Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

TacNet Design and Integration Partner

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 13:43

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

14 Apr 2026 at 16:08

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence procured design and integration partner services for the Tactical Networks (TacNet) Dismounted Data System (DDS). The requirement covers continuing support and development of a tactical communications and situational-awareness capability, including new software and hardware and the integration of sensors and effectors. The system supports 4 Light Brigade Combat Team and is intended for continuous development and eventual scaling across Light Force Brigades. The work is delivered in the United Kingdom. The service falls within integrated engineering services. The buyer is the UK Ministry of Defence, through its Defence Digital and TacSys Service Executive functions. The procurement was structured as a single lot and was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, although the award went to an established specialist supplier.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded to Rowden Technologies, also identified as Rowden Technologies Ltd. The Ministry of Defence made a direct award on 20 August 2026 under the Procurement Act 2023, citing technical reasons, lack of reasonable alternatives and defence and security considerations. The award value is £20,703,891 excluding VAT, or £24,844,669.20 including VAT. The contract period is 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2028. It includes two possible six-month extensions, giving up to 12 additional months, plus a six-month handover option and a not-to-exceed £5 million option for contract changes or additional tasks. Evaluation was not competitive at award stage: the authority relied on a single-source justification based on technical know-how, expertise and experience.

This award indicates sustained MOD demand for specialist tactical communications, situational awareness and defence digital engineering. A credible future competitor would need to design, integrate, support and develop complex software-and-hardware systems, including sensor and effector integration, while maintaining operational capability during change. Experience of the DDS or closely comparable tactical network environments would be important, alongside the technical ability to continue an established system design and manage its evolution. Suppliers would also need to demonstrate robust operation and maintenance arrangements, integration expertise and the capacity to support a defence customer through transition between service providers. The buyer’s decision shows that continuity, detailed knowledge of the existing architecture and proven delivery experience are central to this requirement, rather than general engineering capability alone.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

TacNet Design and Integration Partner

Notice Description

This procurement is for the continuation of support services and development to the Tactical Networks (TacNet) Dismounted Data System (DDS). The DDS capability is described as providing tactical communications and situational awareness. It is developed through new software and hardware, including the integration of sensors and effectors that are pivotal to support 4 Light Brigade Combat Team (4LBCT) in its ability to double and triple the Brigades lethality by the end of the decade. The DDS is also selected as the capability of choice to meet the requirements for continuous spiral development and scaling to all Light Force Brigades.

Procurement Information

The TacSys Service Executive (SE) within Defence Digital (DD), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to place with Rowden Technologies a 7-month contract for the TacNet Design and Integration Partner. It is considered that this contract can be placed using a Direct Award Procedure pursuant to Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) due to technical reasons and no reasonable alternatives. In addition, pursuant to paragraph 7 PA23. Following the competitive procedure through the Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 (DOS 5) framework, the MOD awarded initial Design and Integration Partner (DIP) 2-year contract to Rowden Technologies in July 2021. The scope of the contract was to deliver a DSA system design, which would be used by the MOD to carry out an Assessment Phase competition and to supply the Dismounted Situational Awareness (DSA) system at scale. This design was delivered and has been extensively used and further developed by the MOD. Further short-term contracts were placed with Rowden in November 2024 and September 2025 for the continuation of the capability. As the initial design is constantly being used to deliver DDS requirement, a new short-term contract is required prior to planned competition for a longer-term contract. Rowden were responsible for the development and delivery of the DSA system design and are currently the only company who have the requisite technical knowhow, expertise and experience to carry out the activities required for the DDS. A change of supplier at this time would introduce disproportionate technical difficulties in both the operation and maintenance of the DDS system, resulting in a loss of capability. Due to the above reasons the requirement will continue as a single source requirement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06824d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079461-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71340000 - Integrated engineering services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£20,703,891 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Apr 20264 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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
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
2
Supplier Names

Rowden Technologies

Rowden Technologies Ltd

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...