---
title: "Diving Life Support (DLS) In-Service Support (ISS)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04edac"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04edac"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04edac.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04edac.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT"
published: "2025-10-16"
---

# Diving Life Support (DLS) In-Service Support (ISS)

Buyer: DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04edac

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## Summary

The Defence Equipment and Support (DES), a central government public authority located in Bristol, United Kingdom, is initiating an open procurement process titled "Diving Life Support (DLS) In-Service Support (ISS)." This tender falls under the services category, specifically catering to defence and security needs. The procurement process is currently in the tender stage, with significant deadlines including tender submission by 23:59 on 21st November 2025. A tenderers' online conference is scheduled for 29th and 30th September 2025, and expressions of interest must be submitted by 13:00, 25th September 2025. The final contracts, if awarded, are expected to commence on 17th August 2026, potentially extending up to seven years, covering various locations within the UK.

This substantial opportunity, valued at approximately £62.5 million excl. VAT, is available for SMEs, offering a competitive flexible procurement method across four specific lots encompassing diver's dress and ancillaries, diving support equipment, dive sets, and self-contained air diving equipment. Businesses with capabilities in repair and maintenance services, diving instruments, protective clothing, and hydraulic equipment would find this tender particularly suitable. Engaging in this process not only promises business growth but also collaboration opportunities, as companies can form consortia or engage in subcontracting. Interested businesses must ensure to participate in the briefings and respond adequately through the Defence Sourcing Portal to leverage this growth opportunity thoroughly.

## Notice

Defence Equipment and Support (DES) Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) Delivery Team (DT) have a requirement for the provision of In-Service Support (ISS) to the Diving Life Support (DLS) portfolio of equipment. The DLS portfolio provides a diving capability to the UK Military, led by the Royal Navy, to support a full range of technical and support activities to enable the delivery of underwater Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), underwater engineering, underwater search and engineering tasks in support of UK Defence Tasks. The DLS ISS requirement is divided into the following four Lots: Lot 1 - Diver's Dress and Dive Ancillaries Estimated value: PS10M ex VAT Includes: Diver's dress, e.g. dive suits, boots, gloves, etc and Dive Ancillaries Lot 2 - Diving Support Equipment Estimated value: PS14M ex VAT Includes: Diver Through Water Communication (DTWC) Gas Boosters Pumps Portable Breathing Air Compressor (PBAC) Portable Oxygen Monitoring Apparatus (POMA) Type B Recompression Chamber (RCC) Lot 3 - Dive Sets and Dived Equipment Estimated value: PS21M ex VAT Includes: Enclosed Mine Lift Bags (EMLB) Swimmers Oxygen Breathing Apparatus (SOBA), including Excursion variant Surface Supplied Diving Equipment (SSDE) Parachute Lift Bags (PLB) Underwater Hydraulic Tools Lot 4 - Self-Contained Air Diving Equipment (SCADE) and Clearance Diver Life Support Equipment (CDLSE) Estimated value: PS17.5M ex VAT Includes: Self-Contained Air Diving Equipment (SCADE), including Swimmers Air Breathing Apparatus (SABA) and Rechargeable Air Breathing Apparatus (RABA) Clearance Divers Life Support Equipment (CDLSE) The Lots require ISS to extant equipment, as well as the ability to procure more/new equipment at the direction of the Authority. The DLS ISS contracts will be for five (5) years, with two (2) additional one (1) year options to extend. If all the options to extend are exercised by the Authority, each contract's duration will be a total of seven (7) years.

### Lot Information

Dive Dress and Dive Ancillaries

Lot 1 - Diver's Dress and Dive Ancillaries Includes: Diver's dress, e.g. dive suits, boots, gloves, etc and Dive Ancillaries

Renewal: Five year initial term, with options to extend for a further one or two years in accordance with the terms of the Contract.

Diving Support Equipment

Lot 2 - Diving Support Equipment Includes: Diver Through Water Communication (DTWC) Gas Boosters Pumps Portable Breathing Air Compressor (PBAC) Portable Oxygen Monitoring Apparatus (POMA) Type B Recompression Chamber (RCC)

Renewal: Five year initial term, with options to extend for a further one or two years in accordance with the terms of the Contract.

Dive Sets and Dived Equipment

Lot 3 - Dive Sets and Dived Equipment Includes: Enclosed Mine Lift Bags (EMLB) Swimmers Oxygen Breathing Apparatus (SOBA), including Excursion variant Surface Supplied Diving Equipment (SSDE) Parachute Lift Bags (PLB) Underwater Hydraulic Tools

Renewal: Five year initial term, with options to extend for a further one or two years in accordance with the terms of the Contract.

