Award

Bridge Navigation Training Simulators Hosting Lease

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

18 Dec 2025 at 14:12

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

11 Nov 2025 at 13:31

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

10 Nov 2025 at 11:24

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract to Metaverse VR for the hosting of Bridge Navigation Training Simulators at Portsdown Technology Park in Portsmouth, United Kingdom. This procurement, falling under the Services industry category, involves a direct award due to the technical requirements of the equipment's location and maintenance needs. The contract covers the period from 1st April 2026 to 31st December 2027 and has been awarded for a total value of £720,000 (gross), with the contract being signed on 2nd December 2025. The procurement method used is a direct award, justified by the unique capability of the supplier to meet the Ministry's needs due to its established premises and technical expertise.

This tender presents a significant business growth opportunity for Metaverse VR, a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) headquartered in Portsmouth. The company's specialised capability in hosting and maintaining complex training simulators for military operations is uniquely aligned with the tender's requirements. Other businesses that possess specialised equipment hosting facilities or have niche expertise in military training simulations might also consider positioning themselves for upcoming opportunities in similar procurement exercises. However, given the specialised nature of the equipment and existing contractual obligations, competition is limited, favouring businesses with an established foothold in this niche sector.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

Bridge Navigation Training Simulators Hosting Lease

Notice Description

The Future Maritime Synthetic Navigation Capability (FMSNC) project under Selborne Contract (Fleet 00603) Task TO13b placed two (2) Training Simulators at Portsdown Technology Park (PTP) which is a non-MOD site. Whilst the original PTP Lease was included in Selborne TO13b which expires March 2026, the extension of the lease is not. A new hosting arrangement/ lease is required to be sourced for 01 April 2026 to 31 December 2027 directly with Metaverse, for the continuation of use of the Simulators.

Procurement Information

It is considered that only this supplier can deliver the requirements, due to technical reasons. This is because the equipment is based at premises leased by the supplier. There is a separate contract with the supplier for the maintenance of the equipment where they provide specific Royal Navy SME input which is critical for ensuring the fidelity of the ships models and for the geographical areas in which specific navigation landmarks are used by military vessels to enter and exit numerous Naval bases, therefore no other supplier can provide this service and the equipment has to stay located with the supplier for this purpose. Moving the equipment to a MOD-owned premises, or a different supplier premises, would incur a significant cost and impact on the supplier's ability to carry out the maintenance contract where they are the SME.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05dd76
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084436-2025
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
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63121100 - Storage services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£600,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
£393,750 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Nov 20253 months ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Dec 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

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
PORTSMOUTH
Postcode
PO2 8BY
Post Town
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Portsmouth
Electoral Ward
Nelson
Westminster Constituency
Portsmouth North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

METAVERSE VR

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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-05dd76-2025-12-18T14:12:23Z",
    "date": "2025-12-18T14:12:23Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05dd76",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PHVX-4316-ZVGZ",
            "name": "Ministry of Defence",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PHVX-4316-ZVGZ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "NCHQ, Whale Island",
                "locality": "Portsmouth",
                "postalCode": "PO2 8BY",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ31"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "eleanor.rust100@mod.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-13684068",
            "name": "Metaverse VR",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "13684068"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "3.05, Innovation And Collaboration Hub, Portsdown Technology Park, North Hill",
                "locality": "Portsmouth",
                "postalCode": "PO6 3RU",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKJ31"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "comms@metaverse-vr.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false,
                "publicServiceMissionOrganization": false,
                "shelteredWorkshop": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PHVX-4316-ZVGZ",
        "name": "Ministry of Defence"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "715719458",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Bridge Navigation Training Simulators Hosting Lease",
        "description": "The Future Maritime Synthetic Navigation Capability (FMSNC) project under Selborne Contract (Fleet 00603) Task TO13b placed two (2) Training Simulators at Portsdown Technology Park (PTP) which is a non-MOD site. Whilst the original PTP Lease was included in Selborne TO13b which expires March 2026, the extension of the lease is not. A new hosting arrangement/ lease is required to be sourced for 01 April 2026 to 31 December 2027 directly with Metaverse, for the continuation of use of the Simulators.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "It is considered that only this supplier can deliver the requirements, due to technical reasons. This is because the equipment is based at premises leased by the supplier. There is a separate contract with the supplier for the maintenance of the equipment where they provide specific Royal Navy SME input which is critical for ensuring the fidelity of the ships models and for the geographical areas in which specific navigation landmarks are used by military vessels to enter and exit numerous Naval bases, therefore no other supplier can provide this service and the equipment has to stay located with the supplier for this purpose. Moving the equipment to a MOD-owned premises, or a different supplier premises, would incur a significant cost and impact on the supplier's ability to carry out the maintenance contract where they are the SME.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "Bridge Navigation Training Simulators Hosting Lease",
            "status": "active",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 720000,
                "amount": 600000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-13684068",
                    "name": "Metaverse VR"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "63121100",
                            "description": "Storage services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UK",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        },
                        {
                            "region": "UKJ31",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2027-12-31T23:59:59+00:00"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "072320-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072320-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-11-10T11:24:21Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                },
                {
                    "id": "072794-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK6",
                    "description": "Contract award notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072794-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-11-11T13:31:20Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2025-11-27T23:59:59+00:00",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ],
            "date": "2025-11-10T00:00:00+00:00",
            "standstillPeriod": {
                "endDate": "2025-11-20T23:59:59+00:00"
            }
        }
    ],
    "language": "en",
    "contracts": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "awardID": "1",
            "status": "active",
            "period": {
                "startDate": "2026-04-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                "endDate": "2027-12-31T23:59:59+00:00"
            },
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 472500.14,
                "amount": 393750.12,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "dateSigned": "2025-12-02T00:00:00+00:00",
            "noAgreedMetricsRationale": "Under threshold not required.",
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "084436-2025",
                    "documentType": "contractNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK7",
                    "description": "Contract details notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084436-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-12-18T14:12:23Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}