Planning

Strategic Test & Evaluation Portfolio (STEP) UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Apr 2026 at 12:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently in the planning stage for a significant procurement process focused on test and evaluation (T&E) services, part of their Strategic Test & Evaluation Portfolio (STEP). This initiative falls under the special regime for defence and security services, highlighting the essential role of T&E in ensuring the reliability and fitness for purpose of defence equipment. The MOD aims to reshape how these services are provided, integrating innovative technologies for military advantage. The procurement opportunity is centred in London, UK, and targets suppliers within the test and evaluation industry category. Interested UK-registered suppliers must express their interest by 12th May 2026, noon GMT, in order to contribute to the MOD T&E Transformation Programme, which includes completing a submission six weeks following registration.

This tender offers growth opportunities for businesses within the T&E services sector, especially those with capabilities and technologies that can enhance defence equipment reliability. Companies with a strong focus on innovation, technology, and enhancing military capabilities would find this procurement process well-suited to their strengths. The MOD invites industry participants to help shape the future provision of T&E services, thereby playing a critical role in the transformation programme. Organisations keen on entering this market are encouraged to register their interest, providing their Companies House Registration Number and contact details. This initiative promises to align MOD's future requirements with market capabilities, offering potential suppliers a chance to become key players in defence technology advancement.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Strategic Test & Evaluation Portfolio (STEP) UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement

Notice Description

Description The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an enduring requirement for the provision of Test and Evaluation (T&E) services. T&E is core to all Defence equipment programmes to ensure the reliability and fitness for purpose of the equipment it uses. The MOD has established a T&E Transformation Programme which is reviewing how T&E will be delivered in the future and how new, innovative technologies can improve and enhance current capability to enable T&E for military advantage rather than solely for equipment acceptance. The Transformation Programme is developing a new requirement for the provision of future T&E services and there is an opportunity for Industry to help shape this. Whilst this is in development, MOD has created a Taxonomy Data Capture Tool and is inviting interested parties to populate it. This will inform the requirement and support understanding of Industry's needs and the potential market in terms of both capabilities and skills. The aims are to: * Understand the current marketplace for the provision of T&E capabilities with a view of the market's demand and their ability to supply * Ensure MOD's future requirement is aligned with the capabilities, capacity and skills in the market * Identify supplier owned capabilities that could meet defence T&E requirements and provide an opportunity to highlight, opportunities and risks around this * Capture T&E supplier details for inclusion in the new MOD T&E Marketplace Digital Platform Due to the nature of the work, only UK-registered suppliers are eligible to participate. To register your interest to populate the MOD T&E Taxonomy Data Capture Tool, please respond to this PIN with your Companies House Registration Number and contact details to the following email address: NAD-Strategic-TE-Portfolio@mod.gov.uk by GMT 12:00 noon on 12th May 2026 Following successful registration of interest, the Taxonomy Data Capture Tool and accompanying information will be sent by return email within 48 hours of the registration deadline. Thereafter, suppliers are requested to then complete their submission within 6 weeks.

Planning Information

Description The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an enduring requirement for the provision of Test and Evaluation (T&E) services. T&E is core to all Defence equipment programmes to ensure the reliability and fitness for purpose of the equipment it uses. The MOD has established a T&E Transformation Programme which is reviewing how T&E will be delivered in the future and how new, innovative technologies can improve and enhance current capability to enable T&E for military advantage rather than solely for equipment acceptance. The Transformation Programme is developing a new requirement for the provision of future T&E services and there is an opportunity for Industry to help shape this. Whilst this is in development, MOD has created a Taxonomy Data Capture Tool and is inviting interested parties to populate it. This will inform the requirement and support understanding of Industry’s needs and the potential market in terms of both capabilities and skills. The aims are to: • Understand the current marketplace for the provision of T&E capabilities with a view of the market’s demand and their ability to supply • Ensure MOD’s future requirement is aligned with the capabilities, capacity and skills in the market • Identify supplier owned capabilities that could meet defence T&E requirements and provide an opportunity to highlight, opportunities and risks around this • Capture T&E supplier details for inclusion in the new MOD T&E Marketplace Digital Platform Due to the nature of the work, only UK-registered suppliers are eligible to participate. To register your interest to populate the MOD T&E Taxonomy Data Capture Tool, please respond to this PIN with your Companies House Registration Number and contact details to the following email address: NAD-Strategic-TE-Portfolio@mod.gov.uk by GMT 12:00 noon on 12th May 2026 Following successful registration of interest, the Taxonomy Data Capture Tool and accompanying information will be sent by return email within 48 hours of the registration deadline. Thereafter, suppliers are requested to then complete their submission within 6 weeks.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068cbc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038565-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73430000 - Test and evaluation

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
31 Mar 20293 years to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2033 - 1 Apr 2043 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
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
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2HB
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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