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UK5 - Lancaster Wheels Production (P3)

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

26 Jun 2026 at 14:06

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

14 Jan 2026 at 16:55

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Defence Equipment and Support, part of the UK Ministry of Defence and the buyer in this process, has awarded a contract to Retrotec Limited for the production and in-service support of Lancaster Mainwheel Hub Assemblies. This contract is aimed at sustaining the airworthiness of the Lancaster aircraft operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). Located in Bristol, the buyer seeks to fulfil technical requirements that only Retrotec Limited, located in Northiam, Rye, can provide due to its unique capabilities as the sole approved Design Organisation for this component. This procurement, under the industry category of aircraft repair and maintenance services, has reached the award stage, with the contract period running from July 2026 to July 2028. The direct award was justified by specific technical reasons and the absence of suitable alternatives, underlining the specialised nature of this procurement.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses within the aerospace and defence sectors, particularly those specialising in technical production and maintenance services. Companies with expertise in specific, niche technical capabilities, and those operating as Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), similar to Retrotec Limited, are well-positioned to engage with future procurements of this nature. The contract underlines the importance of specialised technical skills and certifications for participation in high-security sectors like defence, providing avenues for growth and expanded business operations through further collaboration with government entities such as the Ministry of Defence.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UK5 - Lancaster Wheels Production (P3)

Notice Description

The Defence Equipment & Support, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the "Authority"), intends to award a contract to Retrotec Limited for the production and in-service support of Lancaster Mainwheel Hub Assemblies, a critical component for the continued airworthiness of the Lancaster aircraft operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). The contract is intended to run for a two-year period of ~ 02-2026 to 02-2028. The estimated contract value is PS1m excluding VAT. It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 applies. The Authority submits that this justification applies because due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, and there being no alternatives, only Retrotec Limited are able to provide the services required. Retrotec Limited has the required technical expertise necessary to fulfil the Authority's requirement as they operate as the only approved Design Organisation (DO) for the Lancaster Mainwheel Hub Assembly component, which is a critical requirement from the MAA for any Company completing production activities for the Lancaster aircraft to ensure the components produced are safe and airworthy.

Procurement Information

The Defence Equipment & Support, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the "Authority"), intends to award a contract to Retrotec Limited for the production and in-service support of Lancaster Mainwheel Hub Assemblies, a critical component for the continued airworthiness of the Lancaster aircraft operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). The contract is intended to run for a two-year period of ~ 02-2026 to 02-2028. The estimated contract value is PS1m excluding VAT. It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 applies. The Authority submits that this justification applies because due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, and there being no alternatives, only Retrotec Limited are able to provide the services required. Retrotec Limited has the required technical expertise necessary to fulfil the Authority's requirement as they operate as the only approved Design Organisation (DO) for the Lancaster Mainwheel Hub Assembly component, which is a critical requirement from the MAA for any Company completing production activities for the Lancaster aircraft to ensure the components produced are safe and airworthy.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060610
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060378-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award 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

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50211000 - Repair and maintenance services of aircraft

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£884,316 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Jun 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Jan 20267 months ago
Contract Period
9 Jul 2026 - 31 Jul 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Retrotec Limited

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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