--- title: "Communications Ancillaries and Hearing Protection" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05f6c5" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f6c5" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f6c5.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f6c5.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT" published: "2025-12-16" --- # Communications Ancillaries and Hearing Protection Buyer: DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05f6c5 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05f6c5) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f6c5.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence, through its Defence Equipment and Support office based in Bristol, is planning a procurement process for communications ancillaries and hearing protection systems. This tender is vital to equip personnel with advanced tactical hearing protection and ensure interoperability with various communication systems. The industry category encompasses command, control, and communication systems, alongside safety headgear and maintenance services. The procedure is at the planning stage as of 16th December 2025, with expressions of interest closing by 16th March 2026, and the contract expected to be awarded by the end of November 2026. This tender presents significant business growth opportunities, especially for UK registered companies specialising in communication equipment and tactical systems. Small and medium-sized enterprises may find this particularly beneficial, given the suitability criteria favouring SMEs. Companies offering comprehensive maintenance, support services, and personnel security vetted to SC clearance are well-positioned to compete. The competitive flexible procurement method seeks innovative solutions, allowing businesses to expand their portfolios through engagement with cutting-edge defence technology and integration capabilities for various radio systems and platforms. ## Notice The Ministry of Defence (MOD) requires a route to market for a range of Communications Ancillaries and Hearing Protection (CA&HP) to meet the varied operational needs of its personnel. This includes the requirement to provide the best tactical hearing protection (HP) on the market, as well as the provision of HP systems compatible with a range of operational environments/scenarios. Suppliers must be capable of providing ongoing support for these HP systems, including maintenance, fault resolution, and updates to ensure continued functionality and compliance with safety standards. It is essential that suppliers have a reliable route to market to facilitate the ongoing procurement and support of current in-service deliverables, including INVISIO systems. This includes the ability to supply spares and firmware upgrades to ensure continued operational availability and effectiveness of these systems. Furthermore, the MOD requires suppliers to have the capability to support the integration of hearing protection systems with a wide range of in-service and new-to-service radios and platforms. This includes the development and provision of ancillary equipment to enable seamless interoperability, ensuring personnel can effectively communicate and operate in complex and dynamic environments. Access to a broad supplier base will ensure the MOD can procure the most suitable and innovative solutions while maintaining flexibility and adaptability to meet future requirements. Personnel security vetted to SC are required to provide support which includes maintenance and support services. The Authority can only consider UK registered companies. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Options: Authority placed through ad-hoc tasking; generally increase of same scope outlined in the Statement of Work. Renewal: Description of extenstions will be: 3 x 1 Year Options for the continuation of service. 1: 2030 - 2031 2: 2031 - 2032 3: 2032 - 2033 Taken up as per the Contract Terms and Conditons. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083386-2025 | | Notice type | UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive flexible procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 16 Dec 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 9 Feb 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £50,000,000 | | Lots value | £50,000,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories - 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment - 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment - 50 - Repair and maintenance services ### Codes - 18444100 - Safety headgear - 32570000 - Communications equipment - 35711000 - Command, control, communication systems - 35712000 - Tactical command, control and communication systems - 50333000 - Maintenance services of radio-communications equipment ## Release History - 16 Dec 2025 at 13:46 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083386-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083386-2025 16th December 2025 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - 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-05f6c5. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05f6c5.json.