---
title: "UK5 - Transparency Notice"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05d8cc"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d8cc"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d8cc.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d8cc.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT"
published: "2025-11-03"
---

# UK5 - Transparency Notice

Buyer: DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05d8cc

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## Summary

The Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), a part of the UK Ministry of Defence based in Bristol, has completed the procurement process for the Ajax IOS Transition Support contract. This contract, focused on defence services, pertains to the armoured fighting vehicle 'Ajax', indicating a uniqueness in its requirements. The direct award contract, valued at a gross amount of £1.5 billion GBP, will be effective from 1st January 2028, with an initial duration of five years and two optional one-year extensions. The procurement method was direct due to the technical expertise required from the original Equipment Manufacturer and Design Authority, General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited, located in Blackwood. Key dates include the contract's finalisation by the end of 2027 and its completion by March 2035, if extended.

This tender represents a significant growth opportunity for businesses operating in defence support services. Companies that specialise in technical support, maintenance, and repair services for military equipment, especially those with a keen understanding of complex and digitised vehicle platforms, would find this contract advantageous. With the procurement model focusing on a single supplier due to technical reasons and intellectual property rights, businesses seeking partnerships or subcontracting opportunities with General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited may benefit. This contract ensures sustained operational capability, making it ideal for businesses prioritising long-term strategic alliances within the defence sector.

## Notice

Ajax is an armoured fighting vehicle which provides the Army with its first fully digitised platform. The vehicles were designed and manufactured by General Dynamics United Kingdom Ltd (GDUK Ltd) and are therefore the original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA). Defence Equipment & Support (DES), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is planning to award a 5 year (plus two 1 year options) Ajax IOS Transition Support contract to GDUK Ltd for the support of the vehicles as they complete their manufacture phase and transition to Post Design Services and Repair and Maintenance activities. The contract will cover support arrangements designed to ensure the sustained operational availability and performance of the Ajax platform vehicles. It will be a fully integrated, spares-inclusive support contract that combines post-design services with the provisioning of spare parts, repair and maintenance activities, and to facilitate technical support. The contract is structured to deliver a holistic through-life support solution, addressing both routine and emergent requirements to maintain the platform's capability and readiness. The MoD will also utilise other contracting arrangements to fulfil the Ajax support service needs, as necessary. The contract value is an indicative value at this point in the procurement procedure, this value may change at contract award due to additional options such as surge for war fighting.

### Procurement Information

The In-Service Support Contract is intended to cover the period from the conclusion of the current contract on 1st January 2028 and will endure for five years, plus two optional one-year extension periods. The contract will be awarded in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) and the Procurement Regulations 2024. It is considered that this contract can be awarded by way of a Direct Award to GDUK Ltd in accordance with Section 41 and Schedule 5 - Single Supplier, paragraph 6 of the PA23 due to the unique technical reasons relating to this procurement. The MoD does not currently have access to the necessary proprietary information or technical documentation for the Ajax platform. Only GDUK Ltd, as OEM and DA, has access to and rights in the necessary Intellectual Property (IP) and technical data which precludes the MoD from sourcing the required goods, works, or services from an alternative supplier currently. Further, only GDUK Ltd has the requisite know-how and suitably qualifies and experienced personnel and information necessary to meet the MoD's requirement. This approach is necessary to ensure that the MoD can maintain operational capability and safeguard the effective support of the Ajax platform.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070383-2025 |
| 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 | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 3 Nov 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Nov 2025 |
| Contract period | 1 Jan 2028 - 31 Mar 2033 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £1,250,000,000 |
| 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 UNITED KINGDOM |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services

### Codes

- 75220000 - Defence services

## Release History

- 3 Nov 2025 at 11:34 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070383-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070383-2025
  3rd November 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://generaldynamics.uk.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-05d8cc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d8cc.json.