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Project VENTURE

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

09 Sep 2026 at 16:36

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
PlanningUpdate

11 Aug 2026 at 16:16

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

20 Jul 2026 at 10:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence is planning Project VENTURE, a future gliding equipment and support service for RAF Air Cadets. The requirement centres on conventional tandem-seat training sailplanes with high-performance soaring and aerobatic capability, supported by new or refurbished equipment, spares and post-design services. Support is expected to include winch maintenance, aerotow operations, glider maintenance and engineering, safety-equipment management and related services. Delivery will take place through Volunteer Gliding Schools at 10 permanent sites across the UK. The purpose is to provide a modern, efficient and safe gliding capability that inspires young people to join the RAF Air Cadets and encourages a broader range of air-minded young people to consider careers in Defence. The procurement is primarily for aircraft-related services, including gliders (CPV 34721000).

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Ministry of Defence is reviewing options and has not invited tenders. One lot is planned under a defence and security regime, using a procedure yet to be finalised. The estimated value is £50 million excluding VAT, or £60 million including VAT. The anticipated contract period is 1 April 2028 to 31 March 2035, with renewal or extension potential to 31 March 2040. Market engagement began with a request for information and is planned to continue through an Industry Day at RAF Syerston, Newark, Nottinghamshire, on 6 October 2026, from 10:00 to 15:00. Suppliers wishing to attend are expected to register by 17:00 on 25 September 2026. Information shared at the event will be classified OFFICIAL.

The requirement is likely to suit established gliding, aerospace and defence suppliers able to combine aircraft or sailplane capability with long-term engineering and operational support. Relevant strengths include supplying, refurbishing or maintaining gliders; providing aerotow and winch services; managing spares and safety equipment; and delivering engineering, post-design and support services across multiple locations. The buyer is exploring current and future industry capabilities, so suppliers with a clear approach to modernising and improving the efficiency and safety of gliding operations should prepare evidence of this. Industry Day attendance is subject to a relevant track record: within the previous three years, delivering or currently delivering a UK Ministry of Defence defence equipment or services contract worth at least £5 million, or having supplied and sold gliding services or equipment to organisations within the previous 12 months.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Project VENTURE

Notice Description

Project VENTURE for the provision of future gliding equipment and services. Gliding provides a distinctive capability as the unique selling point that inspires and attracts young people to join the RAF Air Cadets, whilst contributing significantly towards interest in a career in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Project VENTURE will deliver capability based around the current training glider; a conventional tandem-seat sailplane with high-performance soaring and aerobatic capability. This will be supported by new or refurbished equipment, robust core services, provision of spares, and post design services. Support services will include winch maintenance, aerotow capability, glider maintenance and engineering, managing safety equipment, and associated services delivered through Volunteer Gliding Schools at 10 permanent sites across the UK. The project's vision is for a more modern and efficient gliding capability that is safely delivered across multiple sites, and which demonstrates the RAF ethos, so that gliding contributes significantly towards inspiring and attracting a broader cross-section of air-minded young people to join Defence.

Planning Information

Following the Request for Information (RFI) published on 20th July 2026, the Authority is pleased to announce an Industry Day for Project VENTURE taking place at RAF Syerston Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG23 5NN on 06 October 2026 from 10:00 to 15:00 hrs. The event will provide industry representatives with an opportunity to engage with the project team and view the facilities and infrastructure used to deliver the current Contract. The programme for the day will focus on a variety of topics and will inform the development of the potential solution and requirements and will comprise: MOD / Supplier Introductions Rationale and purpose of engagement Advise the Aerospace/Defence Industry that MOD is reviewing the options for the new project VENTURE procurement VENTURE Project Brief Commercial Overview Exploration of current and future capabilities Tour of the facilities and infrastructure used to deliver the current Contract. Question and Answer session (Q&A) 1-2-1 engagement with the project team To register your attendance, please send a confirmation email with Project VENTURE in the subject title to air-commercialgroupmailbox@mod.gov.uk by 17:00 on 25 September 2026. Please include the following as part of your response: • Full Name. • Company Name. • Names, role names, and Email addresses of up to two (2) attendees. (Attendees are limited to a maximum of two (2) representatives per supplier. Any attendees over the two permitted shall be denied access to the event). • Please notify us if you wish to hold a 1-2-1 session with the project team. (please note sessions may need to be held virtually following the Industry Day due to time and capacity). When registering for the opportunity to attend, you will be required to meet one of the criteria below: - You must have within the last 3 years delivered or are in the process of delivering a UK MOD defence Contract encompassing defence equipment or services with a minimum value of £5M. or - Your organisation must have provided and sold gliding services or equipment to organisations within the last 12 months. Travel and subsistence costs as a result of attending the Project VENTURE Industry Day or any costs relating to the preparation and submission of a response incurred are the sole responsibility of the respondent. The Authority shall not be liable to reimburse any costs of any parties who respond to this notice or register any interest in this or for further market engagements. Registration for the event will close on 25 September 2026 at 17:00 hrs. Please note that all information on the day will be held at OFFICIAL level.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ce8b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085542-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

50 - Repair and maintenance services

CPV Codes

34721000 - Gliders

50200000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft, railways, roads and marine equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£50,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2028 - 31 Mar 2035 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
NAPHILL
Postcode
HP14 4UE
Postcode Area
Hemel Hempstead
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ13 Buckinghamshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Buckinghamshire
Electoral Ward
Ridgeway East
Westminster Constituency
Mid Buckinghamshire

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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