Planning

DTXG micro-AUV

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

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 is currently in the planning stage of their procurement process for the acquisition of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), under the initiative titled "DTXG micro-AUV." This project falls within the industry category of unmanned underwater vehicles, and the contracts are aimed at goods provision, with the gross value estimated at £600,000. Located in London, the contracting authority foresees the release of an Invitation to Tender (ITT) early in the year, aiming to acquire a minimum viable product by the end of the fiscal year 2025/26. A market engagement deadline is set for 6th January 2026, which requires interested parties to respond via an MS Forms questionnaire. The process is expected to run through the Commercial X Dynamic Market, and registration on the platform is urged to access future tenders.

This procurement opportunity presents a significant growth avenue for businesses specialising in marine technology and AUV manufacturing, particularly those focused on rapid deployment and environmental data collection technologies. Given the Ministry of Defence's requirements, including single-operator deployability, modular capability, and endurance for multi-hour missions, SMEs and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) with innovative solutions in these areas are encouraged to compete. Companies that can provide robust technology for discreet underwater operations—such as depth performance, portability, and autonomous navigation—will be well-suited for this engagement. There is potential for businesses to collaborate with the Original Equipment Manufacturer to further develop the required capabilities over the contract period starting 28th February 2026 and ending on 27th February 2027.

How relevant is this notice?

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. Alpha Squadron Diving and Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG) delivers a range of operational outputs, from protection of critical undersea infrastructure in home waters to deployed support to maritime special operations. Inherent in these tasks is a requirement to survey and understand the underwater battlespace; tracking undersea cables and pipelines, identifying sources of possible interference or sabotage, charting beaches, ports and maritime infrastructure, and plotting potential obstructions or objects. These operations will frequently need to be conducted discreetly from small boats by light-role teams at significant range from a host platform; to maximise discretion, a sub-surface deployment and recovery option would be preferable. A capability shortfall exists in the provision of a very-light, multi-role, diver-deployable AUV for use in discreet Navy Special Operations tasking. Alpha Sqn 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/079829-2025
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
4 Dec 2025Today
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Jan 20262 months to go
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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