---
title: "Air Terminal Passenger & Baggage Handling Security Scanner"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05ccf6"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05ccf6"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ccf6.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ccf6.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"
published: "2026-03-13"
---

# Air Terminal Passenger & Baggage Handling Security Scanner

Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05ccf6

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## Summary

The Ministry of Defence has successfully completed a direct procurement process, awarding a contract to Smiths Detection Watford Limited for Air Terminal Passenger & Baggage Handling Security Scanner equipment at the Royal Air Force Brize Norton. This contract, valued at £156,473, involves the installation of new security scanners for both hold and cabin baggage. Governed by the Procurement Act 2023, the rationale for a direct award was based on operational compatibility and continuity across existing equipment, ensuring seamless integration and maintenance. The contract, starting on 23rd March 2026 and ending on 1st September 2026, is located in the United Kingdom, specifically High Wycombe and Hemel Hempstead, within the public authority central government sector.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in security technology and baggage-scanning equipment. Companies with expertise in technical solutions compatible with existing systems stand to benefit, particularly those that can provide comprehensive operational user support. Smiths Detection, as the selected supplier, underscores the potential for businesses that offer scalable solutions and have established relationships for maintenance and training continuity. The procurement process confirms that businesses capable of meeting such specialised requirements are well-positioned to compete for similar defence sector contracts, fostering growth through strategic partnerships and robust service offerings.

## Notice

The Air Terminal at the Royal Air Force Brize Norton is investing in new passenger handling processing equipment. This includes the provision of new security scanners for both hold and cabin baggage and is commensurate with the separate and already contracted-for purchase of non-scanner equipment. The supplier will install a passenger and baggage handling scanner.

### Procurement Information

The Authority, proposes to enter into a contract with Smiths Detection Limited ("Smiths") on a single source basis in accordance with paragraph 5 of Schedule 7 to the Procurement Act 2023 for the provision of two Air Terminal Passenger & Baggage Handling Security Scanner (the "Scanners"). This procurement will be governed by the Procurement Act 2023 ("PA 2023") Chapter 3, Section 41: Direct Award in Special Cases. It is considered that direct award of the proposed contract is lawful in accordance with PA 2023 Schedule 5 paragraph 7 which relates to the supply of goods, services or works by the existing supplier when a change in supplier would result in the Authority receiving goods that are different from, or incompatible with, existing goods, and the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance. It is considered that direct award is lawful in accordance with paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 PA 2023 as the Scanners are the same as the existing scanners in operation and no other supplier can provide a replica of the existing scanners in both the security area and baggage hall, at Brize Norton. The Scanners are required to be the same as the existing scanners in operation, as operating two (or more) different scanners, would cause disproportionate technical difficulties in the operation and maintenance of both the existing scanners and the new Scanners. In particular, it would cause operational user risks to arise. Further, by purchasing these Scanners from Smiths, training and maintenance will be covered by an existing contract between the Authority and Smiths. No other supplier will be able to offer this without disproportionate technical difficulties in operation and maintenance. In addition, the Authority requires continuity across equipment to ensure interoperability and continuity for training and maintenance, therefore Smiths is the only supplier able to provide the Scanners and the ongoing maintenance and training required.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023082-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 15 Oct 2025 |
| Contract period | 23 Mar 2026 - 1 Sep 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £130,394 |
| Contracts value | £130,394 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE |
| Locality | HIGH WYCOMBE |
| Post town | Hemel Hempstead |
| Postcode | HP14 4UE |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ13 Buckinghamshire |
| Local authority | Buckinghamshire |
| Electoral ward | Ridgeway West |
| Westminster constituency | Mid Buckinghamshire |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SMITHS DETECTION WATFORD |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

### Codes

- 38581000 - Baggage-scanning equipment

## Release History

- 13 Mar 2026 at 14:53 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023082-2026
- 2 Mar 2026 at 12:02 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018381-2026
- 15 Oct 2025 at 08:54 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065449-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023082-2026
  13th March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018381-2026
  2nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/065449-2025
  15th October 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-13347
  Redacted.

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.smithsdetection.com/

## 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-05ccf6. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05ccf6.json.