Award

Provision of Body Armour for the Ministry of Defence Police

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

17 Mar 2026 at 09:00

Award

24 Feb 2026 at 09:49

Award

30 Jan 2026 at 13:26

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence, located in Glasgow, has completed the procurement process for the provision of body armour for Armed Firearms Officers within the Ministry of Defence Police. The contract, titled "Provision of Body Armour for the Ministry of Defence Police," falls under the defence and security industry category and addresses the location of delivery throughout the United Kingdom. Following procurement regulations outlined in the Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024, the contract commenced on 10th March 2026 and will remain active until 31st March 2029. This equipment contract was awarded through a direct procurement method due to unique technical requirements, namely the compatibility and certification of the existing body armour system to HO3 standards.

This tender represents a remarkable opportunity for businesses specializing in protective apparel and specialised clothing, especially large enterprises like Safariland UK Ltd, which was directly awarded the contract owing to their technical prowess in meeting the Ministry of Defence's certified body armour specifications. Companies with expertise in integrating advanced protective gear solutions and maintaining compatibility with existing defence frameworks can leverage similar connections to grow within this lucrative sector. Opportunities for business expansion can arise from continued collaboration or innovation in technical plate production and integration, making it a promising avenue for those adept in defence equipment supplies and compatibility solutions.

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Notice Title

Provision of Body Armour for the Ministry of Defence Police

Notice Description

Single supplier - technical reasons This is an equipment contract for the provision of body armour for Armed Firearms Officers (AFOs) within the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). All serving MDP officers are capable of being armed and therefore it is a force wide requirement to issue body armour to all AFOs routinely. The contract will be awarded in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) and the Procurement Regulations 2024. It is considered that this contract can be awarded by way of a Direct Award to Safariland UK Ltd in accordance with Section 41 and Schedule 5 - Single Supplier, paragraph 6 of the PA23 due to the unique technical reasons relating to this procurement. The MDP Body Armour requirement necessitates a solution that is certified to a minimum protection level of HO3. The holistic MDP Body Armour solution is currently certified to HO3 using the P44 & P07 lightweight plates made by Safariland UK Ltd, as well as hard plates, plate carriers and other ancillaries also manufactured by Safariland UK Ltd. Testing and certification of the body armour solution is completed as a whole system based on the above components. No other providers are known to offer plates compatible with the existing system that are also capable of maintaining the holistic systems certification to HO3 required, without also requiring the procurement of a whole new system of plates, carriers and ancillaries. Procurement of such a new system which result in unreasonable incurrence of otherwise avoidable additional costs and underutilisation of existing stocks of the certified solution carriers and ancilliaries.

Procurement Information

Single supplier - technical reasons This is an equipment contract for the provision of body armour for Armed Firearms Officers (AFOs) within the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). All serving MDP officers are capable of being armed and therefore it is a force wide requirement to issue body armour to all AFOs routinely. The contract will be awarded in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) and the Procurement Regulations 2024. It is considered that this contract can be awarded by way of a Direct Award to Safariland UK Ltd in accordance with Section 41 and Schedule 5 - Single Supplier, paragraph 6 of the PA23 due to the unique technical reasons relating to this procurement. The MDP Body Armour requirement necessitates a solution that is certified to a minimum protection level of HO3. The holistic MDP Body Armour solution is currently certified to HO3 using the P44 & P07 lightweight plates made by Safariland UK Ltd, as well as hard plates, plate carriers and other ancillaries also manufactured by Safariland UK Ltd. Testing and certification of the body armour solution is completed as a whole system based on the above components. No other providers are known to offer plates compatible with the existing system that are also capable of maintaining the holistic systems certification to HO3 required, without also requiring the procurement of a whole new system of plates, carriers and ancillaries. Procurement of such a new system which result in unreasonable incurrence of otherwise avoidable additional costs and underutilisation of existing stocks of the certified solution carriers and ancilliaries.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-061300
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023809-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories


CPV Codes

18410000 - Special clothing

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,702,045 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,702,045 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Jan 20262 months ago
Contract Period
10 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
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
GLASGOW
Postcode
G2 8EX
Post Town
Glasgow
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM3 West Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM32 Glasgow City
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Glasgow City
Electoral Ward
Anderston/City/Yorkhill
Westminster Constituency
Glasgow North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SAFARILAND

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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