This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

22 May 2026 at 13:34

Planning

31 Oct 2025 at 11:56

Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support, a central government public authority in the UK, has completed a procurement process with a direct award contract given to BAE Surface Ships for the Sting Ray Mid-Life Upgrade (SRMLU) Demonstration and Initial Manufacture Phase. This contract, valued at approximately £600 million including VAT, pertains to the defence and security industry. The purpose is the refurbishment of existing stockpiles of the Sting Ray Mod 1 Lightweight Torpedo to the enhanced Mod 2 design. The contract was officially awarded on 22nd May 2026 and has a projected start date of 1st July 2028, lasting until 30th June 2032, with the possibility of an extension up to 30th June 2036.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for large-scale defence sector enterprises, specifically those involved in advanced weapons manufacturing and refurbishment, given its exclusive nature and orientation towards an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The contract's substantial value signifies a substantial investment into technology upgrades and long-term partnerships, ensuring a continuation of cutting-edge solutions. With BAE Surface Ships being the lead supplier owing to its technical expertise and existing relationship with the equipment, related businesses with similar technological competencies may consider roles in supplementary services or future tender collaborations.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

UK5 - Transparency Notice

Notice Description

Defence Equipment and Support, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to award a Defence and Security contract to BAE Surface Ships (BAES) for the Sting Ray Mid-Life Upgrade (SRMLU) Demonstration and Initial Manufacture Phase. The contract also includes an option for full manufacture to facilitate refurbishment of existing stockpiles of the Sting Ray MOD 1 Lightweight Torpedo to the enhanced Sting Ray MOD 2 design. The initial contract is for a period of 4 years with an option to extend by up to a further 4 years for full manufacture. The estimated value of the Contract is PS600m (incl. VAT).

Procurement Information

It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, as the direct award justification specified in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 (single supplier - technical reasons) applies. BAES is the current Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), having acquired the original manufacturer and has significant expertise relating to the weapons system dating back to its initial design. Only the OEM has access to the necessary technical knowledge and documentation to fulfil this requirement. Another supplier would be required to investigate, recreate and trial the design on legacy equipment due to go out of service in 2030. This would lead to significant project delays, with an unacceptable impact on operational capability and potentially introducing unacceptable safety and quality risks. There are no reasonable alternatives.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d7dd
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048004-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment


CPV Codes

35332100 - Torpedoes

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£450,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£450,644,949 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 May 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
22 May 20261 months ago
Contract Period
30 Jun 2028 - 30 Jun 2032 4-5 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
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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

BAE SURFACE SHIPS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05d7dd-2026-05-22T14:34:36+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-22T14:34:36+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05d7dd",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "planning": {
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "070044-2025",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK1",
                "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070044-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-10-31T11:56:54Z",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PVRL-5831-GLMM",
            "name": "Defence Equipment and Support",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PVRL-5831-GLMM"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "MOD Abbey Wood",
                "locality": "Bristol",
                "postalCode": "BS34 8JH",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK12"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Christopher Turner",
                "email": "Christopher.turner177@mod.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-equipment-and-support",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-06160534",
            "name": "BAE Surface Ships",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "06160534"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Victory Point, Lyon Way",
                "locality": "Frimley",
                "postalCode": "GU16 7EX",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ25"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "andy.harrison4@baesystems.com"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "large",
                "vcse": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PVRL-5831-GLMM",
        "name": "Defence Equipment and Support"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "714785451",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "UK5 - Transparency Notice",
        "description": "Defence Equipment and Support, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to award a Defence and Security contract to BAE Surface Ships (BAES) for the Sting Ray Mid-Life Upgrade (SRMLU) Demonstration and Initial Manufacture Phase. The contract also includes an option for full manufacture to facilitate refurbishment of existing stockpiles of the Sting Ray MOD 1 Lightweight Torpedo to the enhanced Sting Ray MOD 2 design. The initial contract is for a period of 4 years with an option to extend by up to a further 4 years for full manufacture. The estimated value of the Contract is PS600m (incl. VAT).",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "35332100",
                        "description": "Torpedoes"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 500000000,
            "amount": 450000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
        "specialRegime": [
            "defenceSecurity"
        ],
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2028-07-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2032-06-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2035-06-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "complete"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-03-31T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023, as the direct award justification specified in Paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 (single supplier - technical reasons) applies. BAES is the current Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), having acquired the original manufacturer and has significant expertise relating to the weapons system dating back to its initial design. Only the OEM has access to the necessary technical knowledge and documentation to fulfil this requirement. Another supplier would be required to investigate, recreate and trial the design on legacy equipment due to go out of service in 2030. This would lead to significant project delays, with an unacceptable impact on operational capability and potentially introducing unacceptable safety and quality risks. There are no reasonable alternatives.",
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            }
        ]
    },
    "language": "en",
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "SRMLU D&M",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 540773939,
                "amount": 450644949,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "goods",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-06160534",
                    "name": "BAE Surface Ships"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "35332100",
                            "description": "Torpedoes"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2028-07-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2032-06-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                "maxExtentDate": "2036-06-30T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "hasRenewal": true,
            "renewal": {
                "description": "Full Manufacture"
            },
            "hasOptions": true,
            "options": {
                "description": "Full Manufacture"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "048004-2026",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/048004-2026",
                    "datePublished": "2026-05-22T14:34:36+01:00",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2028-06-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}