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Strategic Air Transportable Isolator-UK2

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Oct 2026 at 10:03

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence is exploring the market for a next-generation strategic air-transportable isolator (ATI), medical equipment for moving patients with suspected or confirmed high-consequence infectious disease. It is intended to support global aeromedical evacuation from the point of injury or illness to NHS high-level isolation units, including through permissive and austere environments. The system must work with current Royal Air Force strategic fixed-wing aircraft, with potential use on future aircraft and NATO partner platforms, and support onward ground transfer. Requirements include containing serious infectious threats during transfer, enabling clinical care and connecting patients seamlessly with NHS isolation units. The MOD’s Deployable Air Isolator Team is a joint asset with the Department of Health and Social Care.

This is a planning-stage request for information to understand the market and shape a possible future procurement; it is not an invitation to tender or pre-qualification. The MOD expects to use the responses to check earlier market findings, assess feasibility and market capacity, and inform a competitive procedure. Suppliers are invited to complete a questionnaire by 14 December 2026 at 12:00; further market engagement may follow. Responding, or not responding, will not affect the ability to compete in a later procurement. One lot is planned. The current indicative value is £1,666,666.67 excluding VAT (£2,000,000 including VAT). The estimated contract period is 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030. Funding and timescales are unapproved and described as very rough estimates; requirements may change.

The work may suit medical-equipment manufacturers with an existing air-transportable isolator or a design that could be developed, as well as suppliers able to contribute to an integrated system for military aeromedical evacuation and NHS handover. The MOD is testing whether the market has sufficient capability, capacity and interest, so suppliers should consider whether they can deliver and sustain the required system. The stated requirements point to expertise in high-containment infectious-disease protection, aircraft integration and airworthiness certification, and clinical equipment integration, including ventilators and monitors. The isolator must maintain containment of airborne and contact threats, support patient care and transfer, and operate independently for at least 48 hours. Interoperability with NHS arrangements and resilience across the supply chain are also priorities. SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises are marked as suitable for the planned lot.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Strategic Air Transportable Isolator-UK2

Notice Description

Further to the previous market exploration for High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID) Medical Evacuation (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/market-exploration-high-consequence-infectious-disease-medical-evacuation) conducted in 2021, the Ministry of Defence through UK Defence Innovation is running a request for information from industry in order to develop the understanding of the market for Air Transportable Isolators (ATIs). This pre-market engagement seeks to: * Verify if information received from previous engagement is still valid; * Determine if there is sufficient market capability, capacity and interest; * Identify suppliers who have an existing ATI product / have a design for an ATI product that requires development; * Assist in understanding if the existing requirements are feasible; * Provide key information in supporting the approach to any future procurement, including designing an effective competitive procedure. This does not act as pre-qualification, and nothing submitted in this engagement will limit the opportunity to engage in any follow-on procurement process. The Deployable Air Isolator Team (DAIT), is a joint Department of Health and Social Care and MOD asset to transport patients with suspected or confirmed High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID). The current ATI provides the capability for global strategic Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) of a patient with a HCID. Defence requires a resilient, assured and interoperable next-generation Strategic ATI to maintain interoperability with NHS, improve and update military equipment and to enhance supply chain resilience. This will provide Global Strategic Aeromedical Evacuation from Point of Injury/Illness back to UK NHS High Level Isolation Units (HLIU), including permissive and austere environments. The following are the overarching requirements, which are subject to change: * Threat context -HCID (Definitions include: UKHSA, WHO, Level 4 biological threats, and novel/unidentified pathogens) requiring full isolation, including airborne, droplet and contact transmission risks to aircrew, medical personnel, aircraft and population. * Platform / domain - current Royal Air Force strategic fixed wing aircraft (with potential for future airframes and NATO partner platforms) with onward ground transfer via specialist ambulatory systems. * Key metric 1 - Full containment of HCID (Level 4) pathogens (airborne/contact) throughout transfer. * Key metric 2 - Achieve Release to Service and certified airworthiness on current and future strategic AE platforms. * Key metric 3 - Enable full clinical care including operation of ventilators, monitors, and other Electrical Medical Equipment. * Key metric 4 - Enable seamless end-to-end patient transfer from aircraft to NHS HLIU. * Key metric 5 - Sustain independent operation for minimum 48 hours. Please note that at this stage the funding and timescales are not approved and are very rough estimates.

Planning Information

To respond to this notice, please complete the MS Forms questionnaire available by copying the link below and pasting into your browser in a new window. The deadline for submission is 14 December 26 at 12:00. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/W6NbTpppGJ Responding (or not responding) to this engagement will not impact on your ability to compete in any following procurement procedure. If required, there may be additional market engagements once this request for information is completed.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-079450
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/103008-2026
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
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products

CPV Codes

33100000 - Medical equipments

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,666,666 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Oct 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 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
Ministry of Defence
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EU
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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