Award

Vented Aviation Moulded Protection (VAMP) earpiece

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, DE&S

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

26 Feb 2026 at 15:58

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence's Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) has awarded a contract to Marlborough Communications Ltd for the supply of the Vented Aviation Moulded Protection (VAMP) earpiece, used with Aircrew Protective Helmets, under contract reference VTN-ACCOMM/00032. This procurement is classified under the Communications equipment category within the broader industry of goods, with delivery expected within the UK region. The contract, signed on 24th March 2025, is set for a duration of three years without prior publication, justified by technical reasons under specific regulations, and holds an option for an additional year. This procurement is in the award stage, with the contract status marked as active, and has a financial value of £3,209,826.67.

This contract provides significant opportunities for businesses involved in supplying high-tech communication equipment tailored for aviation use, particularly those that can offer solutions compatible with existing UK Ministry of Defence systems. Marlborough Communications Ltd, a sole distributor, is responsible for the distribution and support of the associated products, creating opportunities for subcontracting arrangements. Companies with expertise in military-grade communication technology, possessing the required Design Approved Organisation Scheme accreditation, stand to gain growth through providing complementary services or products. With technical specificity being a critical factor, businesses focused on innovative design and integration with aircrew systems align well with the requirements set by the Ministry of Defence.

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Notice Title

Vented Aviation Moulded Protection (VAMP) earpiece

Notice Description

The Air Crew Equipment Delivery Team within Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), part of the UK Ministry of Defence, ("the Authority") intends to award a Contract ACCOMM/00032 for the provision of In Ear Communication Devices (IECD) to Marlborough Communications Ltd (MCL) for a period of three (3) years. The contract is for the Supply of Vented Aviation Moulded Protection Earpiece for use with Aircrew Protective Helmets. The Authority requires additional supplies and service of the Vented Aviation Vented Aviation Moulded Protection (VAMP) earpiece. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(b)(i)(aa) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The contract is for the Supply of Vented Aviation Moulded Protection Earpiece for use with Aircrew Protective Helmets. The Authority requires additional supplies and service of the Vented Aviation Vented Aviation Moulded Protection (VAMP) earpiece. MCL is a sole distributor and is exclusively responsible for all distribution and support of the Advanced Communication Solutions Ltd (ACL) products and services to the UK MOD. ACL are the approved Design Organisation (DO) for the articles and own the Design Rights for the articles which fulfil the requirement and integrate with Aircrew communication across multiple Aircrew Systems. ACL hold the necessary Design Approved Organisation Scheme accreditation to meet Airworthiness requirements with Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulations ensuring continued support of this equipment to the required safely levels. Using different IECD from another OEM would result in goods with different technical characteristics and therefore incompatibility with those supplied by MCL in use across multiple Aircrew Systems.

Options: 1 (one) Year Option.

Procurement Information

The contract is for the Supply of Vented Aviation Moulded Protection Earpiece for use with Aircrew Protective Helmets. The Authority requires additional supplies and service of the Vented Aviation Vented Aviation Moulded Protection (VAMP) earpiece. MCL is a sole distributor and is exclusively responsible for all distribution and support of the Advanced Communication Solutions Ltd (ACL) products and services to the UK MOD. ACL are the approved Design Organisation (DO) for the articles and own the Design Rights for the articles which fulfil the requirement and integrate with Aircrew communication across multiple Aircrew Systems. ACL hold the necessary Design Approved Organisation Scheme accreditation to meet Airworthiness requirements with Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulations ensuring continued support of this equipment to the required safely levels. Using different IECD from another OEM would result in goods with different technical characteristics and therefore incompatibility with those supplied by MCL in use across multiple Aircrew Systems. In accordance with regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(b)(i)(aa) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. ACL hold the necessary Design Approved Organisation Scheme accreditation to meet Airworthiness requirements with Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulations ensuring continued support of this equipment to the required safely levels, ACL will not directly contract with the Authority and will only distribute goods via MCL.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065d70
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017530-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment


CPV Codes

32570000 - Communications equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£3,209,826 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Feb 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
24 Mar 202511 months ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, DE&S
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
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

MARLBOROUGH COMMUNICATIONS

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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