Award

ASH In-Service Support Transparency Notice - UK5

DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

13 Feb 2026 at 15:25

Planning

30 Jan 2026 at 16:02

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), part of the UK Ministry of Defence, pertains to the ASH In-Service Support contract. This contract seeks to ensure the continuation of services for the ASH software, essential for the electronic Render Safe Procedure for Ordnance Munition & Explosives. DE&S is based in Bristol, United Kingdom, and the procurement falls under the defence and security industry category. The contract is awarded via a direct procurement method, justified by technical reasons under the Procurement Act 2023. The planning stage was initially recorded at the end of January 2026, with the award date in mid-February 2026, and the contract period set to commence on 1 April 2026, potentially extending until 2031. The procurement is governed by UK legislation 2023/54, and the process is classified for central government usage.

This tender offers significant opportunities for large businesses specialising in software development and support, particularly those experienced in data services and security software packages. The direct award method indicates a preference for suppliers with bespoke technical expertise, as evident by the decision to contract Entserv UK Limited given its established capability with the ASH system. Companies capable of providing sophisticated cyber security measures and managing sensitive software for military applications may find similar contracts appealing and a path to enhance growth in the defence sector. Despite the specific focus of the current award, businesses able to demonstrate unique technical qualifications are well-suited to compete in related procurement processes involving advanced technology solutions.

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Notice Title

ASH In-Service Support Transparency Notice - UK5

Notice Description

The Protect Delivery Team, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to award a contract to Entserv UK Limited for ASH In-Service Support. ASH is software for the electronic Render Safe Procedure (RSP) for Ordnance Munition & Explosives (OME). The contract will be for a period of up to 5 years (3 years plus 2 options to extend by a year) with an estimated value of up to PS2,734.048.8 (incl. VAT).

Procurement Information

The Protect Delivery Team, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to award a contract to Entserv UK Limited for ASH In-Service Support. ASH is software for the electronic Render Safe Procedure (RSP) for Ordnance Munition & Explosives (OME). The contract will be for a period of up to 5 years (3 years plus 2 options to extend by a year) with an estimated value of up to PS2,734.048.8 (incl. 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 (technical reasons) applies. This is because a change in supplier would require a transfer of the disaster recovery servers and network link which would in turn require a new set of cyber security assurances and penetration testing. The ASH system would be unusable until this was complete as it would not be cyber secure. Due to the nature of the requirement this capability gap would introduce an unacceptable level of risk. Given the bespoke nature of the ASH system, the absence of alternative suppliers with the required technical expertise, and the significant operational and financial risks associated with transitioning to a new supplier, a direct award to Entserv UK Limited is the only viable option, there is no reasonable alternative.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-061363
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013533-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency 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

48 - Software package and information systems

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


CPV Codes

48731000 - File security software package

48732000 - Data security software package

48750000 - Storage media loading software package

48771000 - General utility software package

48782000 - Storage management software package

48783000 - Content management software package

72300000 - Data services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,278,374 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£2,278,374 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Feb 2026Expired
Award Date
13 Feb 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT
Contact Name
Maia Harris
Contact Email
maia.harris135@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Post Town
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

ENTSERV

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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