagement Stage shall not be used by the Authority to down select or evaluate suppliers but shall help inform the development of the requirement and contracting strategy only. In issuing this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice, The Authority is not committing to commence with any procurement in relation to the requirements stated in this Notice. Accordingly, any expenditure, work or effort undertaken before contract award is a matter solely for the commercial judgement of potential suppliers.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050fb0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069661-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

CPV Codes

38433300 - Spectrum analyser

38434500 - Biochemical analysers

38546100 - Bomb detectors

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£8,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£8,000,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£8,250,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
26 Aug 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
1 Aug 2025Expired
Award Date
23 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
4 Aug 2026 - 4 Dec 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Southern Scientific Ltd

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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