Planning

DTXG micro-AUV

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

05 Dec 2025 at 14:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

04 Dec 2025 at 15:15

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

03 Dec 2025 at 09:09

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence, located in London, UK, is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for a project titled "DTXG micro-AUV". This initiative falls under the category of "Unmanned underwater vehicles," and is part of the goods procurement sector. The contracting authority is seeking to fulfil minimum viable requirements for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for their Diving and Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG). A key milestone includes a market engagement notice, which encourages suppliers to respond via an online MS Forms questionnaire by 6th January 2026. The tender aims to address the needs of the Royal Navy in safeguarding underwater infrastructure and conducting autonomous missions. The process will involve a formal Invitation to Tender (ITT) expected early in 2026, potentially through the Commercial X Dynamic Market platform.

This tender presents a valuable opportunity for companies specialising in autonomous aquatic technology to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Defence. The tender seeks versatile, portable, and robust AUV systems capable of enduring complex underwater missions. Businesses, particularly SMEs and VCSEs, with expertise in marine technology, underwater navigation, and remote operations, are ideally positioned to compete. The procurement outlines that successful bidders will support the development of AUV capabilities, potentially enhancing their market presence and fostering growth by aligning with the defence sector's advanced technological requirements.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

DTXG micro-AUV

Notice Description

This Pre-Market Engagement seeks to identify suppliers whose Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) can meet the MOD's Minimum Viable Requirement (MVR) and to understand which platforms may support future development. This is not an evaluative exercise and nothing in this activity will limit the opportunity to engage in any follow-on ITT. The Royal Navy's Diving and Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) delivers a range of operational outputs, including protection of critical undersea infrastructure in home waters and deployed support to maritime operations. Inherent in these tasks is a requirement to survey and understand the underwater battlespace; tracking undersea cables and pipelines, charting beaches, ports and maritime infrastructure, and plotting potential obstructions or objects. These operations will frequently need to be conducted from small boats by light-role teams at significant range from a host platform. The possibility for sub-surface deployment and recovery is desirable. To meet this requirement, DTXG is exploring a portable, single operator deployable AUV system for environmental data gathering, survey operations, and exploratory autonomous missions in coastal/offshore waters. The rapid procurement of this system will allow the development of the capability alongside the Original Equipment Manufacturer; the key user requirements are below in the following format: Requirement Area - Requirement Statement - Minimum Requirement 1. Depth Performance - Operate effectively in coastal and shelf-sea environments requiring mid-depth capability - equal to or greater than 300 m depth rating 2. Portability - Deployable and recoverable by a single operator without mechanical lifting assistance - Single-person portable & recoverable; no mechanical/specialist Launch And Recovery System 3. Endurance - Support meaningful survey/data-gathering missions - multi-hour mission capability 4. Navigation & Comms - Operate safely and autonomously using standard technologies - Autonomous nav/comms suite suitable for AUV operations 5. Modularity/Deployment Pathway (Desirable) - Provide scope for future payloads, upgrages or development - Modular payload or development pathway (desirable)

Planning Information

To respond to this notice, please complete the MS Forms questionnaire available by copying the link below and pasting into your browser in a new window. The deadline for submission is 6th January 2026 at 15:00. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7WB3vlNZS0iuldChbfoJ5W3zRlF2YItErKtGn0bBS41URE1WRUE5OVRRSFU4RFZBSUk2VFgxVUtERC4u The Authority anticipates that, subject to approvals and budget confirmation, a formal ITT will be released early in the New Year, with a desire to acquire a minimum viable product before the end of FY 2025/26. Subject to approval, the intention is to run the ITT through the Commercial X Dynamic Market. Whilst not mandatory until publication of the formal tender notice, registration on the Dynamic Market is strongly recommended now, as any future tender will only be accessible via that platform. Applying to onboard to the Dynamic Market: Registration is simple. Firstly, you will need to ensure you have created a company profile on the Central Digital Platform (paste URL into browser): https://signin.account.gov.uk/sign-in-or-create Your application to the Dynamic Market needs to be completed on the Defence Sourcing Portal (paste URL into browser): https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontracts.mod.uk%2Fesop%2Fogc-host%2Fpublic%2Fmod%2Fweb%2Flogin.html%3FVISITORID%3D115308aa-96cf-4930-8910-3e29a0cd5024%26_ncp%3D1751540045689.1365397-1&data=05%7C02%7CJosiah.Mayled101%40mod.gov.uk%7C42699efdbca84a9ce22e08de1d70ad72%7Cbe7760ed5953484bae95d0a16dfa09e5%7C0%7C0%7C638980566943315044%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZbLPNffKnHgcvvs4XeeReQU4C0dOkfIhEf1acrwWE1o%3D&reserved=0 Instructions 1. On the home page, click 'view DSP opportunities' 2. make sure you’re in the 'current opportunities tab' 3. click the 'filters' drop down and select 'project info' 4. in the 'value' field type 'commercial x' and click 'search' You should be able to access the ‘PQQ’ event that we are using for the applications. There is also downloadable content available in the opportunity listing providing further information about the Dynamic Market. Disclaimer: Neither: 1. responding to this Engagement Notice, or 2. registering on the Dynamic Marketplace will impact your ability to compete in any follow-up ITT.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05ed92
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080237-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

35512400 - Unmanned underwater vehicles

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Jan 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
28 Feb 2026 - 28 Feb 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
andrew.watson198@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EU
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

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. 

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