---
title: "715794488 - PPA/017 - Naval Firefighting Helmet & Communication System"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-066c9e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-066c9e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066c9e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066c9e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT"
published: "2026-05-07"
---

# 715794488 - PPA/017 - Naval Firefighting Helmet & Communication System

Buyer: DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-066c9e

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## Summary

The procurement process overseen by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), a central government authority located in Bristol, UK, focuses on acquiring a replacement Naval Firefighting Helmet and Communication System for Royal Navy vessels. This project, valued at £8.4 million gross, is categorized under goods, particularly targeting protective gear and communication systems. Currently in the planning stage, with the procurement process also in planning, DE&S invites interested suppliers to engage in a preliminary market engagement scheduled to conclude by 31 May 2026. The subsequent tendering phase, expected to commence on 30 August 2026, will be conducted through an open procedure as per the UK's Procurement Act 2023 guidelines. The contract period is planned from 1 December 2026 to 30 November 2033, potentially extending through November 2035.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in manufacturing protective and safety clothing, communication systems, and related integration technologies. SMEs with capabilities in producing portable radios, microphones, speaker sets, or command and communication equipment could greatly benefit. The involvement in this initiative allows businesses to contribute innovative solutions that meet the technical requirements of the Royal Navy, including seamless integration with existing protective and radio systems. While participation in the market engagement phase is voluntary and offers no competitive advantage, it grants companies an early insight into the project requirements, enabling them to better prepare and align their offerings for eventual bidding processes.

## Notice

Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Power, Propulsion and Auxiliaries (PPA), on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, is exploring options to procure a replacement Firefighting Helmet & Communication System (FFHCS) for use aboard Royal Navy vessels. The helmets are expected to integrate with existing personal protective equipment, radio systems, and ancillary equipment. PPA supports multiple defence areas by delivering and sustaining systems that generate energy, provide propulsion, and enable cross-cutting auxiliary functions aboard naval vessels, including domestic, fire and rescue, and catering systems.

### Planning Information

Scope of the Engagement
Suppliers are invited to participate in preliminary market engagement activities which may include:
• Reviewing and providing feedback on a draft technical specification for firefighting helmets and integrated communication systems;
• Commenting on technical feasibility, standards, interoperability, and integration with existing Royal Navy firefighting PPE and radio systems; and
• Optionally offering sample helmets and communication components that may meet the draft requirement, to support the Authority’s understanding of available solutions.
Any samples provided will be used solely to inform requirement development and will not be subject to formal evaluation or comparison.
Conduct of the Engagement
This engagement is conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and relevant MOD commercial policy. It is not a call for competition.
Participation is voluntary and will not provide any supplier with an advantage in any subsequent procurement. The Authority will take appropriate steps to ensure that competition is not distorted.
Supplier feedback may be used to refine the Authority’s requirement and procurement strategy. Where information is shared more widely, it will be summarised and anonymised to protect commercial sensitivities.
No Commitment
The Authority is not obliged to proceed with a procurement following this engagement. Any future opportunity will be advertised separately.
Any costs incurred by suppliers in participating in this engagement, including the provision of samples, are incurred at the supplier’s own risk.
Suppliers wishing to participate in this preliminary market engagement should engage as follows:
• Register interest by responding to this notice in accordance with the instructions set out below.
• Review the draft specification provided by the Authority and submit written feedback, comments, or observations by the stated deadline.
• Clearly identify any assumptions, constraints, or dependencies associated with their feedback, including standards, certifications, or interoperability considerations.
• Optionally, offer sample helmets and associated communication components that may meet the draft requirement. Any samples offered must be clearly described and provided on a no commitment basis.
• Submit all responses and supporting information in writing via the method specified in this notice. Informal approaches outside this process will not be considered.
Participation
Please review the draft cardinal specification sheet and complete the questionnaire. Both documents are available on the Defence Sourcing Portal here: 
https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=61039
Once complete, please return the questionnaire to DESCommercial-PPA@mod.gov.uk, ensuring you include PPA/017 in the subject line.
If you have indicated you wish to offer samples, an MOD representative will be in contact to confirm delivery arrangements.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042113-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 30 Aug 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2033 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £7,000,000 |
| 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 | 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

### Codes

- 18143000 - Protective gear
- 32342300 - Microphones and speaker sets
- 32344280 - Portable radios
- 35113400 - Protective and safety clothing
- 35711000 - Command, control, communication systems

## Release History

- 7 May 2026 at 15:14 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042113-2026
- 17 Mar 2026 at 15:55 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024222-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/042113-2026
  7th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/024222-2026
  17th March 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=61039
- 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-066c9e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-066c9e.json.