Connectivity Assurance Testing for the Ajax Programme

DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

06 May 2026 at 09:48

Award

21 Apr 2026 at 07:46

Award

03 Nov 2025 at 12:19

Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support, a central government public authority based in Bristol, United Kingdom, has completed the award stage of a procurement process for the Connectivity Assurance Testing (CAT) for the Ajax Programme. This contract, awarded to General Dynamics UK Limited, involves telecommunication services within the defence industry to ensure the readiness of the platform communications installation, including the GFE BOWMAN equipment. The procurement process was conducted through a direct award, justified by the technical expertise and security clearances possessed solely by General Dynamics. The contract period begins on 1st April 2026 and is set to continue until 31st March 2028, with an option for a one-year extension. The estimated total contract value is £3 million, including VAT.

This procurement provides significant business growth opportunities, particularly for large-scale defence contractors capable of handling high-security projects within the UK. Companies with expertise in connectivity assurance testing, embedded systems, and security accreditation could find indirect opportunities here, potentially collaborating with contractors like General Dynamics. While this specific contract was a direct award due to technical constraints, staying informed about similar tenders can help businesses prepare and position themselves for future defence-related opportunities.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

Connectivity Assurance Testing for the Ajax Programme

Notice Description

The DE&S CV2 Portfolio team part of the Secretary State for Defence (the Authority") intends to award a contract to General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited for the provision of Connectivity Assurance Testing for a period of three (3) years (2+1 option year). The estimated total contract value is PS3million incl VAT As a background information, AJAX vehicle deliveries started in December 2018 and as a part of the Joint Acceptance Group, all vehicles undertaken by the Authority there is a requirement for the conduct of Connectivity Assurance Test (CAT) for the platform communications installation including the GFE BOWMAN equipment supplied by the Authority. The requirement is currently delivered under Contract No 700009869 and will expire in March 2026. Due to the Ajax Vehicle Production schedule being extended to 2028, the CAT scope of work needs to mirror the schedule until all vehicles are produced and assured with CAT as such the need to award a contract. In accordance with Section 2 of the Procurement Act 2023 this procurement is governed by the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 applies, in that, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited has the only suitably trained and qualified personnel to carry out CAT along with access and ownership of specialist testing equipment to assure and certify the BOWMAN equipment to In-service readiness. They also hold the necessary security accreditations, clearances, and sovereign capability to perform this work within UK Defence standards. Due to interoperability and capability risks there are no reasonable alternatives available.

Procurement Information

The DE&S CV2 Portfolio team part of the Secretary State for Defence (the Authority") intends to award a contract to General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited for the provision of Connectivity Assurance Testing for a period of three (3) years (2+1 option year). The estimated total contract value is PS3million incl VAT As a background information, AJAX vehicle deliveries started in December 2018 and as a part of the Joint Acceptance Group, all vehicles undertaken by the Authority there is a requirement for the conduct of Connectivity Assurance Test (CAT) for the platform communications installation including the GFE BOWMAN equipment supplied by the Authority. The requirement is currently delivered under Contract No 700009869 and will expire in March 2026. Due to the Ajax Vehicle Production schedule being extended to 2028, the CAT scope of work needs to mirror the schedule until all vehicles are produced and assured with CAT as such the need to award a contract. In accordance with Section 2 of the Procurement Act 2023 this procurement is governed by the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 applies, in that, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited has the only suitably trained and qualified personnel to carry out CAT along with access and ownership of specialist testing equipment to assure and certify the BOWMAN equipment to In-service readiness. They also hold the necessary security accreditations, clearances, and sovereign capability to perform this work within UK Defence standards. Due to interoperability and capability risks there are no reasonable alternatives available.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d8df
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041409-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

51 - Installation services (except software)

64 - Postal and telecommunications services


CPV Codes

51300000 - Installation services of communications equipment

64220000 - Telecommunication services except telephone and data transmission services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£2,784,853 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,853,861 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 May 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Nov 20257 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

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

GENERAL DYNAMICS

Further Information

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.

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