--- title: "714155450 - Personal Hard Armour Framework" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04f88f" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04f88f" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04f88f.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04f88f.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT" published: "2026-01-20" --- # 714155450 - Personal Hard Armour Framework Buyer: DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04f88f [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04f88f) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04f88f.json) ## Summary The Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), a division of the UK Ministry of Defence, has initiated a tender process for establishing a Personal Hard Armour Framework. This procurement process is at the tender stage and involves setting up a closed, non-committal Defence and Security Framework that will last for eight years. The framework aims to support UK Armed Forces Personnel by facilitating the procurement of personal ballistic protection and is expected to deliver consistency, agility, financial savings, and innovation in procuring personal hard armour. The procurement, estimated to be worth up to £250 million, will undergo a competitive flexible procedure including a multi-stage process with deadlines for expression of interest on 17 February 2026 and enquiry period ending 9 February 2026. The main procurement category is goods, with CPV classifications covering combat gear, cover plates, protective gear, and bullet-proof vests. The contract is expected to start on 29 May 2026 and end on 28 May 2034, and suppliers interested must submit their proposals electronically through the Defence Sourcing Portal. This framework presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in manufacturing and providing personal protective equipment, particularly those specializing in ballistic protection solutions. With an emphasis on both low- and high-quantity procurement to meet emerging demands, this framework is well-suited for businesses looking to expand their footprint in government defence contracts. SMEs are encouraged to participate, given the framework's design to accommodate a wide supplier base and promote innovation. Suppliers with capacities in advanced armour technology, such as buoyant and covert plates, or those offering non-standard shaped plates with complex curvatures, would particularly benefit from this opportunity, ensuring their products meet the stringent legal, financial, and technical standards outlined in the tender process. ## Notice The UK Ministry of Defence is establishing a Framework for the procurement of Personal Hard Armour to support its Armed Forces Personnel. The Personal Hard Armour Framework will facilitate the procurement of personal ballistic protection through the pre-approval of suppliers and will deliver agility, consistency, and financial savings in the procurement of personal hard armour - whilst encouraging innovation and optimising organisational outputs. Defence requires the ability to procure personal hard armour in low and high quantities, with the agility to meet emerging demands. Potential future requirements and technologies that may utilise the Framework are as below: a. Osprey Replacement. b. Reduced threat plates. c. Buoyant plates. d. Non-standard shaped plates (complex curvature). e. Covert plates. The Authority therefore intends to establish a Closed, non-committal, Defence and Security Framework for an 8 year duration. ### Planning Information Previous engagement: Market engagement has been conducted during the DE&S wide SME engagement day held at Abbey Wood on 20th March 2024. Further engagement has taken place through events such as DSEI 2023, DVD 2024, visiting various stands throughout the events. Project and Commercial leads used these as an opportunity to promote the Framework and advised on signing up to the Defence Sourcing Portal. AUSA Washington USA – 14-16 October 24 Enforcetac – Germany - 24-26 February 25 Members of the project team attended AUSA and Enforcetac on the above dates to promote the Personal Hard Armour Framework to suppliers in the hard armour market. A key objective of setting up and promoting the framework is to broaden and strengthen our supply base for Personal Hard Armour, giving the UK MOD the potential to surge and meet evolving demands, as well as further building our understanding of the wider market. Through attending these key exhibitions the team were able to gain knowledge of suppliers, products, and new technologies on offer. The team visited a number of stands that were recorded as suppliers of ballistic plates or were showcasing ballistic plates and discussed with them the UK MODs intent on setting up a Framework to be the main commercial route for all the Authority's hard armour requirements. Information was provided on how to sign up to the Defence Sourcing Portal, estimated timelines for the framework, as well as information on the type of requirements that could be going through the Framework. Upcoming engagement: **The market engagement day that was previously intended to be run has now been cancelled** Please note, the release of this UK 2 Preliminary Market engagement Notice is not the formal start to the competition process. You will have an opportunity to participate in the Tender process when it formally starts with the release of the UK 4 Tender Notice, which will be advertised via the Defence Sourcing Portal and Find a Tender Service via the Central Digital Platform in the future. At this stage suppliers are only able to register interest for the market engagement day coming up. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004752-2026 | | Notice type | UK4 - Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 20 Jan 2026 | | Submission deadline | 9 Feb 2026 | | Future notice date | 25 Sep 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 28 May 2026 - 28 May 2034 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £208,333,333 | | Lots value | £208,333,333 | | 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 - 18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories - 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment - 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus) ### Codes - 18143000 - Protective gear - 35812300 - Combat gear - 35815100 - Bullet-proof vests - 44431000 - Cover plates ## Release History - 20 Jan 2026 at 12:00 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004752-2026 - 17 Jul 2025 at 15:09 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041074-2025 - 17 Jul 2025 at 14:55 - PlanningUpdate - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041048-2025 - 29 May 2025 at 13:16 - PlanningUpdate - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028470-2025 - 22 May 2025 at 14:28 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025111-2025 - 15 Apr 2025 at 11:37 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015219-2025 - 11 Apr 2025 at 12:25 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014615-2025 - 11 Apr 2025 at 11:28 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014567-2025 - 11 Apr 2025 at 11:02 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014548-2025 - 25 Mar 2025 at 15:21 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011174-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004752-2026 20th January 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041074-2025 17th July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041048-2025 17th July 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/028470-2025 29th May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025111-2025 22nd May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015219-2025 15th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014615-2025 11th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014567-2025 11th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014548-2025 11th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011174-2025 25th March 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/ogc-host/public/mod/web/login.html - https://contracts.mod.uk/go/29074572019BDB320926 - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-equipment-and-support - 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-04f88f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04f88f.json.