Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

715760479 CR2/CR3 Cupola Wiper Motor Assembly Contract award Notice (uk6)

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

21 Oct 2026 at 15:46

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

08 Sep 2026 at 10:04

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

20 Feb 2026 at 10:32

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support bought 200 cupola wiper motor assemblies for the Commanders’ Cupolas on Challenger 2 and Challenger 3 main battle tanks: 100 assemblies for each side. The assemblies had to be manufactured to the technical drawing pack and packaged for delivery to the Donnington Fulfilment Centre. This is a specialist supply of electronic and electrical spare parts for military vehicles (CPV 35422000). The buyer is Defence Equipment and Support, the Ministry of Defence organisation responsible for supporting defence equipment. The stated delivery destination is the Donnington Fulfilment Centre; the item’s structured delivery location is recorded only as the United Kingdom.

The procurement is complete: Thistle Design (MMC) Ltd was selected and awarded the contract. The award was dated 3 September 2026, and the contract was signed on 2 October 2026. Its period runs from 2 October 2026 to 30 September 2029. The awarded value is £1,951,000 excluding VAT (£2,341,200 including VAT). The buyer used a direct award under the Procurement Act 2023, relying on the technical-reasons justification that only one supplier could meet the requirement. There was one lot, covering the assemblies. The stated rationale was that Thistle Design is the design authority and original equipment manufacturer for the motor, and an experienced repairer of the cupola wiper motor assemblies; it was considered to have the necessary expertise and knowledge to meet the required standard.

For suppliers assessing this buyer’s future requirements for Challenger 2 and Challenger 3 cupola wiper motor assemblies, this award shows that the work was placed directly with the original equipment manufacturer and design authority, which also had repair experience with the assemblies. A credible competitor would therefore need to demonstrate relevant technical authority over the motor, detailed knowledge of its design and manufacturing requirements, and the ability to produce assemblies to the specified technical drawings. Experience repairing the cupola wiper assemblies and delivering parts to the required standard would also be directly relevant. The order covered 200 assemblies, split equally between left- and right-side units, so suppliers would need capacity to manufacture and package both configurations for delivery to the Donnington Fulfilment Centre.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

715760479 CR2/CR3 Cupola Wiper Motor Assembly Contract award Notice (uk6)

Notice Description

The requirement is for the Contractor to supply two hundred (200) Wiper Motor Assemblies, one hundred (100) of each side, for the Commanders Cupola in the Challenger 2 and Challenger 3 Main Battle Tanks (MBT). The Wiper Motor Assemblies are to be manufactured in accordance with the technical drawing pack and packaged in appropriate packaging for delivery in to the Donnington Fulfillment Centre. The value of the goods is PS1,951,000 (Ex VAT). The CPV code is 35422000 - Electronic and electrical spare parts for military vehicles.

Procurement Information

This procurement is governed by the Procurement Act 2023. 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. Due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier, Thistle Design (MMC) Ltd, has the necessary technical expertise and knowledge to deliver the requirement at the standard required. As the Design Authority and the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the motor and experienced repairer of the Cupola Wiper Motor Assemblies, only Thistle Design (MMC) Ltd can deliver this requirement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0658e0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099629-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

35422000 - Electronic and electrical spare parts for military vehicles

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,951,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£1,951,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Sep 20261 months ago
Contract Period
2 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

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

Thistle Design (MMC) Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...