Award

Title missing - see contract for details.

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

29 Aug 2025 at 08:15

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence has finalised the award stage of a procurement process involving Babcock Land Defence Ltd's partnership with V L Test Systems Limited. This contract pertains to the calibration, repair, and maintenance services of critical testing apparatus, including Roller Brake Testers, Wheel Play Detectors, and Headlamp Beam Testers. The procurement falls under the services category and adheres to the legal basis of directive 32009L0081. Notably, the contract is valued at £77,468,000, set to last four years with options for three additional years. It involves a limited procurement method characterized by negotiation without the publication of a contract notice, justified by the technical exclusivity of the services provided. The contract was signed on 21 August 2025, and services will be delivered in the Telford area (UKG21).

This tender offers substantial growth opportunities primarily for businesses specialising in the maintenance and repair sector, particularly those with the technical capabilities to handle defence-related safety-critical equipment. Given the nature of the procurement, businesses with exclusive technical rights or specialised knowledge in calibration and testing apparatus would excel. It underscores the importance of possessing niche expertise or holding proprietary knowledge, which could lead to significant business engagements within the defence industry. The selective procurement method suggests potential for businesses to explore similar avenues by acquiring unique technological competencies or exclusive rights.

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Notice Title

Title missing - see contract for details.

Notice Description

Babcock Land Defence Ltd, acting as agent for the UK Ministry of Defence, has awarded a contract with VL Test Systems Limited for The Calibration, Repair and Maintenance of Roller Brake Testers (RBT), Wheel Play Detectors (WPD) and Headlamp Beam Testers (HBT) for a duration of 4 Years with 3x1 optional years.

Procurement Information

It is considered that the award of this contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 because competition is absent for technical reasons. This is because the Contractor alone holds data in relation to the specifications of the equipment and baseline test procedures for the output specification of the equipment and MOD does not have sufficient rights in the data to provide to a third party. In addition, VLT Test hold exclusive rights over the DTP code software used in the programming of the equipment. The DTP codes and associated software are critical to the calibration and configuration of the test equipment. The equipment covered under this contract is considered safety critical test equipment, and access to DTP codes and relevant technical repair and output specifications is required. Without access or rights to the relevant DTP codes, or the relevant technical documentation, MOD is unable to compete this requirement.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-058fef
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052261-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services


CPV Codes

50412000 - Repair and maintenance services of testing apparatus

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£77,468,000 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 Aug 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 Aug 20256 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Not Specified
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

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
TELFORD
Postcode
TF2 8JT
Post Town
Telford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG21 Telford and Wrekin
Delivery Location
TLG21 Telford and Wrekin

Local Authority
Telford and Wrekin
Electoral Ward
Donnington
Westminster Constituency
The Wrekin

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

V L TEST SYSTEMS

Further Information

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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