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Project GRAYBURN

National Armament Director Group

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

23 Oct 2026 at 14:38

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

13 Jan 2026 at 17:35

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The National Armament Director Group, within the Ministry of Defence, is exploring replacement of the SA80 family of rifles and the supply of associated small-arms capability for UK Defence. The requirement is at an early development stage: the buyer is using industry engagement to understand the market and potential ways to deliver the capability. The procurement is for goods in the defence and security sector, with delivery in the United Kingdom. The eventual scope and delivery approach are still being shaped and remain subject to further development and approval. This is a future procurement, not a competition or invitation to tender. The buyer is inviting organisations to take part in a hybrid industry day, with presentations and optional individual discussions, to help inform its planning.

The process is at the planning stage. The buyer has not selected a procurement route, delivery model, supplier, product or contract structure; it currently expects to use a competitive flexible procedure. The stated gross estimated value is £2 billion. The contract period is planned to run from 2 July 2029 to 31 March 2045. The buyer expects to publish a further notice by 2 July 2027. The requirement is planned as a single lot. The industry day is intended for market engagement only; discussions will not be used to assess or shortlist suppliers or solutions, and taking part will not affect eligibility for a future procurement. Organisations wishing to register interest in the engagement must do so by 17:00 GMT on 30 October 2026. Attendance is subject to confirmation, which the buyer expects to provide by 17:00 GMT on 6 November 2026.

This early engagement is most relevant to suppliers with experience in military rifles, small arms and wider defence equipment, including manufacturers and businesses able to support associated capability and delivery approaches. The buyer is seeking market insight to help shape the future requirement, so organisations with knowledge of available products, potential solutions and practical routes to delivery can contribute before the procurement is defined. Small and medium-sized businesses are identified as suitable for the planned lot, making this relevant beyond the largest defence contractors, including specialist suppliers and potential delivery partners. The scale and long planned service period point to a substantial, long-term defence requirement. No particular product, supplier, delivery model or accreditation has yet been chosen or set as a condition; the engagement is a chance to inform the buyer’s understanding, not to submit a bid or formal proposal.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Project GRAYBURN

Notice Description

The Ministry of Defence (National Armaments Director group) will be holding an Industry Day in relation to Project GRAYBURN, which is considering the future replacement of the SA80 family of weapons and the provision of associated small-arms capability for UK Defence. The Authority is at an early stage of developing the requirement and is using this engagement to inform its understanding of the market and potential delivery approaches. The scope and approach to any future procurement remain subject to further development and approval. The potential scope, value and contract term are currently being developed and will be informed by this market engagement activity. This notice does not constitute a call for competition, an invitation to tender or a commitment by the Authority to commence a procurement. The Authority has not selected a preferred procurement route, delivery model, supplier, product or contractual structure.

Planning Information

The engagement will be delivered as a hybrid event, with confirmed organisations able to attend either in person or virtually using Microsoft Teams. The event will comprise a series of presentations by the Authority, followed by optional one-to-one sessions with participating organisations. How to participate: Each organisation must indicate when registering whether it wishes to attend: • in person; or • virtually using Microsoft Teams. Attendance in either format is subject to confirmation by the Authority. Each organisation will be limited to one one-to-one session lasting no longer than 15 minutes. Due to time and capacity restrictions, the Authority may be unable to offer sessions to all attendees. Subject to the Authority’s final confirmation, sessions will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. The Authority reserves the right to determine the final allocation and scheduling of sessions. The one-to-one sessions are for preliminary market engagement only and will not be used to evaluate or down-select suppliers or solutions. Please note: This is an invitation-only event. Invitations will be extended only to organisations that formally register their interest by 17:00 GMT on Friday 30 October 2026 and whose attendance is subsequently confirmed by the Authority. Registration does not guarantee an invitation or attendance. Event Details: The agenda, timings, venue details, Microsoft Teams joining instructions and any applicable site-access or identification requirements will be provided only to organisations whose attendance has been confirmed by the Authority. Interested organisations must confirm their intention using the following email address: DES-LandP2DCCCommercialTeam@mod.gov.uk Responses must include: • organisation name; • names and roles of proposed attendees (Maximum of 2); • lead contact name, email address and telephone number; • confirmation of whether a one-to-one session is requested; and • a brief summary of the proposed discussion topics where a one-to-one session is requested. The Authority intends to confirm attendance by no later than 17:00 GMT on Friday 6 November 2026. Organisations must not attend the event in person or access the virtual session unless they have received written confirmation from the Authority. In-person attendees without confirmation will not be permitted entry, and virtual joining instructions must not be forwarded or shared with other individuals or organisations. Organisations are not required to deliver a presentation or submit a formal proposal as a condition of attendance. Participation or non-participation in this engagement will not affect an organisation’s eligibility to participate in any future procurement. The Authority will not reimburse costs incurred in preparing for or participating in the engagement, including costs associated with in-person attendance. The Authority reserves the right to amend, postpone or cancel the Industry Day and is under no obligation to proceed with any subsequent procurement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060525
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100573-2026
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
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

35321200 - Rifles

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,666,666,666 £1B-£10B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Jul 20279 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Jul 2029 - 31 Mar 2045 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
National Armament Director Group
Additional Buyers

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
Postcode Area
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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