---
title: "CSV/M3-ISS - M3 Amphibious Rig In-Service Support-UK5"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0515df"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0515df"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0515df.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0515df.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT"
published: "2026-04-16"
---

# CSV/M3-ISS - M3 Amphibious Rig In-Service Support-UK5

Buyer: DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0515df

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## Summary

Defence Equipment and Support, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, is engaged in a procurement process for the in-service support of the M3 Amphibious Bridging System, known as the Wide Wet Gap Crossing Capability. This contract involves providing Level 4 repairs, Post Design Services (PDS), and technical assistance, with a duration of six years and options for two additional years, commencing on 1st April 2027 and potentially extending until 31st March 2035. Located in Bristol, United Kingdom, the procurement falls under the defence and security category and is being executed through direct award, as justified by the Procurement Act 2023, primarily due to technical reasons and the necessity of interoperability between British and German Army systems. The contract is valued at approximately £10 million, excluding VAT.

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses operating within the defence sector, particularly those specialising in mobile bridges and military vehicle maintenance and repairs. General Dynamics European Land Systems - Bridge Systems GmbH, the awarded supplier, offers a model example as they hold the technical knowledge and system-specific expertise necessary for supporting the M3 system, indicating the potential success for manufacturers and service providers capable of similar specialisations and technical contributions. Companies with experience in technical assistance and post-design services for military systems will find this contract conducive to growth in market share and expertise within defence procurement projects.

## Notice

Combat Support Vehicles (CSV), part of the UK Ministry of Defence ("the Authority"), intends to place a new contract to provide Level 4 repairs, Post Design Services (PDS), and technical assistance for the Authority's existing in-service M3 Amphibious Bridging System (a Wide Wet Gap Crossing Capability). A duration of this contract will be 6 years (plus two Option years) and an estimated initial value will be circa PS10M (ex VAT). The CSV codes are: 34144300 - Mobile bridges 50630000 - Repair and maintenance services of military vehicles

### Procurement Information

Combat Support Vehicles (CSV), part of the UK Ministry of Defence ("the Authority"), intends to place a new contract to provide Level 4 repairs, Post Design Services (PDS), and technical assistance for the Authority's existing in-service M3 Amphibious Bridging System (a Wide Wet Gap Crossing Capability (WWGCC)). The proposed contract shall be awarded to General Dynamics European Land Systems - Bridge Systems (GDELS-BS), the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the M3 Bridging System, with a total duration of 6 years and an estimated value of circa PS10M. This award falls to be governed by the Procurement Act 2023 (the "PA 2023") Chapter 3, Section 41: Direct Award in Special Cases. It is considered that the direct award to GDELS-BS is lawful in accordance with PA 2023 Schedule 5, paragraph 6. This is because of (i) an absence of competition for technical reasons; and (ii) there are no reasonable alternatives to the services being procured, for the following reasons. The M3 system is currently used by both the British and German Army in a Joint Amphibious Engineer Battalion. As part of a joint battalion, the Authority has an operational requirement for M3 bridges, as it is essential to ensure interoperability of the two systems and safe operating procedures. The M3 Amphibious Rig is a self-deployable 4x4 wheeled vehicle that operates on land and can be deployed either as a continuous bridge or as separate mobile ferries on water, providing a Wide Wet Gap Crossing Capability (WWGCC). GDELS-BS are the existing support provider for the M3 system and the OEM and Design Authority (DA). They are the only supplier that has the required system-specific technical knowledge, manufacturing and support information, and tools, to provide the required Level 4 repair support, PDS, and technical assistance, while also ensuring the safety of the system.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034850-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Planning, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 1 Jun 2026 |
| Award date | 16 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2033 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £18,950,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £10,000,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| 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 |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | GENERAL DYNAMICS EUROPEAN LAND SYSTEMS-BRIDGE SYSTEMS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 34144300 - Mobile bridges
- 50630000 - Repair and maintenance services of military vehicles

## Release History

- 16 Apr 2026 at 15:07 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034850-2026
- 20 May 2025 at 12:49 - PlanningUpdate - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023260-2025
- 16 May 2025 at 12:52 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022236-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034850-2026
  16th April 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023260-2025
  20th May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/022236-2025
  16th May 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gdels.com
- 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-0515df. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0515df.json.