Award

The Provision of Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) to Outfit 4KMA

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

16 Oct 2025 at 08:22

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has completed the procurement process for Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) to Outfit 4KMA, a critical communication system for the Royal Navy. This procurement falls under the defence security industry category and is set in Corsham, United Kingdom. The process was concluded through a direct award, specifically for technical reasons, to Thales UK Limited, initiated on 16th October 2025. The contract period is scheduled to start on 1st September 2026 and end on 31st August 2029, with potential renewals extending up to two additional years. The main procurement method was direct, highlighting the specialized technical requirements only Thales UK Limited could fulfill due to their previous experience and ownership of intellectual property related to the system.

This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, especially for large businesses experienced in providing repair and maintenance services for security and defence materials. Companies with a focus on developing high-frequency communication technology for the military and possessing substantial technical expertise would be well-suited to engage in similar future contracts. Despite this contract being directly awarded, it underscores the importance of cultivating specific technical knowledge and intellectual property for sustained competitive advantages in the defence sector. For businesses aspiring to enter this field, aligning competencies with such niche technology requirements could facilitate participation in future MOD tenders.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

The Provision of Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) to Outfit 4KMA

Notice Description

Outfit 4KMA is a critical communication system that provides the Royal Navy (RN) with Ship/Shore and Ship/Ship data and voice communication services.

Procurement Information

1. The Strategic Services Radio-in-Service (RiS) Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence ("MOD"), intends to award a new contract with Thales UK for the through life support of the Outfit 4KMA High Frequency (HF) data communication system fitted on several Royal Navy (RN) platforms. 2. It is considered that this Contract can be placed as a Direct Award (for Technical Reasons) pursuant to s41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023. 3. Through Life Support of the Outfit 4KMA HF data communication system is required to: - Maintain documentation including safety, technical publications, configuration and obsolescence management. - Provide fault diagnosis and the development of solutions to systems problems and issues. - Provide a repair capability to repair damaged or faulty components. 4. Outfit 4KMA is a critical communication system that provides the Royal Navy with High Frequency Ship/Shore and Ship/Ship data and voice communication services. It supports the exchange of ACP127-format formal messaging and enables maritime command and control in contested electromagnetic environments. 5. The required Through Life Support is for equipment originally designed and installed on RN platforms by Thales UK in 2005. Following installation, this equipment has also been maintained under multiple contracts with Thales UK over the last 23 years. During this time, Thales UK have built up significant technical knowledge about the 4KMA system/equipment. This knowledge is critical for the continued through-life support/maintaining the Royal Navy's HF capability and cannot be replicated by other suppliers in the market-place. Based on this (and due to the age of the equipment resulting in various obsolescence issues), Thales UK are deemed by the MOD to be the only supplier with the technical ability to meet the MOD requirement for the continued through-life support to the 4KMA equipment. 6. Thales also own the Intellectual Property for the items listed below which needs to be used for the delivery of the through-life support. a. The TRC1760 Modem b. Series 6000 exciter/Receiver and Front Panel c. 125W Power Amplifier TMR 1096 d. 125W Power Amplifier TMR 1097 e. 500W Transceiver System f. ARQ Server g. ACP127/JANAP128 Client h. ACP123 Client i. HF E-mail Client

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05cdb4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065779-2025
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

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50600000 - Repair and maintenance services of security and defence materials

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
16 Oct 20254 months ago
Contract Period
31 Aug 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 3-4 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
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
matthew.rowan101@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
CORSHAM
Postcode
SN13 9NR
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK72 Wiltshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Wiltshire
Electoral Ward
Corsham Ladbrook
Westminster Constituency
Chippenham

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THALES

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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