--- title: "TacNet Design and Integration Partner" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06824d" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06824d" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06824d.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06824d.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2026-04-14" --- # TacNet Design and Integration Partner Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06824d [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06824d) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06824d.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract under the "TacNet Design and Integration Partner" procurement process, focusing on supporting and developing Tactical Networks for enhanced tactical communications and situational awareness. This process falls within the defence and security sector. Rowden Technologies, situated in Bristol, has been selected as the supplier due to their technical expertise and previous successful collaborations with the MOD. The procurement stage is at the award phase, scheduled to commence on 1st September 2026 and conclude on 31st March 2027, with the option to extend for an additional year. This direct award follows Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 due to technical imperatives and the lack of reasonable alternatives, ensuring continued development without disruption. This contract presents significant growth opportunities for businesses specialising in integrated engineering services, software and hardware development, particularly those able to support military and defence capabilities. SMEs in the technology and defence sector with expertise in tactical networks and situational awareness systems would be well-suited to engage with similar procurement opportunities. Given the contract's nature and the potential for extensions, businesses capable of innovating and integrating new technologies in defence are poised to benefit from establishing long-term relationships with the Ministry of Defence, enhancing their market reputation and operational capability in this specialised industry. ## Notice This procurement is for the continuation of support services and development to the Tactical Networks (TacNet) Dismounted Data System (DDS). The DDS capability is described as providing tactical communications and situational awareness. It is developed through new software and hardware, including the integration of sensors and effectors that are pivotal to support 4 Light Brigade Combat Team (4LBCT) in its ability to double and triple the Brigades lethality by the end of the decade. The DDS is also selected as the capability of choice to meet the requirements for continuous spiral development and scaling to all Light Force Brigades. ### Procurement Information The TacSys Service Executive (SE) within Defence Digital (DD), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to place with Rowden Technologies a 7-month contract for the TacNet Design and Integration Partner. It is considered that this contract can be placed using a Direct Award Procedure pursuant to Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) due to technical reasons and no reasonable alternatives. In addition, pursuant to paragraph 7 PA23. Following the competitive procedure through the Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 (DOS 5) framework, the MOD awarded initial Design and Integration Partner (DIP) 2-year contract to Rowden Technologies in July 2021. The scope of the contract was to deliver a DSA system design, which would be used by the MOD to carry out an Assessment Phase competition and to supply the Dismounted Situational Awareness (DSA) system at scale. This design was delivered and has been extensively used and further developed by the MOD. Further short-term contracts were placed with Rowden in November 2024 and September 2025 for the continuation of the capability. As the initial design is constantly being used to deliver DDS requirement, a new short-term contract is required prior to planned competition for a longer-term contract. Rowden were responsible for the development and delivery of the DSA system design and are currently the only company who have the requisite technical knowhow, expertise and experience to carry out the activities required for the DDS. A change of supplier at this time would introduce disproportionate technical difficulties in both the operation and maintenance of the DDS system, resulting in a loss of capability. Due to the above reasons the requirement will continue as a single source requirement. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033905-2026 | | 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 | 14 Apr 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 14 Apr 2026 | | Contract period | 31 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £15,400,000 | | 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 | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE | | Locality | FILTON | | 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 | ROWDEN TECHNOLOGIES | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services ### Codes - 71340000 - Integrated engineering services ## Release History - 14 Apr 2026 at 15:08 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033905-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/033905-2026 14th April 2026 - Transparency 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 - https://www.rowdentech.com/ ## 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-06824d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06824d.json.