---
title: "Fibre Optic Compass System (FOCS) In-Service Support Contract-UK5"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06ebc3"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ebc3"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ebc3.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ebc3.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Defence Equipment and Support"
published: "2026-08-25"
---

# Fibre Optic Compass System (FOCS) In-Service Support Contract-UK5

Buyer: Defence Equipment and Support  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06ebc3

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## Summary

Defence Equipment and Support is procuring continued in-service support for the Fibre Optic Compass (FOC) System, a navigation system providing precise directional and heading data. The equipment is fitted to Type 23 frigates, single-role minehunters, Vanguard-class submarines and RFA Fort Victoria, including the Royal Navy’s continuous-at-sea deterrent boats. The requirement covers the specialist support needed to maintain, repair, modify and assure the system’s safe operation on Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary platforms. This is a defence support service combining navigation equipment expertise with repair and maintenance services for warships. The work supports platform navigation and deployment, where reliable compass data is critical to safe operation and defence capability. The buying organisation is based at MOD Abbey Wood in Bristol.

The procurement is complete and the outcome is a direct award to Lockheed Martin UK Limited, selected on 25 August 2026. The single lot is complete and the award is pending. The awarded value is £5.7 million excluding VAT, or £6.8 million including VAT. The contract period runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 December 2035, with three option years for extension. A signature milestone is scheduled for 1 March 2027. The authority used a direct award because competition is absent for technical reasons: Lockheed Martin is the system design authority and holds the specialist knowledge, equipment, configuration information, tooling, software ownership, integration knowledge and safety assurance evidence required. The award is above the relevant threshold and falls under the defence and security regime.

This procurement demonstrates a sustained requirement for highly specialised naval navigation-system support within central government defence. A credible future competitor would need deep technical knowledge of the Fibre Optic Compass System, including its design, configuration, software, integration and safety assurance arrangements. It would also need specialist equipment and tooling, and the capability to maintain, repair, modify and assure equipment installed across frigates, minehunters, submarines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels. Experience supporting safety-critical maritime systems and understanding the operational demands of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary platforms would be important. The direct-award rationale shows that access to proprietary technical information and recognised design-authority capability are decisive barriers. Although the lot was identified as suitable for SMEs and VCSEs, the requirement is technically specialised and defence-focused.

## Notice

The requirement is for the continued in-service support of the Fibre Optic Compass (FOC) System. The FOC system is currently, fitted to Type 23 Frigates, Single Role Minehunter, Vanguard Class Submarines and RFA Fort Victoria. A new contract is required to support the equipment on these platforms which have varying out of service dates within the contract period. The FOC System is critical for platform navigation and deployment. The role of the FOC System is to provide precise, reliable directional and heading data navigation on Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Platforms.

### Procurement Information

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (the "Authority") intends to place a contract for the continued in-service support of the Fibre Optic Compass (FOC) System, (currently delivered through contract CSA/3046), from April 2027 with Lockheed Martin UK (the "Company"). The FOC system is currently, fitted to Type 23 Frigates, Single Role Minehunter, Vanguard Class Submarines and RFA Fort Victoria. A new contract is required to support the equipment on these platforms which have varying out of service dates within the contract period. Without a support contract, the serviceability of the navigational system which is needed for the safe navigation of the platforms cannot be guaranteed. The FOC System is critical for platform navigation and deployment and is used onboard our Continuous At Sea Deterrent Boats (CASD). The role of the FOC System is to provide precise, reliable directional and heading data navigation on Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Platforms. The Safe Navigation capability on these platforms is a critical component of a ship's ability to operate and fight, hence any failure or degradation of these systems will place significant risk and ability to fulfil the Authority's required defence outcomes in accordance with the Authority's Defence Strategy and RN Command Plan. The planned contract term is from 1 April 2027 to 31 December 2035 (8 years and 9 months). The total value of this renewed period is estimated to be up to PS10M. The Authority has determined that this contract may be awarded under Section 41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 because as the system design authority only Lockheed Martin UK possesses the technical knowledge, specialist equipment, configuration information, and design expertise necessary to provide support to the Fibre Optic Compass System fitted to Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels. No alternative supplier has access to the information, tooling, and system knowledge required to safely maintain, repair, modify, and assure the continued operation of the equipment. Competition is therefore absent for technical reasons. The Authority has identified no alternative supplier possessing the proprietary technical information, approved design authority status, software ownership, system integration knowledge and safety assurance evidence necessary to assume responsibility for the FOC system. Lockheed Martin UK Ltd alone has at its disposal the specialist knowledge and equipment to meet the Authority's technical requirements under the contract.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080932-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 25 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 25 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Apr 2027 - 31 Dec 2035 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £5,700,000 |
| 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 | Defence Equipment and Support |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Postcode area | 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 | Lockheed Martin UK Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 34933000 - Navigation equipment
- 50640000 - Repair and maintenance services of warships

## Release History

- 25 Aug 2026 at 15:37 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080932-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080932-2026
  25th August 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-06ebc3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ebc3.json.