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MBP Strategic Support and SDI Directorship

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

26 Aug 2026 at 09:47

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

03 Aug 2026 at 12:27

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

07 Jul 2026 at 13:06

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence procured specialist consultancy and programme leadership services under the title MBP Strategic Support and SDI Directorship. The requirement covers multiple activities supporting MBP Strategic Support and SDI Directorship, including technical analysis or consultancy. Its purpose is to provide strategic programme support, governance and directorship for the Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network, a NATO project for which the UK is Lead Nation. The work supports the Ministry of Defence’s financial, commercial, governance and delivery responsibilities, including oversight of NATO funding and the related Mangrove Consortium contract. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The requirement is classified as services and was structured as one lot. The procurement was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The procurement was completed through a direct award rather than an open competition, using the Procurement Act 2023. The Ministry of Defence awarded the contract to Lemon Tree Associates on 30 July 2026. The award and contract value is £363,000 excluding VAT, or £435,600 including VAT. The contract was signed on 14 August 2026 and runs from 17 August 2026 to 31 March 2027. The contract is active. The direct award was justified by extreme unavoidable urgency and the absence of competition for technical reasons: ongoing NATO programme commitments, active Phase 2 funding negotiations, and the need for continuity in a named NATO appointment and established executive authority role. Additional consultancy services are an option.

This procurement demonstrates demand for specialist leadership and governance capability in complex defence and international programmes. A credible future competitor would need experience providing continuous technical and programme oversight, managing delivery risks and funding responsibilities, and supporting commercial and financial activity for a major public-sector or multinational programme. Knowledge of NATO governance, allied stakeholder management and underwater battlespace or maritime uncrewed systems would be particularly relevant. The requirement also shows the importance of continuity, accountability and established authority within an existing programme and associated contract-management arrangements. Suppliers would need to demonstrate that they can take responsibility for senior programme leadership, contribute to negotiations and governance decisions, and operate effectively across UK government, NATO and partner-nation structures.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

MBP Strategic Support and SDI Directorship

Notice Description

Service for multiple requirements covering the span of MBP Strategic Support and SDI Directorship

Procurement Information

As a covered procurement, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that the direct award of the contract is lawful in accordance with regulation 41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023. This is because competition is absent for the following reasons: The MOD requires continued specialist programme leadership and governance capability in support of the Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network (AUWB MN), a NATO project for which the UK has formally agreed to act as Lead Nation. As Lead Nation, the UK is responsible for the necessary financial and commercial activities to deliver the project, including oversight, governance and successful delivery, and for ensuring NATO funding is used effectively. The contractor has led this requirement from the inception and has provided continuous technical and programme oversight. He is part of the Executive Authority for the contract with the Mangrove Consortium and plays a material role in ongoing contract management activities including NATO roles essential for delivery - NATO SDI Director (appointed by name by the UK via the Maritime Uncrewed Systems Steering Board - DI(STR MCC)(2020)0007 dated 7 Feb 2020) and Interim Chair, Joint Capability Group Maritime Uncrewed Systems (JCGMUS), endorsed by DD Underwater Battlespace Capability and ratified by partner nations pending UK nomination and NATO member nation ratification of a permanent chair. The Authority relies on Schedule 5 in combination of: 1. Paragraph 6 - Extreme an unavoidable urgency from events/circumstances that make the use of a competitive procedure impracticable within the required timeframe including urgent NATO programme commitments, in-flight governance and critical Phase 2 funding negotiations; and 2. Paragraph 8 - Absence of competition for technical reasons - the requirement is inseparable from an individual's named NATO appointment/ratification, established Executive Authority role, and continuity of accountable programme leadership. A competition would not deliver a viable alternative within the required timeframe. This direct award is sought to avoid an immediate and material risk to programme delivery and allied confidence. The requirement is time-critical because AUWB MN governance and Phase 2 funding negotiations are active now, and the Authority is managing ongoing obligations as Lead Nation. As a result, there is no other supplier that is able to meet the specific requirements and there are no reasonable alternatives to use of Lemon Tree Associates

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c525
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081088-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details 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

71621000 - Technical analysis or consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£363,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£363,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
26 Aug 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
30 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
17 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
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
PORTSMOUTH
Postcode
PO2 8BY
Postcode Area
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Portsmouth
Electoral Ward
Nelson
Westminster Constituency
Portsmouth North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Lemon Tree Associates

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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