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715975483 Transparency Notice UK5

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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12 Oct 2026 at 17:15

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support, through the Ministry of Defence’s Counter CBRN Delivery Team, is procuring the continued manufacture and supply of lateral flow devices used in the UK’s biological detection and identification capability. The devices support operational readiness, training, stock sustainment and defence activity. This is a supply of specialist pharmaceutical articles, including lateral flow detection devices (CPV 33680000). The requirement is to maintain the existing, fielded device and its established production arrangements, rather than introduce a new design. The procurement relates to the Ministry of Defence’s capability; the source does not identify a delivery location.

The procurement is complete and BBI Solutions OEM Limited has been selected for a direct award, justified by the authority on technical grounds under the Procurement Act 2023. The award is recorded as pending. The contract is valued at £41 million excluding VAT (approximately £49.2 million including VAT) and is planned to run from 1 April 2029 to 31 March 2033, with two one-year options. A future signature milestone is scheduled for 30 September 2028. The award was evaluated on the basis that BBI is the only supplier able to make the existing devices to the required specification, quality and timescale; the authority says transferring production would require technical and assurance work incompatible with continuity of supply. One lot is complete.

For suppliers considering the longer-term requirement, this award shows that the buyer needs reliable production of established lateral flow devices for a critical defence biological-detection capability. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate that it can meet the device specification and quality standard while maintaining dependable supply for operational readiness, training and stock sustainment. Relevant capability would include specialist manufacturing knowledge, validated production methods, quality assurance arrangements, suitable reagents, product-specific technical data and an approved supply chain. The buyer’s stated reason for selecting BBI was its existing technical and manufacturing arrangements, and the time and assurance risks involved in transferring production. The requirement is a substantial, multi-year supply undertaking, with the current arrangement serving as an interim bridge while the Ministry of Defence pursues competition for its longer-term needs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

715975483 Transparency Notice UK5

Notice Description

The Counter CBRN Delivery Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to award a contract to BBI Solutions for the continued manufacture and supply of the currently fielded Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs). The contract will be for a period of 4 years followed by two one-year option years. The value of the contract including the option years will be approximately PS41M excluding VAT. The contract will provide continuity of supply whilst the Authority undertakes and completes a full open commercial competition for the longer-term provision of this capability. The LFDs form a critical component of the MOD's biological detection and identification capability and are employed to support operational readiness and defence outputs. Any interruption to the manufacture and supply of these devices would present a significant risk to capability availability, training activities, stock sustainment and operational preparedness. It is considered that the direct award of this interim contract is lawful in accordance with Section 41(1) of the Procurement Act 2023 and Schedule 5 for technical reasons. BBI is currently the sole organisation possessing the necessary technical knowledge, manufacturing processes, quality assurance arrangements, validated production methods, intellectual property, specialist reagents and approved supply chain required to produce the extant LFDs to the required specification. The existing LFD design, manufacturing process and associated technical data have been developed, qualified and proven through BBI's established production arrangements. Transitioning manufacture to an alternative supplier before completion of a competitive procurement activity would necessitate technology transfer, revalidation of manufacturing processes, qualification testing, quality assurance approvals and regulatory assurance activities. These activities cannot be completed within the timescales required to maintain uninterrupted supply. The Authority has determined that no reasonable alternative exists that could provide the required products in the necessary timeframe, quality standard and technical configuration without generating disproportionate technical, schedule and operational risk. Consequently, BBI is presently the only supplier capable of meeting the Authority's immediate requirement. This proposed direct award is intended solely as an interim measure to ensure continuity of supply and sustain operational capability until a full and open competition can be conducted. The Authority remains committed to undertaking a competitive procurement exercise to determine the longer-term provision of this requirement.

Procurement Information

The Authority intends to award a contract to BBI Solutions for the continued manufacture and supply of the currently fielded Lateral Flow Devices (LFDs), which are critical to Defence's biological detection capability. A direct award is justified under Section 41(1) and Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 as competition is absent for technical reasons. BBI is currently the only supplier capable of manufacturing the extant LFDs to the required specification, quality standard and timescales. BBI possesses the validated manufacturing processes, specialist technical knowledge, product-specific know-how, quality assurance approvals, specialist reagents and established supply chain necessary to produce the fielded device. Transferring manufacture to an alternative supplier would require technology transfer, process validation, qualification testing and assurance activities that cannot be completed within the timeframe necessary to maintain continuity of supply. Any interruption would create unacceptable risk to operational readiness, training, stock sustainment and delivery of Defence outputs. The Authority has determined that no reasonable alternative supplier can provide the required capability within the necessary timescales. Accordingly, the conditions for a direct award on the grounds of absence of competition for technical reasons are met. The proposed contract is an interim measure to maintain capability while the Authority undertakes a future competitive procurement for the long-term requirement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07860b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/096295-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

CPV Codes

33600000 - Pharmaceutical products

33680000 - Pharmaceutical articles

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£41,000,000 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2029 - 31 Mar 2033 4-5 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

BBI SOLUTIONS OEM LIMITED

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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