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Provision of Air Traffic Management Services

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 5 releases in its history.

Award

12 Oct 2026 at 10:33

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
AwardUpdate

12 Oct 2026 at 10:30

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
AwardUpdate

12 Oct 2026 at 08:19

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

09 Oct 2026 at 17:18

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

09 Oct 2026 at 16:57

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support, part of the Ministry of Defence, is buying military air traffic management services. The requirement covers the design, procurement and installation of military air traffic management capability to support the safe conduct of military flying operations. The work is for the UK Ministry of Defence and is described as a continuation and amendment of an existing service contract. The service is classified as air-traffic control services. The procurement concerns a single service requirement rather than separate lots, and the selected provider is based in Fareham. This is specialist defence aviation support, not general civilian air traffic control or routine installation work.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to Aquila Air Traffic Management Services through a direct award to amend its existing contract. The original contract was competitively awarded in 2014; this amendment is justified on the basis that the contractor holds approvals needed to maintain service continuity and that another provider could not secure them in time. The amended contract is due to run from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2032, ending five years earlier than the previous planned end date. The award value is £436,073,720 excluding VAT, or £523,288,464 including VAT. The award was dated 9 October 2026. The work was assessed as a single lot; no separate evaluation criteria are stated.

For suppliers seeking comparable Ministry of Defence work, this award shows that military air traffic management depends on proven ability to design, procure and install operational capability, alongside the approvals required by the Military Aviation Authority. The buyer explicitly treated the lack of alternative approved suppliers and the time needed for another provider to gain approval as a risk to safe military flying and operational continuity. A credible competitor would therefore need the relevant MAA approval already in place, demonstrable military aviation air traffic management experience, and the capacity to sustain a service without interruption while meeting defence operational requirements. The contract amendment was handled by direct award because of this approval and continuity constraint; suppliers without the required approvals would not meet the stated basis for competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Air Traffic Management Services

Notice Description

This supersedes Notice 2026/S 000-095889 published 12/10/26. The Air Traffic Management Team (ATMT) within the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a requirement for the design, procurement and installation of military air traffic management capability. These services ensure that military flying operations are conducted safely and the supplier must have the relevant Military Aviation Authority (MAA) approval. MOD intends to amend the existing contract for the services (the 'Contract') in a way which shall materially change the duration and vary the pricing. It is considered that this amendment may be placed in accordance with the Direct Award criteria under Schedule 5, paragraph 20 to the Act. The existing contractor has sought to renegotiate the contract price, citing external cost pressures that make current arrangements unsustainable. There is a material risk of a gap in service if the MOD does not engage in the negotiations, or recompetes the requirement. This is because no other supplier currently holds the necessary approvals to deliver the service and the time taken for an alternative supplier to obtain the required approvals will result in a gap in service. Any gap in service would compromise the operational capability and safety of military flying operations and it is therefore necessary for the contract to be awarded directly. Placing this amendment by direct award will maintain crucial defence capabilities whilst also reducing the Contract duration by five years, enabling MOD to approach the market earlier than originally anticipated.

Procurement Information

The Contractor was awarded the Contract following a competitive procurement in 2014 with service delivery contracted until 31st March 2037. However, this amendment shall result in the Contract concluding on 31st March 2032, which will enable MOD to recompete the service five years earlier than anticipated. It is considered that the amendment may be placed in accordance with the Direct Award criteria under Schedule 5, paragraph 20 to the Act. The Contractor has sought to renegotiate the contract price, citing external cost pressures that make current arrangements unsustainable. There is a material risk of a gap in service if the MOD does not engage in the negotiations, or recompetes the requirement. This is because no other supplier currently holds the necessary approvals to deliver the service and the time taken for an alternative supplier to obtain the required approvals will result in a gap in service. Any gap in service would compromise the operational capability and safety of military flying operations and it is therefore necessary for the contract to be awarded directly. Placing this amendment by direct award will maintain crucial defence capabilities whilst also ensuring that MOD can approach the market with this requirement sooner than originally anticipated.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078526
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/095946-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

63732000 - Air-traffic control services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£436,073,720 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Oct 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Aquila Air Traffic Management Services

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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