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The Provision of Grass Rest for Military Working Horses at HCMR

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Award

07 Aug 2026 at 14:11

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

19 Jun 2026 at 16:43

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

26 Mar 2026 at 17:11

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

12 Mar 2026 at 13:30

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence procured a managed temporary grass-rest service for military working horses at HCMR. The service is intended to provide horses with suitable pasture and associated animal enrichment, for periods of up to six months, over a five-year requirement. This is an animal husbandry service, classified under CPV 77500000, rather than the supply of horses, feed or general grounds maintenance. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. The buyer is the Ministry of Defence, based in Andover. The opportunity was structured as one lot and was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. It is therefore relevant to organisations able to manage equine grazing and welfare requirements for military animals at the required scale.

The procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. The Ministry of Defence used an open procedure, with electronic submission allowed in English. The tender deadline was 27 April 2026 at 17:00, enquiries closed on 13 April 2026 at 17:00, and the award was made on 19 June 2026. One bid was received, including one from an SME and one from a VCSE. The estimated value was £335,000 excluding VAT (£402,000 including VAT). The Horse Trust was awarded the contract for £334,475.56. The awarded period runs from 10 July 2026 to 10 July 2031. The signed contract is valued at £334,475.56, was signed on 10 July 2026, and records a contract period from 1 September 2026 to 1 October 2031. Evaluation used a value-for-money matrix, with quality assessed through a value-for-money index; economic and technical selection criteria also applied.

This award demonstrates a Ministry of Defence requirement for specialist equine husbandry delivered through managed temporary grass rest, rather than a conventional agricultural grazing arrangement. A credible future competitor would need to provide safe, suitable pasture for military working horses, manage temporary grazing arrangements and deliver the associated enrichment and welfare outcomes. The service requires both technical capability and economic capacity, reflecting the stated technical and economic selection criteria. Experience of caring for horses in an organised service environment would help demonstrate operational reliability, animal welfare competence and the ability to manage a sustained requirement. The procurement was suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, so a smaller specialist equine organisation could be competitive if it can evidence the necessary pasture, facilities, staff and management controls.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

The Provision of Grass Rest for Military Working Horses at HCMR

Notice Description

Description The provision of a managed temporary grass rest solution for military working horses (MWHs). This will deliver the associated animal enrichment necessary to provide up to 6 months per for a period of five years. Value of the procurement (Ex VAT) PS334,475.56

Planning Information

The engagement period is estimated to be from 12/03/2026 to 19/03/2026 and it will include the UK 2 notice.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06685e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075336-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

77500000 - Animal husbandry services

85210000 - Domestic animal nurseries

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£335,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£335,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£334,475 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£334,475 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Aug 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
27 Apr 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
23 Mar 2026Expired
Award Date
19 Jun 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 1 Oct 2031 Over 5 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
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
ANDOVER
Postcode
SP11 8HT
Postcode Area
Salisbury
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ36 Central Hampshire
Delivery Location
TLI London
Local Authority
Test Valley
Electoral Ward
Andover Millway
Westminster Constituency
North West Hampshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

The Horse Trust

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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