Award

Provision of Defence Aviation Confliction Awareness Planning Tool

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

02 Apr 2026 at 12:40

Award

09 Mar 2026 at 18:04

Award

19 Dec 2025 at 15:07

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom has finalised a procurement process for the "Provision of Defence Aviation Confliction Awareness Planning Tool." This contract, effective from 20 March 2026 to 17 February 2027, with a potential six-month extension, was directly awarded to BAE Systems (Operations) Limited due to their exclusive intellectual property rights over the required technology. The direct award contract, valued at £3,162,045 (gross amount £3,794,454), falls under the services category, specifically system management software development services, and is intended to maintain operational capability critical for air safety and mission planning. This procurement was completed as a direct award since no other suppliers can deliver the proprietary service due to the existing patent constraints.

This contract presents a significant opportunity for businesses with established capabilities in defence and aviation technology sectors, particularly for those with an interest in proprietary system developments for governmental needs. It highlights the potential growth for large-scale companies that possess unique technical skills or proprietary technologies. While direct competition was not possible due to patent holdings, businesses looking to engage with the Ministry of Defence may consider investing in niche, high-specialisation areas that could uniquely position them for future procurement opportunities where such exclusivity does not apply. Companies in similar sectors might explore collaborative ventures or research and development to innovate new solutions outside current proprietary restrictions.

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Notice Title

Provision of Defence Aviation Confliction Awareness Planning Tool

Notice Description

The Provision of Defence Aviation Confliction Awareness Planning Tool.

Procurement Information

The Authority intends to enter a direct award contract in accordance with Schedule 5, paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 as competition is absent due to the ownership of intellectual property rights. BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd, the incumbent supplier, hold the patent (ref EP2561500) to the CADS system. The service is proprietary and only the incumbent supplier holds the Intellectual property rights and technical capability. Given the breadth of the patent, it is not credible for the market to design around it. While the patent is in force in the UK, the Authority cannot compete this capability without the agreement of the Patent Proprietor, and this has not been granted. Therefore, BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd are currently the only supplier who can continue to deliver the flight deconfliction service. Immediate continuation of service maintains operational capability critical in the maintenance of air safety and mission planning.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05fa9a
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/030898-2026
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

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

72212781 - System management software development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£3,162,045 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£3,162,045 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Apr 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
19 Dec 20254 months ago
Contract Period
20 Mar 2026 - 17 Feb 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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
WALTER'S ASH
Postcode
HP14 4UE
Post Town
Hemel Hempstead
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ13 Buckinghamshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Buckinghamshire
Electoral Ward
Ridgeway West
Westminster Constituency
Mid Buckinghamshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

BAE SYSTEMS (OPERATIONS

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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