Award

Delivery of Engine Support to Maintain the Capability of MoD Boats

DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

30 Oct 2025 at 14:23

Planning

23 Oct 2025 at 07:25

Summary of the contracting process

The recent procurement process overseen by Defence Equipment and Support, a central government public authority located in Bristol, focuses on maintaining the capability of Ministry of Defence (MoD) boats. This procurement falls under the defence and security industry category and was carried out using a direct award method, with a framework agreement set in place. The procurement involves services related to reconditioning ships or boats and has recently reached the award stage. The awarded contract, valued at approximately £60 million, is set to commence on 1st February 2027 and will last until 31st January 2034. The awarded supplier is E P Barrus Limited, the sole UK distributor for a number of critical engine parts for MoD boats, which are currently operating under a pre-existing framework agreement with the buyer.

This tender presents growth opportunities primarily for large suppliers with specialized capabilities in supplying, servicing, and repairing maritime engine components, particularly those with expertise in specific brands such as Mercury, Mariner, Yanmar, Thrustmaster, and Hydromaster. Given the technical requirements and the direct award approach due to defence and security reasons, the opportunity is especially relevant for businesses with a strong technical assurance capacity to ensure the integration safety of engines and host platforms. Companies that already have established relationships with MoD or similar agencies, and those that hold necessary design rights and technical expertise, will find themselves particularly suited to engaging with this type of long-term contract.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Delivery of Engine Support to Maintain the Capability of MoD Boats

Notice Description

Delivery of Engine Support to Maintain the Capability of Ministry of Defence Boats

Procurement Information

The Boats team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to award a Framework Agreement to E P Barrus Ltd for the delivery of engine support to maintain the capability of MOD Boats. The estimated Framework Agreement value is circa PS45M for the entire duration of the Agreement which is 7 years. It is considered that this contract can be placed using a Direct Award pursuant to Section 41, Schedule 5, Para 7 (Additional or repeat goods, services or works) of the Procurement Act 2023 for Defence and Security reasons. The Framework Agreement will cover the servicing, repair and supply of all outboard and specified inboard engines that are currently fitted to MOD Boats. The Authority currently holds a Framework Agreement with E P Barrus Ltd for the service, repair and supply of outboard engines. The Authority currently operates outboard engines manufactured by Mercury, Mariner, Yanmar, Thrustmaster and Hydromaster and Inboard Motors manufactured by Yanmar and John Deere. Any contract resulting from this Transparency Notice will support all of these engines; of which E P Barrus are the sole UK distributor for Mercury Mariner and Yanmar. Furthermore, there is embedded technology within various outboard engines, which EP Barrus have the design rights on and technical expertise to install, remove and maintain such components. The Authority does not believe it would be possible for another supplier to provide either complete engines, maintenance, or associated spare parts without recourse to E P Barrus Ltd as a result. Inboard Engines are particularly closely integrated with their host platform, and it would be unfeasible to specify an engine other than that currently operated without significant re-design. All engines (whether inboard or outboard) are integrated with their host platforms, and changing engine manufacturer would increase technical risk, including affecting the ability of the whole boat to meet its capability requirements and the ability of the Boats Team to maintain the Safety Case of the boat. It would also increase the training burden and logistics burden on End Users. A number of the engines also have Air Delivery certification which requires a large amount of testing. If a new engine is fitted it may result that the change to the boat will require a reassessment and recertification of all aspects of boat capability, which is both costly and time consuming (and reduces / removes capability while the trials are ongoing). Accordingly, only E P Barrus Ltd can provide the required technical assurance and ensure the safety of the engine and platform.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d206
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069765-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

50244000 - Reconditioning services of ships or boats

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£50,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Oct 20251 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 Oct 2025Expired
Award Date
30 Oct 20251 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2034 Over 5 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
DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
haylie.coles100@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

E P BARRUS

Further Information

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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