Self-Contained Air Diving Equipment (SCADE) and Clearance Diver Life Support Equipment (CDLSE)

Lot 4 - Mixed Gas (Clearance Divers Life Support Equipment (CDLSE)) and Self-Contained Air Diving Equipment (SCADE) Includes: Clearance Divers Life Support Equipment (CDLSE) Self-Contained Air Diving Equipment (SCADE), including Swimmers Air Breathing Apparatus (SABA) and Rechargeable Air Breathing Apparatus (RABA)

Renewal: Five year initial term, with options to extend for a further one or two years in accordance with the terms of the Contract.

### Planning Information

This notice serves to inform Industry of the Authority’s intention to conduct market engagement in the form of holding an industry day for this requirement.
A market interest and equipment familiarisation day will be held on 03/04/2025 at the Defence Diving School, Horsea Island, Portsmouth. This will consist of an overview of the requirement and contracting approach, including an indicative procurement timeline; a questionnaire to gain supplier feedback; and a question and answer session. Furthermore, there will also be the ability to view equipment in scope of the requirement, and a question and answer session. Subject matter experts will be available to answer technical questions.
Please note, the date stated above may be subject to change.
The aim of the day is to:
a) determine if there is an established market that can meet the Authority’s requirements and enable a successful competition to be run;
b) provide suppliers with an overview of the requirement, e.g. type/volume of equipment that needs to be supported/bought; 
c) gain suppliers’ opinions on the requirement and proposed contracting approach (e.g. amendments to the four proposed Lots) 
d) provide suppliers the mechanism to suggest alternative ways of meeting the overarching requirement; and
e) provide the opportunity for suppliers to discuss opportunities with one another (e.g. sub-contracting and forming consortia, etc) 
If you are interested in attending this day, please submit expressions of interest to desshipscomrcl-salmo-multiuser@mod.gov.uk by 12:00 hours on 26/03/2025.
More information, including booking onto site, timings and maximum number of attendees will be provided to those who register their interest.
The supplier shall bear all costs of their attendance at the industry day. 
For the avoidance of doubt, this notice is not a call for competition. Any comments, indications of interest, participation, or non-participation by any organisation at this stage will not influence the process, selection and/or award decision for any future possible procurement, nor will it be taken as a supplier’s committed position. Non-participation in the industry day will not exclude you from any possible future competition for this requirement.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065899-2025 |
| Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning, Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Oct 2025 |
| Submission deadline | 21 Nov 2025 |
| Future notice date | 30 Jun 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 16 Aug 2026 - 16 Aug 2031 |
| Recurrence | 2030-08-30 |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £62,500,000 |
| Lots value | £62,500,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT |
| 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

- 33 - Medical equipments, pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
- 37 - Musical instruments, sport goods, games, toys, handicraft, art materials and accessories
- 42 - Industrial machinery
- 43 - Machinery for mining, quarrying, construction equipment
- 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 33157500 - Hyperbaric chambers
- 35113400 - Protective and safety clothing
- 37412240 - Diving instruments or accessories
- 37412241 - Breathing apparatus for diving
- 37412242 - Diving wear
- 37412260 - Wetsuits
- 37412270 - Dry suits
- 42123400 - Air compressors
- 43328100 - Hydraulic equipment
- 44611110 - Compressed-air cylinders
- 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services

## Release History

- 16 Oct 2025 at 11:40 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065899-2025
- 22 Sep 2025 at 11:26 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058461-2025
- 22 Sep 2025 at 09:02 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058360-2025
- 24 Mar 2025 at 09:41 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010815-2025
- 17 Mar 2025 at 10:37 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009589-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065899-2025
  16th October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058461-2025
  22nd September 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/058360-2025
  22nd September 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010815-2025
  24th March 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009589-2025
  17th March 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.contracts.mod.uk
- https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=59608
- https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=59608ResponsestotheProcurementSpecificQuestionnaire,the'allLots'ITTandtheLot-specificITTsyouwishtotenderformustbecompletedandsubmittedintheDefenceSourcingPortal(DSP)by23:5921stNovember2025.AnyClarificationQuestionsshouldalsobesubmittedthroughtheDSP.
- https://contracts.mod.uk/go/161145270199709EE502
- https://contracts.mod.uk/go/5075130201996D0E0F0F
- https://contracts.mod.uk/go/554509340199709F9CE4
- https://contracts.mod.uk/go/57767694019970A03197
- https://contracts.mod.uk/go/58904938019970A08E7B
- https://contracts.mod.uk/go/884851360199709FEB29
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-h6vhtk-04edac. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04edac.json.