--- title: "Tactical Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAS) System Managed Service" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06467c" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06467c" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06467c.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06467c.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "HOME OFFICE" published: "2026-02-04" --- # Tactical Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAS) System Managed Service Buyer: HOME OFFICE Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06467c [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06467c) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06467c.json) ## Summary The Home Office is in the planning stage of procuring a Tactical Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Managed Service. This procurement aims to support the Border Security Command's Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations within UK Territorial Waters and the wider UK Area of Operations, including the English Channel. The project, valued at £29,000,000, is expected to formally start its tendering process in May 2026. Suppliers interested in participating must initially register on the Home Office's eSourcing portal and express their interest by February 17, 2026. Following this, there will be an Industry Day scheduled for early March, with the procurement process anticipated to conclude by December 2026. The main procurement category is goods, specifically non-piloted aircraft, and the procurement method will likely involve further competition via the Crown Commercial Service Space Enabled and Geospatial Services RM6235 Dynamic Purchasing System. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specializing in unmanned aerial vehicles, data services, and intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance systems. Companies with experience in providing complete managed services for RPAS operations, especially those capable of offering real-time situational awareness and operational decision-making support, are particularly well-suited to compete. As this contract involves a substantial commitment of 5,000 on-task sensor coverage hours annually for a duration of three to four years, it is ideal for established companies with robust operational capabilities. Businesses registered on the Crown Commercial Service Dynamic Purchasing System will have an advantage, making this an attractive opportunity for growth in the defence and public safety sector. ## Notice The Home Office seeks an experienced commercial provider to supply capable Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) to support the Border Security Command's (BSC) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations. The RPAS must be capable of detecting, identifying, and tracking vessels and individuals within the defined area of operations, operating as part of a multi layered ISR framework that includes manned aviation, maritime assets, and land based infrastructure. The systems will provide enhanced situational awareness to inform operational decision making and support the effective tasking and coordination of operational assets The primary operational role of the RPAS will be to conduct routine surveillance missions in support of Search, Rescue and Recovery (SRR) activity. ### Lot Information Lot 1 The primary operational requirement is for RPAS' that can conduct routine surveillance flights to detect, track, and identify vessels and people to support the primary Search, Rescue and Recovery (SRR) Vessels within the area of operations. The SRR vessels will operate primarily within UK Territorial Waters (TTW) and the wider UK Area of Operations, including the English Channel. RPAS' information will be transmitted in real-time to an existing Command and Control facility to enable real-time coordination of responses to threats. RPAS' will also be required to perform targeted surveillance to record high-quality video footage to support Criminal and Financial Investigation (CFI) prosecutions. The Home Office have a requirement for one (1) Supplier to provide RPAS' for 5000 on-task sensor coverage hours per year, over three (3) separate task lines, for the purpose of supporting BSC operations. The Home Office requires availability of two (2) task lines to provide year-round coverage including weekends and public holidays. An additional third task line will be required for approximately six-months per year. Additional information: The contract will be for three (3) years fixed with a possible plus one (1) year extension, if mutually agreed at the time by both parties. There is a requirement for the service to be fully operational within four months of the contract being awarded (Contract Award will be on/or before 30th November 2026). There will be an expected mobilisation period starting on the 1st December 2026 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009804-2026 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 4 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 30 Apr 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £29,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | 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 | HOME OFFICE | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | Not specified | | Postcode | N/A | | Country | Not specified | | ITL 1 | Not specified | | ITL 2 | Not specified | | ITL 3 | Not specified | | Local authority | Not specified | | Electoral ward | Not specified | | Westminster constituency | Not specified | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation - 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 34711200 - Non-piloted aircraft - 35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles - 35720000 - Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance - 72300000 - Data services ## Release History - 4 Feb 2026 at 10:10 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009804-2026 ## Notice URLs - http://www.gov.uk - https://homeoffice.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html - https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6235 ## 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-06467c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06467c.json.