--- title: "MBP Strategic Support and SDI Directorship" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06c525" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c525" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c525.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c525.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2026-07-07" --- # MBP Strategic Support and SDI Directorship Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06c525 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06c525) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c525.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence, located in London, UK, has finalized a procurement process for a contract titled "MBP Strategic Support and SDI Directorship." This contract falls under the service industry category and involves strategic leadership and communication services. The procurement was at the award stage and was conducted through a direct award method without competition, citing reasons of extreme urgency and technical requirements unique to the current contractor's existing role and expertise. The contract, valued at £300,000 ex-VAT, will commence on 22nd July 2026 and end on 31st March 2027. It involves key stakeholders such as the Royal Navy and Lemon Tree Associates, an SME based in Fareham, UK, which has been awarded the contract to continue support for the Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network project. This tender presents a significant opportunity for future collaborations in the defence sector, particularly for businesses with specialized capabilities in strategic programme leadership and technical consultancy services. Companies like Lemon Tree Associates, which have established expertise and an existing relationship with the Ministry of Defence, are well-suited for such contracts. The absence of competition in this direct award indicates that similar SMEs with unique technical skillsets and existing contractual relationships in defence can potentially explore growth by leveraging their specialised roles and technical offerings within large-scale governmental projects. Businesses aiming to expand in this field should focus on developing niche capabilities that address urgent and specialized requirements, thereby enhancing their suitability for direct awards or unique governmental contracts. ## Notice Service for multiple requirements covering the span of MBP Strategic Support and SDI Directorship ### Procurement Information The Royal Navy, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a 9 month contract with a value of PS300,000 (Ex VAT) to Lemon Tree Associates for the specialist external support to provide a programme-level strategic leadership and strategic communications function As a covered procurement, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that the direct award of the contract is lawful in accordance with regulation 41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023. This is because competition is absent for the following reasons: The MOD requires continued specialist programme leadership and governance capability in support of the Allied Underwater Battlespace Mission Network (AUWB MN), a NATO project for which the UK has formally agreed to act as Lead Nation. As Lead Nation, the UK is responsible for the necessary financial and commercial activities to deliver the project, including oversight, governance and successful delivery, and for ensuring NATO funding is used effectively. The contractor has led this requirement from the inception and has provided continuous technical and programme oversight. He is part of the Executive Authority for the contract with the Mangrove Consortium and plays a material role in ongoing contract management activities including NATO roles essential for delivery - NATO SDI Director (appointed by name by the UK via the Maritime Uncrewed Systems Steering Board - DI(STR MCC)(2020)0007 dated 7 Feb 2020) and Interim Chair, Joint Capability Group Maritime Uncrewed Systems (JCGMUS), endorsed by DD Underwater Battlespace Capability and ratified by partner nations pending UK nomination and NATO member nation ratification of a permanent chair. The Authority relies on Schedule 5 in combination of: 1. Paragraph 6 - Extreme an unavoidable urgency from events/circumstances that make the use of a competitive procedure impracticable within the required timeframe including urgent NATO programme commitments, in-flight governance and critical Phase 2 funding negotiations; and 2. Paragraph 8 - Absence of competition for technical reasons - the requirement is inseparable from an individual's named NATO appointment/ratification, established Executive Authority role, and continuity of accountable programme leadership. A competition would not deliver a viable alternative within the required timeframe. This direct award is sought to avoid an immediate and material risk to programme delivery and allied confidence. The requirement is time-critical because AUWB MN governance and Phase 2 funding negotiations are active now, and the Authority is managing ongoing obligations as Lead Nation. As a result, there is no other supplier that is able to meet the specific requirements and there are no reasonable alternatives to use of Lemon Tree Associates ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063626-2026 | | 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 | 7 Jul 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | 7 Jul 2026 | | Contract period | 21 Jul 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £300,000 | | 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 | 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 | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | LEMON TREE ASSOCIATES | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services ### Codes - 71621000 - Technical analysis or consultancy services ## Release History - 7 Jul 2026 at 12:06 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063626-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/063626-2026 7th July 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 ## 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-06c525. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06c525.json.