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Digital Personnel Licensing

Civil Aviation Authority

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

23 Jul 2026 at 12:11

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

23 Jul 2026 at 12:10

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Civil Aviation Authority is exploring digital personnel licensing for UK aviation. The service would replace or supplement physical professional licences and certificates with digital credentials for pilots, air traffic controllers, flight engineers, cabin crew, maintenance engineers and other licensed aviation personnel. Authorised individuals would hold credentials on mobile devices and present them to authorised verifiers. The solution must support both online and offline verification, with strong cryptographic assurance that credentials are authentic, intact and current. The authority is seeking to understand the maturity and capabilities of holder and verifier applications, software development kits and commercial products. This is a technology and strategic information service requirement, delivered across the United Kingdom.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is a request for information and preliminary market engagement, not an invitation to tender. The Civil Aviation Authority expects to use a competitive procedure for an above-threshold services contract. The requirement is planned as one lot and is considered suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The anticipated contract period is 1 December 2027 to 30 November 2030, with a possible renewal or extension to 30 November 2032. The authority plans to share full request-for-information documentation with participants who provide a non-disclosure agreement. That engagement is scheduled for 3 September 2026. No contract value or budget is stated.

The engagement should suit suppliers with proven digital identity, verifiable credential or professional licensing technology, particularly those able to provide both credential-holder and verifier applications. Relevant strengths include mobile credentials, secure digital certificates, cryptographic authentication, credential integrity and status checking, and reliable operation when devices are offline as well as online. Suppliers with mature software development kits, commercial products or platforms that can integrate with aviation personnel systems are likely to be well placed to contribute. Experience supporting regulated, safety-critical or professionally licensed users would be useful, as would the ability to demonstrate scalable deployment across varied aviation roles. Small and medium-sized technology businesses are specifically regarded as suitable for the planned procurement, so interested suppliers should prepare evidence of product maturity and capability for the market engagement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Digital Personnel Licensing

Notice Description

Digital Personnel Licensing - RFI The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is exploring the use of digital credentials to replace or supplement existing physical professional licences and certificates. These may include licences, ratings, endorsements, medical certificates and other professional credentials issued to pilots, air traffic controllers, flight engineers, cabin crew, maintenance engineers and other licensed aviation personnel. The target solution will enable authorised individuals to hold digital credentials on a mobile device and present them for inspection by authorised verifiers. The solution must support both online and offline verification scenarios and provide strong cryptographic assurance of credential authenticity, integrity and status. The purpose of this market engagement is to understand the maturity and capabilities of existing holder and verifier applications, Software Development Kits (SDKs) and commercial products that could support this capability.

Planning Information

Full RFI documentation will be shared upon receipt of an NDA.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d1b6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069637-2026
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

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

60400000 - Air transport services

72222000 - Information systems or technology strategic review and planning services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2027 - 30 Nov 2030 3-4 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
Civil Aviation Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CRAWLEY
Postcode
RH6 0YR
Postcode Area
Redhill
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ2 Surrey, East and West Sussex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ28 West Sussex (North East)
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Crawley
Electoral Ward
Langley Green & Tushmore
Westminster Constituency
Crawley

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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