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Phoenix 3 UK and International Hire Services

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

09 Oct 2026 at 15:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support plans to procure short-, medium- and long-term vehicle hire for the Ministry of Defence’s White Fleet and associated operations. The service is expected to provide access to a broad range of vehicles for operational demand, surge activity and fleet replacement. UK requirements include passenger cars, 4x4s, minibuses and light commercial vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes; overseas requirements include passenger cars, 4x4s and minibuses. Delivery is required in the UK and internationally. Babcock Land Defence Limited is acting as the Ministry of Defence’s agent for Project Phoenix 3 and is managing the intended procurement. This is a vehicle hire service covering both domestic and overseas use, rather than a purchase of vehicles.

This is at the planning and preliminary market-engagement stage; no invitation to tender has been issued, and engagement does not confirm that a future procurement will proceed. The buyer intends any eventual competition to use the Government Commercial Agency’s Vehicle Hire Solutions framework, Lot 1, for vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes. It expects that framework to commence in March 2027, with the next notice anticipated in April 2027. The intended contract period is 1 August 2028 to 31 July 2034. The stated estimated value is £62 million excluding VAT (£74.5 million including VAT). Market engagement is planned in three stages: an industry session, a request for information on market capacity and capability, and optional individual discussions. The buyer expects the industry session to take place on 4 November 2026; the engagement sign-up deadline is 30 October 2026 at 17:00.

The requirement is suited to vehicle rental businesses able to supply and manage a varied fleet for both UK and overseas operations. Relevant capability includes providing passenger cars, 4x4s, minibuses and, for UK use, light commercial vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes, across short-, medium- and long-term hire. Suppliers should be prepared to explain their available capacity and capability in response to the buyer’s market research, including how they could support operational demand, surges and fleet replacement. The buyer is seeking early input on commercial and operational considerations and on how best value could be achieved. Participation in market engagement is voluntary and gives suppliers an opportunity to raise questions and discuss sensitive commercial matters individually. The intended framework route offers a standardised and auditable procurement approach; the formal procurement itself remains to be confirmed. No specific accreditations are identified.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Phoenix 3 UK and International Hire Services

Notice Description

Dear Prospective Bidders, Babcock Land Defence Limited ("BLDL" or "Phoenix 3 Service Provider"), acting in the capacity as Agent for the UK Ministry of Defence ("MOD" or "the Authority") under Project Phoenix 3, are seeking to begin market engagement around the upcoming tender of the Authority's Vehicle Hire Requirements within the UK and Internationally. The successful supplier or suppliers shall provide the customer with access to a wide range of short, medium, or long-term vehicle hire services both in the UK and Internationally. These are required to support the Authority's White Fleet and their associated operations. The following vehicle types will be required for Vehicle Hire within the UK: Passenger Cars 4x4s Minibuses LCVs up to 4.25 tonnes. The following vehicle types will be required for International Vehicle: Passenger Cars 4x4s Minibuses It is the intention of BLDL to undertake any eventual procurement for these services via Government Commercial Agency (GCA) Framework RM6381, which is expected to commence in March 2027. This notice, however, should not be considered as confirmation that any future procurement will be undertaken and its purpose is intended for engagement only.

Planning Information

The requirement represents a significant opportunity for prospective bidders to provide vehicle rental solutions in support of the MOD’s White Fleet operations in the UK and overseas. The requirement is expected to cover a broad range of vehicles and categories across both opportunities, with demand driven by operational requirements, surge activity, and fleet replacement needs. It is the position of BLDL that any eventual procurement process for both these services will call-off against the new Government Commercial Agency (GCA) Framework RM6381 Vehicle Hire Solutions, Lot 1 – Hire of Vehicles up to 4.25T. This is expected to commence in March 2027. Utilising this framework ensures that the competition follows a well-established and auditable procurement approach with standardised terms and conditions already in place. However, this notice should not be treated as confirmation of any future procurement and is intended for engagement purposes only. The Pre-liminary Market Engagement will take place over three stages. Firstly, we would like to invite all prospective bidders to an Industry Session via Microsoft Teams. The purpose of this stage is to provide an overview of the requirement, outline the proposed procurement strategy and rules of engagement, and discuss the key commercial and operational considerations associated with the service. This session will also allow prospective bidders to ask any questions they may have. Following this, prospective bidders will be asked to complete a Request For Information (RFI). The purpose of this is to allow the Authority to understand current market conditions in greater detail. This will include details on potential capacity and capability of the prospective bidders. Any response provided to this is not prescriptive, however we do request honest and accurate answers to our questions. Prospective bidders who then wish to continue in the market engagement, will be offered a 1 to 1 session, without other prospective bidders present. This will enable questions of a commercially sensitive nature to be asked and further discussions to take place around how best value can be achieved for the Authority. Please note that discussion of a non-commercially sensitive nature that would provide clarification to other prospective bidders may be shared with all prospective bidders who engage in the Pre-liminary Market Engagement exercise. Participation in this engagement exercise is voluntary and intended to promote early market awareness and facilitate open dialogue with potential suppliers ahead of the formal procurement process. Prospective bidders will be required to sign up to this engagement by completing a survey and providing their contact details for who the RFI should be sent to within their organisation. To receive a link to the survey, MS Team invitation for Engagement Day and further details around the Pre-liminary Market Engagement and/or the requirement, please contact adam.maxwell-timmins@babcockinternational.com at the earliest opportunity. The deadline to sign up for the Preliminary Market Engagement Session is Friday 30th October at 17:00hrs. It is anticipated that the Engagement Day will take place in the afternoon of Wednesday 4th November.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078503
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095781-2026
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

34100000 - Motor vehicles

34115200 - Motor vehicles for the transport of fewer than 10 persons

50110000 - Repair and maintenance services of motor vehicles and associated equipment

50111110 - Vehicle-fleet-support services

50112000 - Repair and maintenance services of cars

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£62,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
9 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Apr 20276 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Aug 2028 - 31 Jul 2034 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
Defence Equipment and Support
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

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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