715870474 OSDEP LM UK5 - Transparency Notice

DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

15 Jun 2026 at 13:58

Planning

15 Jun 2026 at 13:28

Planning

15 Jun 2026 at 13:16

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process titled "715870474 OSDEP LM UK5 - Transparency Notice" is led by Defence Equipment and Support, a central government public authority, located in MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, United Kingdom. As of 15th June 2026, the procurement has reached the Award stage and involves a direct award method due to the specialised technical and certification constraints outlined. The industry category pertains to military transport helicopters, with a specific focus on extending the out-of-service date of the Merlin Mk2 platform. The contract period is scheduled to begin on 1st June 2027 and conclude by 31st March 2035, with the potential for extension up to 31st March 2040. The activities are expected to be executed across the United Kingdom.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses involved in defence sector manufacturing and maintenance, particularly those with expertise in military aviation technologies and airworthiness certification. However, due to the specialised nature of the project requirements, the direct award is made to Lockheed Martin, the recognised Design Authority with exclusive technical know-how and engineering capabilities. For large-scale businesses with similar expertise, this contract demonstrates the importance of possessing niche technical skills and qualifications to engage in future procurement opportunities within the defence and security domain. Companies that can offer innovative solutions or supplementary services aligned with such complex technical constraints may find expanded opportunities in supporting ongoing and subsequent projects related to military equipment and infrastructure.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Title

715870474 OSDEP LM UK5 - Transparency Notice

Notice Description

Out of Service Date Extension Programme DEMONSTRATION AND MANUFACTURE LM

Planning Information

DIRECT AWARD AND WORKSHOPS WITH SUPPLIER

Procurement Information

Assessment Phase activity included a review of whether the OSDEP requirement could be delivered through competition or required a single source approach. This concluded that Lockheed Martin UK Ltd (LM) hold the exclusive technical know-how, engineering expertise and manufacturing capability necessary to deliver the required modifications. LM are the recognised Design Authority for the Merlin Mk2 platform and is responsible for certification and continued airworthiness. Delivery of the requirement necessitates integration within existing platform architectures and safety-critical systems, continuity of Design Authority and certification activity, and access to platform-specific engineering capability, tooling and expertise. Any attempt to introduce an alternative supplier would require replication or transfer of Design Authority capability and associated certification frameworks. This would result in disproportionate cost, delay, and unacceptable technical and safety risk. The Authority therefore considers that the absence of competition arises from technical and certification constraints rather than reliance on exclusive rights, and that no reasonable alternatives or substitutes exist.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06b513
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/056267-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment


CPV Codes

35612400 - Military transport helicopters

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£512,560,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£512,560,000 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Jun 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
17 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
15 Jun 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
31 May 2027 - 31 Mar 2035 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

LOCKHEED MARTIN

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.

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