Planning

UK2 - Lancaster Radiators: Manufacture and In-Service Support

DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

27 May 2026 at 09:27

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 May 2026 at 08:59

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement process initiated by Defence Equipment and Support focuses on the "UK2 - Lancaster Radiators: Manufacture and In-Service Support" project within the aircraft maintenance services category. The process is in the planning stage, and the primary procurement method is a competitive flexible procedure. Interested parties are invited to express interest by 30th June 2026, with the potential contract beginning on 1st January 2027 and ending on 1st January 2029. This procurement involves designing, manufacturing, and delivering six replacement coolant radiators for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster aircraft, destined for delivery to RAF Coningsby, UK.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in aeronautical engineering and aircraft component manufacturing, especially those with capabilities in design, testing, and in-service support. The procurement is particularly suitable for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) capable of meeting Military Aviation Authority regulatory requirements and engaging in long-term support contracts. Successful bidders can expand their portfolios by solidifying relationships with central government agencies and potentially extending service contracts to 2040, enhancing their market presence in the defence sector.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

UK2 - Lancaster Radiators: Manufacture and In-Service Support

Notice Description

The Authority intends to procure a supplier with design capability, to manufacture, test, and deliver replacement coolant radiators for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Lancaster aircraft (PA474), together with associated technical documentation, certification, and in service support. The requirement comprises of replicating the original design standard , using modern day equivilance where necessary, to enable the production of six (6) replacement radiators, including two (2) spares, using a "design from pattern part" approach due to the absence of original drawings. The replacement units must be airworthy, compliant with Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulatory requirements, and demonstrate equivalence in fit, form, and function to the existing. The contractor will be responsible for: Substantiation, qualification, and production of the radiators. Provision of production drawings, design rationale, testing (e.g. pressure, fatigue, NDT), and a Declaration of Design & Performance. Manufacture and delivery of all units in accordance with an agreed schedule as per negotiations Supply of Special to Type Containers for transport and storage of each Provision of certification (e.g. Certificates of Conformity) and compliance with quality standards (e.g. ISO 9001/AS9100 or equivalent) Delivery of in service support artefacts, including a Bill of Materials, Initial Provisioning List, maintenance documentation, and recommended tooling and consumables to support continued airworthiness to an Out of Service Date of 2035 (with potential extension to 2040). All goods are to be delivered to RAF Coningsby, UK, and must integrate seamlessly with the existing aircraft systems and coolant specifications.

Planning Information

Through this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN), the Ministry of Defence seeks expressions of interest from suitably qualified suppliers. Any interested supplier with the experience, capability and capacity to deliver this service are asked to register their interest by contacting the buyer at the details provided in this notice. In your expression of interest, please indicate your preferred duration of any potential future contract. This PMEN has been published for the purposes of Market Sounding and to assist in the determination of the procurement strategy. No formal procurement has been launched. This is not a commitment by the UK Ministry of Defence to place a contract or launch a tender in the future. Suppliers that express an interest but do not currently hold the required regulatory approvals or certifications are encouraged to engage with the Authority. The Project Team will provide information and guidance on the processes and requirements to obtain the necessary approvals, to support fair and open competition and to minimise barriers to entry. This information will be made available on an equitable and transparent basis to all interested parties, noting that no supplier will be given any competitive advantage through prior engagement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069e80
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049441-2026
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
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

50211100 - Aircraft maintenance services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 May 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 1 Jan 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

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
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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-069e80-2026-05-27T10:27:02+01:00",
    "date": "2026-05-27T10:27:02+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-069e80",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "planning": {
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "046812-2026",
                "documentType": "plannedProcurementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK1",
                "description": "Pipeline notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046812-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-21T09:59:05+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            },
            {
                "id": "049441-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/049441-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-05-27T10:27:02+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ],
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "Through this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN), the Ministry of Defence seeks expressions of interest from suitably qualified suppliers. Any interested supplier with the experience, capability and capacity to deliver this service are asked to register their interest by contacting the buyer at the details provided in this notice. In your expression of interest, please indicate your preferred duration of any potential future contract. This PMEN has been published for the purposes of Market Sounding and to assist in the determination of the procurement strategy. No formal procurement has been launched. This is not a commitment by the UK Ministry of Defence to place a contract or launch a tender in the future. Suppliers that express an interest but do not currently hold the required regulatory approvals or certifications are encouraged to engage with the Authority. The Project Team will provide information and guidance on the processes and requirements to obtain the necessary approvals, to support fair and open competition and to minimise barriers to entry. This information will be made available on an equitable and transparent basis to all interested parties, noting that no supplier will be given any competitive advantage through prior engagement.",
                "dueDate": "2026-06-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ]
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PVRL-5831-GLMM",
            "name": "Defence Equipment and Support",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PVRL-5831-GLMM"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "MOD Abbey Wood",
                "locality": "Bristol",
                "postalCode": "BS34 8JH",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK12"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Ryan Ground",
                "email": "Ryan.Ground100@mod.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-equipment-and-support",
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PVRL-5831-GLMM",
        "name": "Defence Equipment and Support"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-069e80",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "UK2 - Lancaster Radiators: Manufacture and In-Service Support",
        "description": "The Authority intends to procure a supplier with design capability, to manufacture, test, and deliver replacement coolant radiators for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Lancaster aircraft (PA474), together with associated technical documentation, certification, and in service support. The requirement comprises of replicating the original design standard , using modern day equivilance where necessary, to enable the production of six (6) replacement radiators, including two (2) spares, using a \"design from pattern part\" approach due to the absence of original drawings. The replacement units must be airworthy, compliant with Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulatory requirements, and demonstrate equivalence in fit, form, and function to the existing. The contractor will be responsible for: Substantiation, qualification, and production of the radiators. Provision of production drawings, design rationale, testing (e.g. pressure, fatigue, NDT), and a Declaration of Design & Performance. Manufacture and delivery of all units in accordance with an agreed schedule as per negotiations Supply of Special to Type Containers for transport and storage of each Provision of certification (e.g. Certificates of Conformity) and compliance with quality standards (e.g. ISO 9001/AS9100 or equivalent) Delivery of in service support artefacts, including a Bill of Materials, Initial Provisioning List, maintenance documentation, and recommended tooling and consumables to support continued airworthiness to an Out of Service Date of 2035 (with potential extension to 2040). All goods are to be delivered to RAF Coningsby, UK, and must integrate seamlessly with the existing aircraft systems and coolant specifications.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "50211100",
                        "description": "Aircraft maintenance services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Competitive flexible procedure",
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true
                },
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2027-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-01-01T23:59:59+00:00"
                },
                "status": "planned"
            }
        ],
        "communication": {
            "futureNoticeDate": "2026-06-01T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "status": "planned"
    },
    "language": "en"
}