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SONAR 2054IR IN-SERVICE SUPPORT (ISS) - UK 5 (Transparency Notice)

DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

21 Jul 2025 at 10:15

Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement process for the "SONAR 2054IR IN-SERVICE SUPPORT (ISS) - UK 5 (Transparency Notice)" is conducted by Defence Equipment and Support, a central government public authority. This procurement falls under the category of services, specifically repair and maintenance of military electronic systems, and is located in Bristol, United Kingdom. The process has reached the award stage, and a direct award contract, valued at £8.7 million including VAT, is intended to be placed with Lockheed Martin UK Ltd. The contract period is scheduled to commence on 1st April 2026 and conclude on 31st March 2032, with potential contract signing anticipated by 31st March 2026. This procurement adheres to the special regime for defence and security, justified under technical reasons allowing single supplier engagement.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for businesses capable of delivering complex and technically demanding support services in the defence sector. Companies with expertise in military sonar systems and a proven track record in managing in-service support tasks such as programme management, engineering, and repair services are ideally positioned to compete. The requirement for access to specific technical data and design information means that businesses already engaged with Lockheed Martin UK or possessing similar capabilities could leverage existing relationships and technical knowledge to enhance their competitive edge in future procurements of this nature.

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Notice Title

SONAR 2054IR IN-SERVICE SUPPORT (ISS) - UK 5 (Transparency Notice)

Notice Description

The Secretary of State for Defence (the Authority), through the Sonar and Maritime Sensors (SaMS) Project Team within Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), intends to place a 6-year contract, with an estimated total value, PS8.7M (incl VAT) with Lockheed Martin UK (LMUK) for the In-Service Support of the current Sonar 2054 Inboard Replacement (IR) system fitted within the Royal Navy Submarine Fleet. The support activities will include but not be limited to: a) programme and contract management b) provision of Post Design Services c) management of equipment obsolescence which may include technology refresh activity d) provision of on-site engineering and testing e) provision of spares including shipping and fitting f) provision and management of equipment repair activities g) provision of disposal services h) other support related activities requiring site visits, i) additional ad-hoc tasking.

Procurement Information

It is considered that the direct award of the contract is lawful pursuant to Section 41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 for single suppliers - technical reasons. The proposed In-Service Support is a continuation of the existing support provided by LMUK under the current contract. LMUK, are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for S2054IR, and the only economic operator that has access to the LMUK designs, drawings and technical data which is necessary to fulfil the requirement. LMUK designed, developed and installed the Sonar 2054IR system across all the UK Ministry of Defence's platforms and shore installations and has supported the system since its installation & holds the necessary specialist technical knowhow to fulfil the requirement. S2054IR is essential to the safety of the V class platforms at sea and it is not considered that another provider could meet the required level of support without access to the referenced technical data and know-how, introducing an unacceptable level of technical, safety and security risk to MOD capability.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0562bf
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041558-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency 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

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

50 - Repair and maintenance services


CPV Codes

38113000 - Sonars

50660000 - Repair and maintenance services of military electronic systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£8,300,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
margaret.thorne404@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

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

LOCKHEED MARTIN

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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