---
title: "715268450 - RFA Berets - PME"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05591b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05591b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05591b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05591b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"
published: "2025-07-04"
---

# 715268450 - RFA Berets - PME

Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05591b

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## Summary

The Ministry of Defence is initiating a preliminary market engagement process for the procurement of RFA berets, aimed at aligning with the Royal Navy's "Navy Blue Berets". This process, documented under the tender ID RFI0059, falls within the 'goods' procurement category, specifically focusing on tailoring services, military uniforms, and berets. Currently in the planning stage, the contracting authority seeks to collect information by 18th July 2025. The procurement entails the potential reinstatement of around 2,000 Pantone Blue Berets, with leather headbands and adjustable drawstrings, proposed for delivery by November 3, 2025, across the United Kingdom.

This tender presents growth opportunities, particularly for businesses in the textile and garment manufacturing sector that specialize in military apparel. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered suitable contenders, given the contract's nature and scope. Engaging in this procurement process would allow businesses to expand into or enhance their military goods supply capabilities, fostering long-term relations with a significant government entity such as the Ministry of Defence. Interested parties should review the RFI document and adhere to submission guidelines to explore potential solutions that meet the Ministry's requirements.

## Notice

Please note this is Preliminary Market Engagement in the form of a Request for Information. This is not currently an invitation to tender. The RFA were Historically supplied with a "Pantone Blue" Beret for Ratings which was changed in 2015. Capt Drew passed a paper to the management board to align both RFA Officers and Ratings with the Royal Navy "Navy Blue Berets". The aim will be to potentially reinstate the "Pantone Blue" Berets for the RFA and going to industry to determine the solutions that are available to the RFA. The aim is to procure circa 2000 total RFA beret with correct colouring comprising various sizes for all RFA Personnel. Headband material is to be leather, and preference would be for berets to include draw stings to make minor adjustments to sizing. This is an interim solution, and Berets are required to be delivered as a one-off procurement prior to the FGEN clothing team providing the enduring solution. Please see the RFI document with further information including how to submit an RFI attached to the DSP notice. Link below.

### Planning Information

Please find RFI0059 document within this link 
https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60049

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037418-2025 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Jul 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 18 Jul 2025 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 3 Nov 2025 - 3 Nov 2025 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE |
| Locality | PORTSMOUTH |
| Post town | Portsmouth |
| Postcode | PO2 8BY |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| ITL 3 | TLJ31 Portsmouth |
| Local authority | Portsmouth |
| Electoral ward | Nelson |
| Westminster constituency | Portsmouth North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories
- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 18441000 - Hats
- 18443310 - Berets
- 35811300 - Military uniforms
- 98393000 - Tailoring services

## Release History

- 4 Jul 2025 at 11:34 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037418-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037418-2025
  4th July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60049
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
- 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-05591b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05591b.json.