---
title: "ASE Aircrew Eyewear"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-066668"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-066668"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066668.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066668.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT"
published: "2026-03-10"
---

# ASE Aircrew Eyewear

Buyer: DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-066668

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066668.json)

## Summary

The procurement process for "ASE Aircrew Eyewear" is led by Defence Equipment and Support, located at MOD Abbey Wood in Bristol. This process involves a direct award contract valued at £1,200,000 to ASE Corporate Eyecare, for the provision of aircrew refractive vision correction products and associated ophthalmic services. The procurement is classified under defence and security, leveraging the Procurement Act 2023 due to the absence of competition for technical reasons. The contract covers services starting on 27 March 2026 and ending on 27 March 2027, with the necessary approvals only held by ASE to supply the Swiss Flex Classic eyewear, essential to a safety-critical defence capability. The award stage is pending, with a prescribed due date of 27 March 2026 for contract signature.

This tender offers opportunities for business growth particularly for enterprises with expertise or interest in defence sector-specific eyewear and ophthalmic services, especially those that can collaborate on securing high-performance and technically integrated service equipment solutions like Swiss Flex Classic spectacles and contact lenses. Businesses with technical capabilities or intellectual property rights in similar niche markets could be ideally positioned to pursue future opportunities within the Ministry of Defence framework, especially given the emphasis on bespoke, technically approved solutions that enhance operational capabilities.

## Notice

The continued provision of aircrew refractive vision correction products and associated ophthalmic services.

### Procurement Information

The Air Enablers Delivery Team (AEDT) within Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), part of the UK Ministry of Defence, (the "Authority") intends to award an extension contract to ASE Corporate Eyecare ) Limited ("ASE") for the continued provision of aircrew refractive vision correction products and associated ophthalmic services. The proposed contract has an estimated value of PS1,2000,000 (one million two hundred thousand pounds) (inclusive of VAT) and a duration of approximately 12 (twelve) months (to expire no later than 31 March 2027). This procurement falls to be governed by the Procurement Act 2023 (the "PA 2023") Chapter 3, Section 41: Direct Award in Special Cases. It is considered that direct award of the proposed contract is lawful in accordance with the PA 2023 Schedule 5 paragraph 6(a)(b) which relates to an absence of competition for technical reasons for the following reasons. There is an absence of competition for technical reasons as no other supplier (other than ASE) is able to supply the required aircrew refractive vision correction products and associated ophthalmic services. The requirement includes the supply of Swiss Flex Classic spectacles and contact lenses together with clinical fitting, adjustment and aftercare services. These goods and services form an integrated, in-service solution supporting a safety-critical defence capability. Swissflex Classic, has been cleared for use on all airborne platforms and is the only frame cleared for use by Aircrew due to its unique click in-connection. The Swiss Flex eyewear system is a proprietary solution that has been rigorously assessed, certified and cleared within the Military Air Environment (MAE). It is technically integrated with other in-service equipment, including aircrew helmets, visors and life-support systems, and is the only eyewear solution currently approved for use by Fast Jet, Rotary Wing and Multi Engine aircrew. service equipment, including aircrew helmets, visors and life support systems ASE is the only supplier who holds the necessary rights and technical capability to supply compatible replacement items and ongoing clinical support for the required Swiss Flex Classic spectacle's and contact lenses.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021367-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 10 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 10 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | 27 Mar 2026 - 27 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £937,579 |
| 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 | ASE CORPORATE EYECARE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services

### Codes

- 85160000 - Optician services

## Release History

- 10 Mar 2026 at 14:24 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021367-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021367-2026
  10th March 2026 - Transparency 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-066668. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066668.json.