--- title: "Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services Contract" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04fd29" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04fd29" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fd29.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fd29.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2025-04-04" --- # Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services Contract Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04fd29 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04fd29) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fd29.json) ## Summary The UK Ministry of Defence, through its Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, is extending the Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK). The contract, identified as FsASTC/00107, focuses on training and simulation services related to aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. This procurement, valued at £25 million, will extend from 1 January 2026 for a period of 2 years 3 months, with an option to extend for an additional 6 months. The procurement stage is at the award phase, and the procurement method utilised is a limited, negotiated process without prior publication, allowing BDUK to continue providing vital system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment across various UK regions. This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in defence training systems, particularly those with expertise in synthetic training environments and airborne systems. Companies that can provide high-tech solutions and possess extensive knowledge of the Gladiator system, as well as affiliated software and application process interfaces, will find this contract particularly fitting. Subcontracting opportunities may be available, making it advantageous for small and medium-sized enterprises with relevant technical capabilities to engage with larger contractors like BDUK. The upcoming planned procurement notice and early market engagement event in Q1 2026 will further present avenues for businesses to prepare and compete in future competitive procurements. ## Notice Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place an extension to contract FsASTC/00107 - a Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK), for continued system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Defence Equipment and Support, Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place - by way of extension to contract FsASTC/00107 - a Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK), for continued system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment, while Air Command & Control, Fast Air and Joint Fires platforms are integrated. Expiry of FsASTC/00107 before this, on 1 January 2026, presents an intolerable risk that the system is not suitably mature from an operate and maintain perspective to ensure optimal capability on future competition. The contract extension will be for a period of 2 years 3 months, with an Option to extend by 6 months, and have an estimated value of PS25m. In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. BDUK is the Gladiator system designer. It is the only economic actor with the familiarity with the capability, the software and Application Process Interfaces, and with the technical expertise and relationships, with sub-contractors and platform original equipment manufacturers, to be able to meet the requirement while essential platforms continue to be integrated. A Planned Procurement Notice providing outline details of the future competition is anticipated to be published in Q1 2026 with potential providers invited to attend an Early Market Engagement event communicated through the publication of a Preliminary market Engagement Notice. Options: Option to extend by an additional six months. ### Procurement Information Defence Equipment and Support, Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place - by way of extension to contract FsASTC/00107 - a Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK), for continued system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment, while Air Command & Control, Fast Air and Joint Fires platforms are integrated. Expiry of FsASTC/00107 before this, on 1 January 2026, presents an intolerable risk that the system is not suitably mature from an operate and maintain perspective to ensure optimal capability on future competition. The contract extension will be for a period of 2 years 3 months, with an Option to extend by 6 months, and have an estimated value of PS25m. In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. BDUK is the Gladiator system designer. It is the only economic actor with the familiarity with the capability, the software and Application Process Interfaces, and with the technical expertise and relationships, with sub-contractors and platform original equipment manufacturers, to be able to meet the requirement while essential platforms continue to be integrated. A Planned Procurement Notice providing outline details of the future competition is anticipated to be published in Q1 2026 with potential providers invited to attend an Early Market Engagement event communicated through the publication of a Preliminary market Engagement Notice. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013022-2025 | | Notice type | Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Limited | | Procurement method details | Negotiated without publication of a contract notice | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Large | | All stages | Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 4 Apr 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 2 Apr 2025 | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | £25,000,000 | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Active | | Contracts status | Active | ## 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 | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | BOEING DEFENCE UNITED KINGDOM | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 80 - Education and training services ### Codes - 80650000 - Training and simulation in aircrafts, missiles and spacecrafts ## Release History - 4 Apr 2025 at 10:08 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013022-2025 ## Notice URLs - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence ## 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-04fd29. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04fd29.json.