Award

713335450 - Supply of In-Service Support for Eddy Current Flaw Detector Equipment

DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

10 Oct 2025 at 12:44

Award

29 Sep 2025 at 13:43

Award

21 Jul 2025 at 10:52

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence, through its arm Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), has awarded a contract to ETher NDE Limited for the provision of In-Service Support (ISS) for Eddy Current Flaw Detector Equipment. The contract is structured as a five-year term with the potential extension of three additional option years, commencing tentatively on 10th September 2025. The procurement method was a direct award, justified by the supplier's exclusive rights and technical capabilities as the original equipment manufacturer. The services encompass repair, maintenance, and calibration of equipment critical to the MOD’s air defence capabilities across various UK locations, with a contract value of £879,000 excluding VAT.

This contract presents significant opportunities for businesses in the non-destructive testing and aerospace maintenance industries. It is particularly advantageous for specialised companies holding exclusive rights to specific technologies and intellectual property, like ETher NDE. Organisations with expertise in software development, equipment calibration, and aircraft maintenance services could find lucrative and growth-promoting avenues in contracts requiring such bespoke and technically intensive solutions. By fostering relationships and expanding capabilities in these high-demand areas, businesses can not only secure government contracts but also broaden their market reach and adapt to future technological advancements within the defence sector.

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Notice Title

713335450 - Supply of In-Service Support for Eddy Current Flaw Detector Equipment

Notice Description

DE&S Deca, on behalf of the Air Commodities Delivery Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence ("MOD"), intends to enter into a 5 year plus 3 option years contract with ETher NDE Ltd for the provision of In-Service Support (ISS) services, including the repair and maintenance of the equipment, the calibration of the equipment and the provision of software updates, in relation to the Eddy Current Flaw Detector Non-Destructive Test Equipment held at various locations within the MOD, which equipment supports the MOD's Air Defence capabilities. The proposed contract is expected to commence on 8th September 2025 (subject to change) and to have a total Value of PS0.879M (Ex Vat).

Procurement Information

This procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a planned procurement notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the Act) is lawful in accordance with paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 to the Act due to the proposed supplier having exclusive rights and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 due to an absence of competition for technical reasons. This is because ETher NDE Ltd is the original equipment manufacturer of the equipment, the design authority for the equipment and the exclusive owner and holder of all intellectual property rights and proprietary technical information (including drawings, specifications and software) relating to the Eddy Current Flaw Detector Non-Destructive Test Equipment and the TE Test Software required to calibrate the equipment and the only supplier with access to the intellectual property rights and the proprietary technical information necessary to enable the ISS services to be performed. In addition, the ISS services, in particular the required software updates for the equipment, are necessary in order to maintain the interoperability of the equipment with other Non-Destructive Test Equipment operated by the MOD in support of the MOD's Air Defence capabilities. There are no reasonable alternatives to these ISS services, therefore Ether NDE is the only supplier able to perform the required ISS services.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0562cb
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/064185-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
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
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services


CPV Codes

71632200 - Non-destructive testing services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£879,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£879,000 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
9 Oct 2025 - 9 Oct 2030 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
des-deca-mst-procurement@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
FLINTSHIRE
Postcode
CH5 2LS
Post Town
Chester
Country
Wales

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL3 North Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL34 Flintshire and Wrexham
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Flintshire
Electoral Ward
Queensferry and Sealand
Westminster Constituency
Alyn and Deeside

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ETHER NDE

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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.

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