---
title: "Procurement of Modular A-Frame (UK1)"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f348"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f348"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f348.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f348.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Ministry of Defence"
published: "2026-09-11"
---

# Procurement of Modular A-Frame (UK1)

Buyer: Ministry of Defence  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f348

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## Summary

The Ministry of Defence is considering buying at least one Modular A-Frame, with associated equipment and in-service support. The equipment will form part of a Launch and Recovery System for Royal Navy operations, training and assessment of whether the system could be used more widely across Royal Navy vessels. The requirement may also cover additional A-Frames, spares, training, maintenance and other related goods and services, including purchases through contractual options or extensions. This is a defence and maritime equipment requirement, covering lifting frames, ship equipment and warship parts. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The procurement is intended for suppliers able to provide the equipment and its supporting services as an integrated requirement, rather than a standalone frame supply. The Ministry of Defence is the buying organisation.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is not an invitation to tender or a commitment to proceed. The commercial strategy, route to market, quantities, support arrangements, contract duration and delivery profile remain under development. The buyer expects a future notice on 28 January 2027. The planned contract period is from 30 June 2027 to 30 June 2033. The indicative total value is £8,000,000 excluding VAT and £9,600,000 including VAT; this assumes additional requirements or options may be included. The procurement is above threshold, subject to the defence and security regime, and planned as one lot. The lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Market engagement is under way through a request for information: questions are due by 12:00 midday on 22 September 2026 and completed responses by 12:00 midday on 29 September 2026.

This will suit manufacturers and specialist suppliers of modular lifting frames, shipboard handling equipment and warship mechanical systems, particularly businesses that can combine equipment supply with through-life support. Relevant preparation should cover engineering and integration for a Launch and Recovery System, maritime or naval operating environments, spares provision, maintenance, training and technical support. Suppliers able to address both an initial system requirement and potential additional quantities or support extensions may be well placed when the requirement reaches the market. The Ministry of Defence is seeking market feedback on indicative costs, procurement and delivery timescales, support arrangements, and technical and commercial risks. Businesses can use the request for information to explain their capability, delivery model and risk considerations. Participation is voluntary and will not determine eligibility for any later formal procurement.

## Notice

Potential procurement of a minimum of one (1) Modular A-Frame, associated equipment, and in-service support. The Modular A-Frame(s) will form part of a Launch and Recovery (L&R) System in support of UK Royal Navy's (RN) operations, training activities, and assessment of suitability for wider application across RN vessels. The potential procurement may also include provisions for the purchase of additional quantities of A-Frames, associated equipment, spares, training, maintenance and other related goods and services. Such purchases may be undertaken through the exercise of contractual Options and/or extension provisions. Note that the Total Value stated below is indicative only, and has been estimated on the basis that potential additional requirements/Options may be included. The Commercial/procurement strategy (incl. route-to-market approach), requirement quantities, support arrangements, contract duration, and delivery schedule/profile (etc.) remain under development and are subject to change. This Pipeline Notice is intended to provide early visibility of a potential forthcoming procurement and does not constitute a call for competition or a commitment by the Authority to commence any procurement process.

### Planning Information

This PMEN and accompanying RFI seek market feedback regarding indicative costs, procurement/delivery timescales, support arrangements and technical and commercial risks (etc.), whilst providing Industry advance notice of the potential procurement.
Interested suppliers are requested to respond to the RFI attached within the Opportunity Listing, linked here: https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=61461
The completed RFI Questionnaire must be returned via email to jack.pass103@mod.gov.uk by no later than 12:00hrs midday (UK time), Tuesday 29th September 2026.
Potential suppliers may raise questions or seek clarification regarding the RFI Questionnaire. These must be submitted BEFORE 12:00hrs midday (UK time), 22nd September 2026. Questions must be submitted via email to jack.pass103@mod.gov.uk. The Authority will endeavour – but is not obliged – to respond to any questions received.
Participation in the RFI is voluntary, and non-participation will not be taken into account in any future potential procurement activities nor will this preclude any potential supplier from participating in any subsequent formal procurement procedure.
Further details relating to the requirement and RFI response instructions can be found within the RFI.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086534-2026 |
| Notice type | UK1 - Pipeline Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 28 Jan 2027 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 30 Jun 2027 - 30 Jun 2033 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £8,000,000 |
| 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 | Ministry of Defence |
| 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 |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
- 42 - Industrial machinery
- 44 - Construction structures and materials; auxiliary products to construction (except electric apparatus)

### Codes

- 34500000 - Ships and boats
- 34510000 - Ships
- 35520000 - Parts for warships
- 35521000 - Hull and mechanical spare parts for warships
- 42414000 - Cranes, mobile lifting frames and works trucks fitted with a crane
- 44142000 - Frames

## Release History

- 11 Sep 2026 at 15:11 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086534-2026
- 10 Sep 2026 at 10:37 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085715-2026
- 7 Sep 2026 at 11:48 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084314-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086534-2026
  11th September 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085715-2026
  10th September 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084314-2026
  7th September 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.contracts.mod.uk
- https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=61461
- 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-06f348. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f348.json.