--- title: "Strategic Defence Review - Energetics Information Notice" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-6630fb7e-1d70-4353-aa35-c25880d1d578" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6630fb7e-1d70-4353-aa35-c25880d1d578" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6630fb7e-1d70-4353-aa35-c25880d1d578.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6630fb7e-1d70-4353-aa35-c25880d1d578.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2025-12-09" --- # Strategic Defence Review - Energetics Information Notice Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-6630fb7e-1d70-4353-aa35-c25880d1d578 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6630fb7e-1d70-4353-aa35-c25880d1d578) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6630fb7e-1d70-4353-aa35-c25880d1d578.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in the United Kingdom is in the planning stage for a procurement process titled "Strategic Defence Review - Energetics Information Notice," classified under military research and technology. This initiative aims to develop a continuous supply pipeline for munitions by constructing at least six new energetics and munitions factories across the UK. Key deadlines include an engagement end date set for 15th December 2025. Suppliers interested in participating must complete a 15-minute presentation between 12th and 23rd January 2026, with the formal tender process expected to commence in the first quarter of 2026. The project is part of a broader strategy to enhance warfighting readiness and strengthen industry partnerships, focusing on several locations, including British Overseas Territories, Channel Islands, and the UK mainland. The procurement method involves a tender initiation to identify viable proposals from prospective suppliers. This tender presents significant opportunities for business growth, especially for companies with expertise in manufacturing high explosives, propellants, ignitors, detonators, and other energetics materials. It is particularly suitable for businesses capable of demonstrating economic and technical viability in their proposals, with an emphasis on investments in UK-based facilities. The Ministry of Defence seeks suppliers ready to utilize existing order books and explore export opportunities to supplement local demand. The procurement process encourages participation from small to medium enterprises, offering potential support in site identification, regulatory engagement, and exploring R&D funding channels for successful proposals. Engaging in this tender can lead to funded feasibility studies, engineering design efforts, and potentially securing government investment for large-scale facility construction from 2026 onwards. ## Notice UK government is acting on the Strategic Defence Review's recommendations by investing in an 'always on' pipeline for munitions including building at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK. The User requires the manufacture of the following Energetic Materials: * RDX (Bachman or Woolwich) * HMX * Trinitrotoluene (TNT) * Nitrocellulose (NC) * Nitroglycerine (NG) * Nitroguanidine (NQ) * Hexanitrostilbene (HNS) * Ammonium Perchlorate (AP) * Boron Potassium Nitrate (BKNO3) Other materials in the following classes: High explosives, Propellants, Ignitors, Detonators, Pyrotechnics, may be considered on an exceptional basis. Proposals will be sought which demonstrate economic and technical viability with capital available for investment. Additionally, the Authority welcomes expressions of interest from consumers who wish to establish a supply of these materials for current facilities (domestic or exports) or aim to establish a capability in the UK which will rely on them. Overview: The Strategic Defence Review sets out the ambition of moving to warfighting readiness through a whole-of-society approach ensuring an engine for growth through a new partnership with industry, radical procurement reforms, and backing businesses to establish and grow in the UK. The MoD aims to achieve this through a coherent set of significant multi-year investments in onshore energetic materials synthesis through UK-based or overseas-based suppliers. These investments will typically form part, but not all, of the funding required for the establishment of a facility. During the formal tender documentation process, suppliers should consider how they will generate UK growth. Companies with established order books/markets will be prioritised. Proposals must demonstrate that they are economically and technically viable to progress. Consideration should also be given to: 1. The scale of the proposed facility and the market demand required to support it: 1.1 Proposals should assume a range of scenarios such as surge demand and reduced or minimal UK MoD demand. 1.2 Other offtakes, such as exports and civilian markets, should be considered and are expected to form the majority of the demand signal. UK government, via the MoD's Defence Exports team, will actively support export campaigns. 2 Economic viability including fluctuating demand and market prices. 