Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

714928467 - AESAS 2026 - Provision of Aircraft Engineering Support and Airfield Services at Royal Naval Air Stations Yeovilton and Culdrose

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

02 Apr 2026 at 12:09

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

23 Mar 2026 at 14:26

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

16 Sep 2025 at 14:21

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Planning

22 May 2025 at 10:21

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence, a central government public authority located in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, is overseeing the procurement process for the contract titled "AESAS 2026 - Provision of Aircraft Engineering Support and Airfield Services at Royal Naval Air Stations Yeovilton and Culdrose". This involves aircraft maintenance services in the defence and security sector. The process had reached the award stage on 2nd April 2026, with Serco Limited selected as the supplier for a 1 + 1 year contract valued at approximately £14,879,505.20. The procurement was conducted through a direct award method due to the unique operational expertise Serco holds, deemed crucial for continuity and efficiency in ongoing operations at these air stations.

This tender represents substantial growth opportunities primarily for large-scale enterprises experienced in defence services, particularly those specialising in helicopter repair and maintenance. Although Serco Limited was chosen for its established expertise in this context, related businesses could aim to build similar competencies and align themselves with the intricate requirements of national defence contracts. Such enterprises could potentially compete in future tenders, especially if new contracts arise or extensions are required. Opportunities exist for companies that can offer innovative solutions and efficient operational models within the demanding constraints of technical and safety standards applicable in defence sectors.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

714928467 - AESAS 2026 - Provision of Aircraft Engineering Support and Airfield Services at Royal Naval Air Stations Yeovilton and Culdrose

Notice Description

The Royal Navy, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a 1 + 1 year contract to Serco for the Air Engineering Support and Airfield Services (AESAS). As a covered procurement, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. In the circumstances, the authority may award this public contract directly in accordance with section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023. The applicable direct award justification is that set out in paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 of the Act. This justification applies because the AESAS contract concerns the supply of services by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to existing services in circumstances where: a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving services that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing services. Namely, a different supplier would lack Serco's (i) deeply embedded operational expertise and established relationships at Yeovilton and Culdrose, and (ii) suitably trained and experienced staff. And b. the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and/or maintenance. In particular, the difference in service provided by a different supplier would result in: i. unacceptable risks to performance and safety resulting from the need to rebuild critical trust and operational knowledge; ii. the contracting authority needing to invest additional resources in order to retrain staff, modify existing systems, and/or purchase additional equipment; iii. a risk to the continued readiness and support to MCT aircraft, which is critical to national defence; iv. significant adjustments to the Contractor's Quality Management System, resulting in operational inefficiencies and increased costs; v. disruption to coordination and maintenance of ground support and equipment provision at RNAS Yeovilton; and vi. increase in lead times in returning airframes to flying operations at RNAS Culdrose and reduction in overall numbers of available aircraft in the forward fleet.

Procurement Information

The Royal Navy, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a 1 + 1 year contract with a value of PS13,267,000 to Serco for the Air Engineering Support and Airfield Services (AESAS). As a covered procurement, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. In the circumstances, the authority may award this public contract directly in accordance with section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023. The applicable direct award justification is that set out in paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 of the Act. This justification applies because the AESAS contract concerns the supply of services by the existing supplier which are intended as an extension to existing services in circumstances where: a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving services that are different from, or incompatible with, the existing services. Namely, a different supplier would lack Serco's (i) deeply embedded operational expertise and established relationships at Yeovilton and Culdrose, and (ii) suitably trained and experienced staff. And b. the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and/or maintenance. In particular, the difference in service provided by a different supplier would result in: unacceptable risks to performance and safety resulting from the need to rebuild critical trust and operational knowledge; the contracting authority needing to invest additional resources in order to retrain staff, modify existing systems, and/or purchase additional equipment; a risk to the continued readiness and support to MCT aircraft, which is critical to national defence; significant adjustments to the Contractor's Quality Management System, resulting in operational inefficiencies and increased costs; disruption to coordination and maintenance of ground support and equipment provision at RNAS Yeovilton; and increase in lead times in returning airframes to flying operations at RNAS Culdrose and reduction in overall numbers of available aircraft in the forward fleet.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051cd9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030821-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50211100 - Aircraft maintenance services

50212000 - Repair and maintenance services of helicopters

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£12,200,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£14,879,505 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£14,879,505 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Apr 20264 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Dec 2025Expired
Award Date
16 Sep 202511 months ago
Contract Period
2 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
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
PORTSMOUTH
Postcode
PO2 8BY
Postcode Area
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Portsmouth
Electoral Ward
Nelson
Westminster Constituency
Portsmouth North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SERCO Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

Loading OCDS record...