--- title: "Strategic Test & Evaluation Portfolio (STEP) UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-068cbc" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068cbc" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068cbc.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068cbc.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2026-04-28" --- # Strategic Test & Evaluation Portfolio (STEP) UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-068cbc [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068cbc) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068cbc.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently in the planning stage for a significant procurement process focused on test and evaluation (T&E) services, part of their Strategic Test & Evaluation Portfolio (STEP). This initiative falls under the special regime for defence and security services, highlighting the essential role of T&E in ensuring the reliability and fitness for purpose of defence equipment. The MOD aims to reshape how these services are provided, integrating innovative technologies for military advantage. The procurement opportunity is centred in London, UK, and targets suppliers within the test and evaluation industry category. Interested UK-registered suppliers must express their interest by 12th May 2026, noon GMT, in order to contribute to the MOD T&E Transformation Programme, which includes completing a submission six weeks following registration. This tender offers growth opportunities for businesses within the T&E services sector, especially those with capabilities and technologies that can enhance defence equipment reliability. Companies with a strong focus on innovation, technology, and enhancing military capabilities would find this procurement process well-suited to their strengths. The MOD invites industry participants to help shape the future provision of T&E services, thereby playing a critical role in the transformation programme. Organisations keen on entering this market are encouraged to register their interest, providing their Companies House Registration Number and contact details. This initiative promises to align MOD's future requirements with market capabilities, offering potential suppliers a chance to become key players in defence technology advancement. ## Notice Description The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an enduring requirement for the provision of Test and Evaluation (T&E) services. T&E is core to all Defence equipment programmes to ensure the reliability and fitness for purpose of the equipment it uses. The MOD has established a T&E Transformation Programme which is reviewing how T&E will be delivered in the future and how new, innovative technologies can improve and enhance current capability to enable T&E for military advantage rather than solely for equipment acceptance. The Transformation Programme is developing a new requirement for the provision of future T&E services and there is an opportunity for Industry to help shape this. Whilst this is in development, MOD has created a Taxonomy Data Capture Tool and is inviting interested parties to populate it. This will inform the requirement and support understanding of Industry's needs and the potential market in terms of both capabilities and skills. The aims are to: * Understand the current marketplace for the provision of T&E capabilities with a view of the market's demand and their ability to supply * Ensure MOD's future requirement is aligned with the capabilities, capacity and skills in the market * Identify supplier owned capabilities that could meet defence T&E requirements and provide an opportunity to highlight, opportunities and risks around this * Capture T&E supplier details for inclusion in the new MOD T&E Marketplace Digital Platform Due to the nature of the work, only UK-registered suppliers are eligible to participate. To register your interest to populate the MOD T&E Taxonomy Data Capture Tool, please respond to this PIN with your Companies House Registration Number and contact details to the following email address: NAD-Strategic-TE-Portfolio@mod.gov.uk by GMT 12:00 noon on 12th May 2026 Following successful registration of interest, the Taxonomy Data Capture Tool and accompanying information will be sent by return email within 48 hours of the registration deadline. Thereafter, suppliers are requested to then complete their submission within 6 weeks. ### Planning Information Description The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an enduring requirement for the provision of Test and Evaluation (T&E) services. T&E is core to all Defence equipment programmes to ensure the reliability and fitness for purpose of the equipment it uses. The MOD has established a T&E Transformation Programme which is reviewing how T&E will be delivered in the future and how new, innovative technologies can improve and enhance current capability to enable T&E for military advantage rather than solely for equipment acceptance. The Transformation Programme is developing a new requirement for the provision of future T&E services and there is an opportunity for Industry to help shape this. Whilst this is in development, MOD has created a Taxonomy Data Capture Tool and is inviting interested parties to populate it. This will inform the requirement and support understanding of Industry’s needs and the potential market in terms of both capabilities and skills. The aims are to: • Understand the current marketplace for the provision of T&E capabilities with a view of the market’s demand and their ability to supply • Ensure MOD’s future requirement is aligned with the capabilities, capacity and skills in the market • Identify supplier owned capabilities that could meet defence T&E requirements and provide an opportunity to highlight, opportunities and risks around this • Capture T&E supplier details for inclusion in the new MOD T&E Marketplace Digital Platform Due to the nature of the work, only UK-registered suppliers are eligible to participate. To register your interest to populate the MOD T&E Taxonomy Data Capture Tool, please respond to this PIN with your Companies House Registration Number and contact details to the following email address: NAD-Strategic-TE-Portfolio@mod.gov.uk by GMT 12:00 noon on 12th May 2026 Following successful registration of interest, the Taxonomy Data Capture Tool and accompanying information will be sent by return email within 48 hours of the registration deadline. Thereafter, suppliers are requested to then complete their submission within 6 weeks. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038565-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 28 Apr 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 31 Mar 2029 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 31 Mar 2033 - 1 Apr 2043 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1A 2HB | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73430000 - Test and evaluation ## Release History - 28 Apr 2026 at 12:25 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038565-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038565-2026 28th April 2026 - Preliminary market engagement 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-068cbc. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068cbc.json.