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714859450 - Supply and In-Service Support of Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBD)

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

18 Aug 2026 at 09:17

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Planning

20 May 2025 at 16:15

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support, for the Ministry of Defence’s Salvage & Marine Operations Team, procured emergency escape breathing devices (EEBDs) and their support for the Royal Navy. The requirement covers in-service support for the existing Ocenco M-20.2, M-20.2XT and M-20.2T devices, together with the option to buy additional EEBDs and spares when required. The work includes supply, repair and maintenance, recertification or recycling of the equipment, and related safety-critical support. The devices are used by personnel on UK ships and submarines to escape toxic or otherwise life-threatening atmospheres. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The procurement is primarily for goods, with the awarded requirement described as services, and is classified under fire escape equipment, breathing apparatus and repair and maintenance services.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to Ocenco, Inc. through a direct award. The estimated procurement value was £6,000,000 excluding VAT (£7,200,000 including VAT); the awarded value is £5,000,000 excluding VAT (£6,000,000 including VAT). The award covers one lot. The awarded contract is planned to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2031, with two separately exercisable one-year extensions that could extend it to 31 March 2033. A contract signature milestone is scheduled for 26 February 2027. The direct award was justified because Ocenco is the original and sole manufacturer of the devices already in service, and changing equipment would create incompatibility, disproportionate technical difficulties and unacceptable safety risks. The authority cited the applicable maritime and equipment safety standards, including SOLAS, the IMO Fire Safety Systems Code, EN 13794:2018 and ISO 23269-1:2020.

This award demonstrates a specialist requirement for safety-critical breathing equipment used in naval maritime operations, combining original-equipment supply with long-term technical support. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable expertise in EEBD design, servicing, repair, maintenance, recertification and recycling, together with the ability to provide additional devices and spares. Understanding the exact Ocenco variants and their integration with existing Royal Navy equipment would be important, as would the ability to preserve compatibility and support personnel trained on a single equipment type. Suppliers would also need the technical capability and recognised certification arrangements to meet maritime safety requirements, including SOLAS, IMO guidance, EN 13794:2018 and ISO 23269-1:2020. The requirement is recorded as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, although the awarded supplier was a large manufacturer.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

714859450 - Supply and In-Service Support of Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBD)

Notice Description

The Salvage & Marine Operations Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence ('MOD'), intends to negotiate a contract with Ocenco, Inc. ('Ocenco') to provide in-service support to the existing fleet of Emergency Escape Breathing Devices (EEBDs); specifically, the M-20.2, M-20.2XT and M-20.2T variants, manufactured by Ocenco. The contract will also enable the MOD to procure additional EEBDs and spares, if required.

Procurement Information

A change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. Ocenco, Inc. is the sole manufacturer of the M-20.2, M-20.2XT and M-20.2T EEBDs which are currently in service with the MOD. Ocenco is the only company with the in-depth technical know-how and expertise to fulfil the requirement. Ocenco, as the original equipment manufacturer, is the only company with the ability to provide the legislative safety certification to re-certify or recycle the EEBDs which is required for MOD to comply with statutory legislation (SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulations 13.3.4 and 13.4.3; IMO Resolution MSC.98(73), International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code), Chapter 3.2.2, as amended; IMO MSC/Circ.849 or subsequent guidance; EN 13794:2018; and ISO 23269-1:2020). The EEBDs provided by Ocenco, Inc. are a safety critical item to personnel on board ships/submarines. Personnel are trained to use only one variant of EEBDs in the event of an escape from atmospheres that are either toxic or unable to sustain life. Using different equipment would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation by Royal Navy (RN) personnel and incompatibility with existing RN equipment. Introducing another type of EEBD would introduce an unacceptable safety risk to personnel.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05195a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078364-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

35111100 - Breathing apparatus for firefighting

35111400 - Fire escape equipment

44611200 - Breathing apparatus

50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
18 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2031 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
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

Ocenco, Inc.

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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