---
title: "Connectivity Assurance Testing for the Ajax Programme"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05d8df"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d8df"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d8df.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d8df.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT"
published: "2026-05-06"
---

# Connectivity Assurance Testing for the Ajax Programme

Buyer: DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05d8df

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d8df)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d8df.json)

## Summary

Defence Equipment and Support, a central government public authority based in Bristol, United Kingdom, has completed the award stage of a procurement process for the Connectivity Assurance Testing (CAT) for the Ajax Programme. This contract, awarded to General Dynamics UK Limited, involves telecommunication services within the defence industry to ensure the readiness of the platform communications installation, including the GFE BOWMAN equipment. The procurement process was conducted through a direct award, justified by the technical expertise and security clearances possessed solely by General Dynamics. The contract period begins on 1st April 2026 and is set to continue until 31st March 2028, with an option for a one-year extension. The estimated total contract value is £3 million, including VAT.

This procurement provides significant business growth opportunities, particularly for large-scale defence contractors capable of handling high-security projects within the UK. Companies with expertise in connectivity assurance testing, embedded systems, and security accreditation could find indirect opportunities here, potentially collaborating with contractors like General Dynamics. While this specific contract was a direct award due to technical constraints, staying informed about similar tenders can help businesses prepare and position themselves for future defence-related opportunities.

## Notice

The DE&S CV2 Portfolio team part of the Secretary State for Defence (the Authority") intends to award a contract to General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited for the provision of Connectivity Assurance Testing for a period of three (3) years (2+1 option year). The estimated total contract value is PS3million incl VAT As a background information, AJAX vehicle deliveries started in December 2018 and as a part of the Joint Acceptance Group, all vehicles undertaken by the Authority there is a requirement for the conduct of Connectivity Assurance Test (CAT) for the platform communications installation including the GFE BOWMAN equipment supplied by the Authority. The requirement is currently delivered under Contract No 700009869 and will expire in March 2026. Due to the Ajax Vehicle Production schedule being extended to 2028, the CAT scope of work needs to mirror the schedule until all vehicles are produced and assured with CAT as such the need to award a contract. In accordance with Section 2 of the Procurement Act 2023 this procurement is governed by the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 applies, in that, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited has the only suitably trained and qualified personnel to carry out CAT along with access and ownership of specialist testing equipment to assure and certify the BOWMAN equipment to In-service readiness. They also hold the necessary security accreditations, clearances, and sovereign capability to perform this work within UK Defence standards. Due to interoperability and capability risks there are no reasonable alternatives available.

### Procurement Information

The DE&S CV2 Portfolio team part of the Secretary State for Defence (the Authority") intends to award a contract to General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited for the provision of Connectivity Assurance Testing for a period of three (3) years (2+1 option year). The estimated total contract value is PS3million incl VAT As a background information, AJAX vehicle deliveries started in December 2018 and as a part of the Joint Acceptance Group, all vehicles undertaken by the Authority there is a requirement for the conduct of Connectivity Assurance Test (CAT) for the platform communications installation including the GFE BOWMAN equipment supplied by the Authority. The requirement is currently delivered under Contract No 700009869 and will expire in March 2026. Due to the Ajax Vehicle Production schedule being extended to 2028, the CAT scope of work needs to mirror the schedule until all vehicles are produced and assured with CAT as such the need to award a contract. In accordance with Section 2 of the Procurement Act 2023 this procurement is governed by the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 applies, in that, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited has the only suitably trained and qualified personnel to carry out CAT along with access and ownership of specialist testing equipment to assure and certify the BOWMAN equipment to In-service readiness. They also hold the necessary security accreditations, clearances, and sovereign capability to perform this work within UK Defence standards. Due to interoperability and capability risks there are no reasonable alternatives available.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041409-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details 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 | 6 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Nov 2025 |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £2,784,853 |
| Contracts value | £1,853,861 |

## Status

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

## 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 51 - Installation services (except software)
- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services

### Codes

- 51300000 - Installation services of communications equipment
- 64220000 - Telecommunication services except telephone and data transmission services

## Release History

- 6 May 2026 at 09:48 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041409-2026
- 21 Apr 2026 at 07:46 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035867-2026
- 3 Nov 2025 at 12:19 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070410-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/041409-2026
  6th May 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/035867-2026
  21st April 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070410-2025
  3rd November 2025 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.gd-ms.uk
- 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-05d8df. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d8df.json.