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Provision of NATS Services

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

15 Oct 2026 at 08:10

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

13 Oct 2026 at 09:08

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support, through the Ministry of Defence’s Air Traffic Management Team, is procuring air traffic management services from NATS (En Route) PLC. The requirement covers air traffic data, distress and diversion cell infrastructure, connectivity services and installation. This is specialist support for the UK’s air traffic requirements, including connections to a site owned by NATS. The work is in the air traffic control services category (CPV 63732000) and is for delivery in the United Kingdom.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to NATS (En Route) PLC. The award is recorded as pending. The contract period runs from 27 October 2026 to 30 September 2029, with an option to extend by one year. The estimated value is £900,000 including VAT (£720,000 excluding VAT). The buyer used a direct award under a closed framework, relying on the single-supplier technical-reasons justification: it considers NATS the only UK supplier and says there are no reasonable alternatives because the service requires connections to a NATS-owned site. There is one lot. The award date is 15 October 2026; contract signature was scheduled for 27 October 2026.

This award demonstrates demand from Defence Equipment and Support for integrated air traffic services: air traffic data, distress and diversion cell infrastructure, connectivity and installation. A credible competitor for a future requirement of this kind would need the technical capability to provide the complete service and establish or update connectivity to the relevant operational site, as well as the infrastructure and expertise to support air traffic management requirements. The buyer’s stated basis for selecting NATS was that it is the only UK supplier able to meet the requirement for connections to its own site, with no reasonable alternatives. Suppliers would therefore need to demonstrate a technically viable alternative service and connectivity arrangement to compete if the requirement returns to market.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of NATS Services

Notice Description

The Air Traffic Management Team (ATMT) in Sense, Decide & Communicate (SDC), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), intends to award a contract to NATS En Route PLC (NERL) for the provision of air traffic data, distress and diversion cell infrastructure, connectivity services and installation (Air Traffic Requirements). The direct Framework contract will be for a term of 3 years with the option to extend for one year and has an estimated value of PS900,000 (inclusive of VAT).

Procurement Information

It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 (single supplier - technical reasons) applies. This is because NERL is the only supplier of the Air Traffic Requirements in the UK, provision of which will require updating connections to a site owned by NERL. There are no reasonable alternatives.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078627
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097249-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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
£720,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
15 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
27 Oct 2026 - 30 Sep 2029 2-3 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

NATS (EN ROUTE) PLC

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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