---
title: "Pipeline Notice - Surface Finishing Delivery for the RAF"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0663a6"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0663a6"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0663a6.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0663a6.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"
published: "2026-03-25"
---

# Pipeline Notice - Surface Finishing Delivery for the RAF

Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0663a6

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## Summary

The Ministry of Defence is planning a procurement process for a Surface Finish (SF) capability to support various air systems used by the Royal Air Force (RAF), with the project known as Project URD. This initiative, titled "Pipeline Notice - Surface Finishing Delivery for the RAF," aims to ensure continued airworthiness and provide corrosion control and visual signature management for Mechanical Transport (MT) and Aircraft Ground Support Equipment (ASE). The procurement method is selective, with a competitive flexible procedure underway. Interested suppliers must express interest via email by 14th April 2026. The procurement is presently in the planning stage, and significant phases like preliminary market engagement are occurring, alongside planned contract commencement from 1st April 2027 to 31st March 2035. The main industry categories involved include services related to aircraft and military equipment, spanning across locations throughout the United Kingdom.

The tender process presents lucrative opportunities for businesses specialising in aircraft repair, corrosion control, and equipment maintenance. It is especially welcoming to SMEs, as indicated by the tender’s suitability classifications. Companies with expertise in spraying equipment, spray booths, metal-spraying machinery, and similar technologies are well positioned to compete for the tender. Given the project's scope, businesses that can deliver reliable aircraft and equipment services to various RAF stations across the UK and beyond would find significant growth prospects. The procurement also allows businesses to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Defence to meet strategic objectives, opening doors to potential partnerships and innovation within the defence sector.

## Notice

The Authority requires a Surface Finish (SF) capability to support Air Systems in the Project URD. This capability is essential to ensure the continued airworthiness of these Air Systems, as mandated by the relevant Platform Engineering Authorities. Additionally, the Authority requires an SF capability for Mechanical Transport (MT) and Aircraft Ground Support Equipment (GSE) collectively called ASE to support corrosion control and visual signature management in line with current policies. The SF capability will also be required to deliver miscellaneous station support tasks, such as the production of signage and other station workshop outputs. This capability must be readily accessible to all RAF stations across the UK and to UK Strategic Command (UKStratCom) Permanent Joint Operating Bases (PJOBs) overseas.

### Planning Information

The Authority requires a Surface Finish (SF) capability to support Air Systems in the Project URD. This capability is essential to ensure the continued airworthiness of these Air Systems, as mandated by the relevant Platform Engineering Authorities.
The intention to close preliminary market engagement is 7th April.
Suppliers are invited to partake in a PME Teams meeting, on 27th March from 10.30 – 12.30. The agenda for the meeting will be – 
• Introduction and purpose (15 minutes)
• Background and vision (20 minutes)
• Proposed requirements and scope (25 minutes)
• Interactive Q&A (40 minutes)
• Next steps and timelines (5-10 minutes)
Minutes will be taking during the meeting. Following the PME session, presentation slides will be shared and Q&A document distributed. 
This PME is intended to help identify the potential bidders who can deliver the required services and who can collaborate with the Ministry of Defence (RAF) to achieve the Authority’s long-term strategic objectives. It will inform and shape the next steps and strategy for this procurement, based on the information and feedback received, ensuring that the proposed solution is robust, realistic and aligned with market conditions and appetite.
The PME exercise is designed to achieve the following:
• Identify Potential Bidders 
• Explore Alternative Solutions
• Understand Risks and Opportunities
• Shape the Service Requirement
Suppliers interested in this Contract must express their interest by emailing Stephen.morrish101@mod.gov.uk, with the subject title ‘Expression of Interest - Surface Finishing Delivery for the RAF ( + Company Name)’”

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027102-2026 |
| 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 | 25 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Future notice date | 25 Mar 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Mar 2027 - 31 Mar 2035 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £95,000,000 |
| 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 | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE |
| Locality | RAF 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
- 39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products
- 42 - Industrial machinery
- 45 - Construction work
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 34700000 - Aircraft and spacecraft
- 35610000 - Military aircrafts
- 39236000 - Spray booths
- 42665000 - Metal-spraying machinery
- 42924300 - Spraying equipment
- 42924310 - Spray guns
- 42924700 - Mechanical appliances for projecting, dispersing or spraying
- 42957000 - Parts of spraying machines
- 45440000 - Painting and glazing work
- 50210000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft and other equipment
- 50211200 - Aircraft repair services

## Release History

- 25 Mar 2026 at 08:37 - PlanningUpdate - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027102-2026
- 25 Mar 2026 at 08:32 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027101-2026
- 13 Mar 2026 at 16:07 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023172-2026
- 10 Mar 2026 at 11:05 - Planning - UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021235-2026
- 6 Mar 2026 at 08:42 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020180-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027102-2026
  25th March 2026 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027101-2026
  25th March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023172-2026
  13th March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021235-2026
  10th March 2026 - Planned procurement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020180-2026
  6th March 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
- 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-0663a6. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0663a6.json.