Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: 002873/S 000-2026
Nature of contract: Supply contract
Procedure: Not specified
Regulation of procurement: Not applicable
Type of bid required: Not applicable

UKPGA UK1: Pipeline Notice

I) Contracting Authority/Entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: Defence Equipment and Support
National registration number: PVRL-5831-GLMM

Postal address: MOD Abbey Wood
Town: Bristol
Region: Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Postal code: BS34 8JH
Country: United Kingdom

Email: DES-LandP2DCCCommercialTeam@mod.gov.uk

Internet address

I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Public authority – central government

II) Object
II.1.1) Title
Project GRAYBURN: Defence replacement of SA80 family of rifles – Concept Stage
Reference number: 715754451 – Project GRAYBURN: Defence replacement of SA80 family of rifles – Concept Stage

II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
Special regime
DefenceSecurity

II.1.4) Short description
Defence Equipment & Support the procurement arm of the UK Ministry of Defence, the Lethality and Protect, Gunnery Systems and Munitions, Dismounted Close Combat Team wishes to update industry on Pj GRAYBURN.
No investment decisions have been taken yet. However, following direction from the Joint Requirements Oversight Committee, Pj GRAYBURN will focus on consideration of the following high-level characteristics:
1. UK manufacture – It is the Authority’s intention that Pj GRAYBURN will be manufactured in the UK to enhance sovereign supply chains, generate employment, and provide a platform for exports.
2. Strategic supplier – The Authority is to consider establishing a strategic relationship to deliver, manage, spirally develop and support the weapons portfolio for Pj GRAYBURN systems, and in time, perhaps parts of/all the wider dismounted close combat weapons portfolio.
3. Variants – Pj GRAYBURN will deliver 5 distinct variants, most likely based upon a common lower receiver.
a. Dismounted Close Combat (replacing SA80A3).
b. Dismounted Close Combat (short) (replacing SA80A3).
c. Personal Defence Weapon (replacing L22 Carbine).
d. Generalist (replacing SA80A2).
e. Cadet rifle (replacing L98 Cadet GP rifle).
(There remains potential to combine the DCC (Short) requirement into either the DCC or Personal Defence Weapon variant).
4. Adversary target armour – Pj GRAYBURN will look to provide sufficient lethality to defeat current and emerging body armour.
5. Surveillance and Target Acquisition – Pj GRAYBURN weapons will be fitted with day-optics and have the ability to quickly integrate with in-line night vision optics.
6. Pj GRAYBURN will seek to employ signature reduction technology on some variants.
7. Reliability – Pj GRAYBURN will deliver a highly reliable rifle, operable in all environments and climatic conditions.
The Authority will seek to engage industry in approach to Pj Grayburn in due course, and a further information notice will be released at that time.

II.2) Description
II.2.1) Title
Contract/Lot No
1

II.2.2) CPV codes
Main CPV code
35300000

II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code
UK – United Kingdom

II.2.7) Contract dates (estimated)
Start
2028-04-01 00:00
End
2045-03-31 23:59
Duration
17 years

II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
2026-01-14 23:59

III) Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)

IV) Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive flexible procedure

VI) Complementary information
Link to source/bidding documents

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
2026-01-13 17:35