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Plastic oversuits

AWE PLC

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

05 Oct 2026 at 12:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) intends to procure bespoke plastic oversuits to be worn over Pressurised Breathing Air Suits. The oversuit is an additional barrier against radiological contamination; it is not intended to replace or serve as the primary personal protective equipment. This is a supply requirement for protective clothing, including coveralls and protective gear. The stated potential demand is around 270–300 oversuits per month, or 3,240–3,600 annually. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. AWE is seeking to understand whether suppliers can manufacture and supply products broadly in line with its high-level requirements, and whether they can support the anticipated demand profile.

The process is at the planning stage: AWE has set out an intention to procure, but has not invited tenders. It is conducting voluntary pre-market engagement through an expression-of-interest exercise to inform its future procurement strategy. Organisations wishing to take part were asked to email AWE by 19 October 2026; AWE would then issue a questionnaire and non-disclosure agreement for completion and return. AWE may apply national security restrictions and security suitability assessments to participation in later engagement and any future procurement. The planned contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2029. No procurement procedure, award method or contract value is set out at this planning stage.

This requirement is likely to suit manufacturers and suppliers of bespoke protective clothing with the production capacity to sustain a regular, high-volume supply. AWE is specifically using engagement to assess manufacturing capability and capacity, product assurance, quality management and traceability, and supply-chain resilience and continuity. Relevant experience supplying comparable products into regulated, hazardous or high-consequence operating environments is also sought. Suppliers should be prepared to explain how their products can broadly meet AWE’s high-level requirements and how their operations could accommodate anticipated demand. Participation in the engagement is voluntary and does not guarantee access to a later procurement. The buyer may apply national security restrictions and security suitability assessments when deciding who can participate in subsequent engagement and the future procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Plastic oversuits

Notice Description

Bespoke plastic oversuit designed to cover a Pressurised Breathing Air Suit worn underneath, providing an additional layer of protection against radiological contamination. It is not intended to be the primary item of personal protective equipment. Potential volume could be around 270-300 oversuits per month / 3,240 - 3,600 annually

Planning Information

AWE is undertaking a pre-market engagement exercise to understand the capability, capacity and level of market interest in the manufacture and supply of plastic oversuits for use over Pressurised Breathing Air Suits (PBAS). The purpose of this engagement is to assist AWE in understanding: Supplier capability to manufacture and supply oversuits broadly in accordance with AWE's high-level requirements; Manufacturing capacity and ability to meet anticipated demand profiles; Product assurance, quality management and traceability capability; Supply chain resilience and continuity of supply arrangements; Relevant experience supplying comparable products into regulated, hazardous or high-consequence operating environments; and Any industry considerations which may assist AWE in the development of its future procurement strategy. Market engagement will be undertaken through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process. Organisations wishing to participate should: Submit an email confirming their interest to aweprocurement@awe.co.uk by 19 October 2026. Upon receipt of the expression of interest, AWE will issue an EOI questionnaire together with a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for completion and return. Participation in this market engagement exercise is voluntary and does not guarantee participation in any future procurement process. AWE reserves the right to apply national security restrictions and security suitability assessments when determining participation in subsequent engagement activities and any future procurement process. All communications relating to this market engagement exercise should be addressed to aweprocurement@awe.co.uk with the subject heading: "Provision of PBAS Oversuits - Expression of Interest"

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0780b3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/093782-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories

CPV Codes

18114000 - Coveralls

18143000 - Protective gear

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Oct 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2029 2-3 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
AWE PLC
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
READING
Postcode
RG7 4PR
Postcode Area
Reading
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ16 Berkshire West
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)
Local Authority
West Berkshire
Electoral Ward
Aldermaston
Westminster Constituency
Reading West and Mid Berkshire

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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