2.1 Proposals should be economically viable as further support funding for facilities is not envisioned. 3 The level of investment required (VROM) and how this will be raised: 3.1 Including internal company investment and external venture capital 3.2 It is expected that MoD funding will not form the majority of funding for proposals. 4 Wider requirements to establish a facility including: 4.1 Regulatory 4.2 Skills 4.3 Export support (including UKEF) 4.4 Technology 4.5 Sites Additional information: The first step in this competition process is an initial screening at a series of 1-2-1 engagements with MoD in Jan 26. Suppliers who wish to participate in this competition are to register their interest in one-to-one engagements with MOD in Q1 2026 via the email address shown below. Companies should provide a 15 minute pitch covering proposed materials, scale and approach to manufacture, as well as economic viability. Suppliers will be allocated a 30-minute slot to include the pitch presentation and discussion (15 minutes each) between 12-23 Jan 2026. The evaluation of each supplier pitch will form the basis on which selected suppliers will be invited to complete a feasibility study. If a supplier fails to provide a pitch they will not be considered for future contracts under this procurement. The pitches will be delivered via Microsoft Teams with the supplier slot timing to be allocated in the week commencing 15 Dec 2025 after the Information Notice closure date. It is intended for all pitches to be recorded and we would urge all suppliers to avoid the inclusion of any personal data. If access to Teams is an issue, please make this known using the email address shown below so an alternative method can be given consideration. Further details, including pitch guidance, will be issued after the Information Notice closing date. Should there be an excessive number of expressions of interest, pre-screening of suppliers will be undertaken as there is a limited number of available slots for pitch presentations. Formal tender process is targeted to commence in Q1 2026. Proposals which can demonstrate economic and technical viability with available capital for investment will be prioritised. For viable proposals, further support in the following areas may be available: identifying sites, engagement with regulators, export support, energy relief under the Energy Intensive Industries (EII) Compensation Scheme, and access to R&D funding sources. Suitable proposals will be invited to complete a funded feasibility study (subject to commercial and affordability requirements). Details of what is involved in this feasibility study will be provided in the initial meeting. Companies that continue to demonstrate technical and financial credibility and a commercially viable proposition will be invited to complete a funded Front End Engineering Design (FEED) -again subject to commercial and affordability requirements. Following successful completion of a FEED and on final agreement of wider commercial terms required for investment a contract may be placed for MoD investment into the production facility (factory). Timelines will be dependent on the complexity of the proposals. MOD anticipates that construction will begin in 2026. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9470710f-7650-4853-9efd-b2b951e31c92 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 9 Dec 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 15 Dec 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Post town | Bristol | | Postcode | BS34 8JH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire | | Local authority | South Gloucestershire | | Electoral ward | Stoke Park & Cheswick | | Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73410000 - Military research and technology ## Release History - 9 Dec 2025 at 08:54 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9470710f-7650-4853-9efd-b2b951e31c92 - 19 Nov 2025 at 15:35 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/5fa133e1-15e8-4497-b32a-b763cc7a644a - 19 Nov 2025 at 10:18 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/78395ac2-9ebc-4ca6-9d86-c4538b5a5fd6 - 19 Nov 2025 at 10:11 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/cc5e4bab-7de5-4892-ab96-32b70f1c85de - 19 Nov 2025 at 10:07 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e08c7db-2019-4a79-a27c-1699ffc46289 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9470710f-7650-4853-9efd-b2b951e31c92 9th December 2025 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/5fa133e1-15e8-4497-b32a-b763cc7a644a 19th November 2025 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/78395ac2-9ebc-4ca6-9d86-c4538b5a5fd6 19th November 2025 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/cc5e4bab-7de5-4892-ab96-32b70f1c85de 19th November 2025 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8e08c7db-2019-4a79-a27c-1699ffc46289 19th November 2025 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-6630fb7e-1d70-4353-aa35-c25880d1d578. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-6630fb7e-1d70-4353-aa35-c25880d1d578.json.