--- title: "Provision of Link 16 Network Management System (L16 NMS)" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-7446df6d-10c0-4707-b711-9ba8f642e136" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-7446df6d-10c0-4707-b711-9ba8f642e136" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7446df6d-10c0-4707-b711-9ba8f642e136.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7446df6d-10c0-4707-b711-9ba8f642e136.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "Ministry of Defence" published: "2026-09-02" --- # Provision of Link 16 Network Management System (L16 NMS) Buyer: Ministry of Defence Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-b5fd17-7446df6d-10c0-4707-b711-9ba8f642e136 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-7446df6d-10c0-4707-b711-9ba8f642e136) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7446df6d-10c0-4707-b711-9ba8f642e136.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence procured Link 16 Network Management System services to manage and monitor all Link 16 activity within the United Kingdom and support up to two deployed operations. The system enables network management operators to monitor activity, modify network architecture and maintain optimal operating conditions. It also checks compliance with the Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation Authority UK Frequency Clearance Agreement. The requirement covers data network management services, including support for the existing equipment and its installed software. The work supports Link 16 activity across platforms operating in the United Kingdom Flight Information Region, with the buying organisation based in Bristol. The service is categorised as services, with CPV 72315200 for data network management services. The procurement is complete and was awarded following a direct single tender action below the applicable threshold. The tender submission deadline was 31 July 2026 at 12:00. The contract was awarded to Thales UK Limited on 6 August 2026 for £9,820,902, including the stated currency of GBP. The contract period runs from 7 August 2026 to 6 August 2028. The direct award was based on Thales being the original equipment manufacturer with proprietary rights over the installed software, and holding the technical information, tools and expertise required to support the unique existing system. The buyer assessed that changing the system could disrupt Link 16 use and reduce operational training capability. The opportunity was unsuitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises. This award indicates a specialist defence technology requirement centred on Link 16 network management, operational monitoring and modification of network architecture. A credible future supplier would need original equipment manufacturer-level control of, or authorised access to, the relevant proprietary software, together with the technical information, tools and expertise needed to support the existing equipment. It would also need to understand Link 16 activity across multiple platforms, deployed operations and the United Kingdom Flight Information Region, including compliance with the Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation Authority frequency clearance arrangements. The buyer’s stated concern about continuity shows that proven ability to maintain an established system without disrupting training or operations would be important. This is a large, highly specialised defence systems support requirement rather than general IT network management work. ## Notice The United Kingdom (UK) Defence has an enduring requirement to manage and monitor all Link 16 activity within the UK and support up to 2 deployed operations. The NMS allows the Network Management operators to monitor network activity and modify the network architecture to provide optimal Link 16 network operating conditions. NMS also monitors all Link 16 activity to ensure compliance with the MOD/Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) UK Frequency Clearance Agreement (FCA). The current equipment set up is unique and the software installed on the equipment is owned and supported by the Contractor. As the OEM with proprietary rights for the software that is installed on the equipment, support can only be provided by Thales UK Limited, as only they hold the technical information, tools and expertise required. In the immediate term changing the system would have a potentially detrimental impact and could result in an inability to utilise the Link 16 network across all platforms in the UK Flight Information Region (FIR). This would significantly curtail pan domain platform's ability to train for operations. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/91a2a140-7297-4f04-a2c6-305c04dda254 | | Notice type | Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Direct | | Procurement method details | Single tender action (below threshold) | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Large | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 2 Sep 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 6 Aug 2026 | | Contract period | 7 Aug 2026 - 6 Aug 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £9,820,902 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £9,820,902 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | Ministry of Defence | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Postcode area | 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 | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | Thales UK Limited | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72315200 - Data network management services ## Release History - 2 Sep 2026 at 10:14 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/91a2a140-7297-4f04-a2c6-305c04dda254 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/91a2a140-7297-4f04-a2c6-305c04dda254 2nd September 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder - https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=61450 Redacted contract documentation ## 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-b5fd17-7446df6d-10c0-4707-b711-9ba8f642e136. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-7446df6d-10c0-4707-b711-9ba8f642e136.json.