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Provision of Link 16 Network Management System (L16 NMS)

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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10 Aug 2026 at 09:42

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence bought in-service support for a Link 16 Network Management System used by UK Defence. The service manages and monitors Link 16 network activity across the United Kingdom and supports up to two deployed operations. It enables network management operators to monitor activity, modify network architecture and maintain optimal operating conditions, while checking compliance with the Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation Authority UK Frequency Clearance Agreement. The work is delivered at Templecombe, Somerset, and concerns data network management services. The system supports Link 16 activity across platforms operating in the UK Flight Information Region, helping defence platforms to train for operations. The requirement relates to a unique equipment and software configuration.

The procurement has been awarded and the contract is active. The Ministry of Defence used a limited procedure without prior publication of a competition notice, citing technical reasons and the supplier’s proprietary rights, technical information, tools and expertise. Thales UK Limited was selected as supplier on 7 August 2026. The active contract is valued at £9,820,902 and runs for two years, with two optional one-year extensions and an option for out-of-hours support during crisis operations. Evaluation was based on commercial considerations weighted at 40%, technical considerations at 60% and price at 100%. The single lot is recorded as cancelled, although the associated award and contract are active. One bid was recorded.

This procurement demonstrates demand for specialist support of defence communications infrastructure, specifically Link 16 network management systems. A credible future supplier would need the technical expertise, tools and information required to maintain, monitor and modify a complex network management system, including support for deployed operations and compliance with UK frequency-clearance requirements. Relevant capability includes managing network architecture, monitoring network activity across multiple platforms and maintaining reliable service in an operational defence environment. The requirement also indicates the importance of original-equipment or proprietary software knowledge, since the selected supplier was the equipment manufacturer and software rights holder. Suppliers would need to demonstrate strong technical competence, dependable support capacity and the ability to provide out-of-hours assistance during crisis operations.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Link 16 Network Management System (L16 NMS)

Notice Description

The Situational Awareness Command and Control (SACC) Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to award a contract for the In-Service Support of a Link 16 Network Management System (NMS), with Thales UK Limited for a period of 2 years with options.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The United Kingdom (UK) Defence has an enduring requirement to manage and monitor all Link 16 activity within the UK and support up to 2 deployed operations. The NMS allows the Network Management operators to monitor network activity and modify the network architecture to provide optimal Link 16 network operating conditions. NMS also monitors all Link 16 activity to ensure compliance with the MOD/Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) UK Frequency Clearance Agreement (FCA). The current equipment set up is unique and the software installed on the equipment is owned and supported by the Contractor. As the OEM with proprietary rights for the software that is installed on the equipment, support can only be provided by Thales UK Limited, as only they hold the technical information, tools and expertise required. In the immediate term changing the system would have a potentially detrimental impact and could result in an inability to utilise the Link 16 network across all platforms in the UK Flight Information Region (FIR). This would significantly curtail pan domain platform's ability to train for operations.

Options: The contract contains 2x1 year options for the continuation of support. The contract contains options for out of hours support during crisis operations

Procurement Information

The Situational Awareness Command and Control (SACC) Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the Authority), intends to award a contract for the In-Service Support of a Link 16 Network Management System (NMS), with Thales UK Limited (the Contractor) for a period of 2 years with options. In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 for technical reasons as the Contractor owns the relevant technical information relating to the equipment and only the Contractor has the required technical expertise and know-how necessary to fulfil the Authority's requirement. United Kingdom (UK) Defence has an enduring requirement to manage and monitor all Link 16 activity within the UK and support up to 2 deployed operations. The NMS allows the Network Management operators to monitor network activity and modify the network architecture to provide optimal Link 16 network operating conditions. NMS also monitors all Link 16 activity to ensure compliance with the MOD/Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) UK Frequency Clearance Agreement (FCA). The current equipment set up is unique and the software installed on the equipment is owned and supported by the Contractor. As the OEM with proprietary rights for the software that is installed on the equipment, support can only be provided by Thales UK Limited, as only they hold the technical information, tools and expertise required. In the immediate term changing the system would have a potentially detrimental impact and could result in an inability to utilise the Link 16 network across all platforms in the UK Flight Information Region (FIR). This would significantly curtail pan domain platform's ability to train for operations. The Cyber Risk profile is Level 1 - Foundational. The reference for the Risk Assessment is: RAR-JYYDQKV

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dfb8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/075553-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72315200 - Data network management services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£9,820,902 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
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
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Postcode Area
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

Thales UK Limited

Further Information

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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