Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: 091605/S 000-2026
Nature of contract: Supply contract
Procedure: Not specified
Regulation of procurement: Not applicable
Type of bid required: Not applicable

UKPGA UK2: Preliminary Market Engagement Notice

I) Contracting Authority/Entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: Ministry of Defence
National registration number: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ

Postal address: Zone D, Ground Floor, Ministry of Defence Main Building, Whitehall
Town: London
Region: Westminster
Postal code: SW1A 2EU
Country: United Kingdom

Contact Person: Andrew Watson
Email: NAD-MARDEL@mod.gov.uk

Internet address

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

II) Object
II.1.1) Title
UK2 – Deployable Maritime Secure Analysis Capability – Preliminary Market Engagement
Reference number: ocds-h6vhtk-077be7

II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies

II.1.4) Short description
The Ministry of Defence (the Authority) is exploring the market for a deployable capability that would allow users to handle information securely while operating at sea for extended periods, and to share information securely between deployed and shore-based users. Existing arrangements provide limited capacity at sea.
The Authority is interested in solutions that are readily deployable through standardised freight transport (air, land and sea) and can be procured with an ongoing maintenance, training and in-service support solution package. The Authority is also interested in suppliers who could provide all or part of such a solution and supports collaborative working with other suppliers to jointly develop a solution, together with appetite and capability for development.  Areas of interest include secure marinised deployable or modular workspaces (e.g. containers), IT and communications integration, secure data transfer (including hardware and software), in-service support, and the design, demonstration and Secure by Design process for such a capability.
This notice opens a staged engagement. Suppliers who register an interest and meet the access conditions below will receive a Request for Information marked OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE, followed by a clarification period and an industry day. The Authority will use responses to refine its requirement, its commercial strategy and its delivery plan before any competition.
This notice is issued for preliminary market engagement only. It is not a call for competition, an invitation to tender or a commitment to procure. Participation is voluntary and at the supplier’s own cost; responses are not scored. Any competition will be conducted under a separately published tender notice and will be open to all suppliers meeting its published conditions of participation, whether or not they took part in this engagement. The Authority anticipates a competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, subject to approval, and is considering whether a paid development stage may form part of that procedure.

II.1.5) Estimated Total Value
Value (including VAT)
1
Value (excluding VAT)
1
Currency
GBP

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

II.2.2) CPV codes
Main CPV codes
32000000
34221000
72000000

II.2.7) Contract dates (estimated)
Start
2027-04-01 00:00
End
2028-04-01 23:59
Duration
1 year 1 day

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)
Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

VI) Complementary information
Link to source/bidding documents

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
2026-09-28 17:39

VI.6) Engagement information
Engagement deadline
2026-10-16 23:59
Engagement process description
This notice is issued for preliminary market engagement only. It is not a call for competition, an invitation to tender or a commitment to procure. Participation is voluntary and at the supplier’s own cost; responses are not scored. Any competition will be conducted under a separately published tender notice and will be open to all suppliers meeting its published conditions of participation, whether or not they took part in this engagement. The Authority anticipates a competitive flexible procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, subject to approval, and is considering whether a paid development stage may form part of that procedure.
To receive the RFI a supplier must submit the expression of interest described below and provide sufficient information to allow the Authority to verify: (a) its legal identity and that it is not excluded from public contracts; (b) its ownership; (c) its relevance to at least one area of interest in this notice; (d) its ability to contract with the Authority; and (e) its acknowledgement that the RFI is marked OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE and will be handled on a need-to-know basis in accordance with the handling instructions issued with it. Registration on the Defence Sourcing Portal is required. These checks control access to the RFI only; they are not a procurement evaluation or pre-qualification for any future competition. Facility Security Clearance is not required to receive the RFI. Overseas suppliers may take part provided they can contract with the Authority and comply with the handling conditions.
Questions about this form:
If you have a question that is necessary to complete this Expression of Interest form, please submit it to MARDEL
At this stage, the Authority will only respond to questions that relate directly to completion of this form. Wider questions about the requirement, technical solution, scope, delivery model, commercial model, access arrangements or potential procurement process will not be answered at this stage.
Further requirement-related clarification will be reserved for suppliers invited to participate in the subsequent RFI stage.
Registration on the Defence Sourcing Portal is required.
These checks control access to the RFI only; they are not a procurement evaluation or pre-qualification for any future competition.
Facility Security Clearance is not required to receive the RFI. Overseas suppliers may take part provided they can contract with the Authority and comply with the handling conditions.
Notice published: Monday 28th September 2026.
Expressions of interest requested by: Friday 16th October 2026.
RFI issued to suppliers meeting the access conditions, no later than COP Wednesday 21st October 2026.
Industry day: Indicative date of early November 2026 (Date TBC).
RFI responses due: Indicative date of November 2026 (Date TBC).
Suppliers are requested to complete the below expression-of-interest MS Form by Friday 16th October 2026. Thirty-nine questions; no proposals, prices or classified material. Submissions after that date are accepted until any tender notice is published, but the supplier may miss the industry day.
Deployable Maritime Secure Analysis Capability – Expression of Interest (Page 1 of 8)
Email multiuser: NAD-MARDEL@mod.gov.uk. Questions of general relevance are answered to all registered suppliers without identifying the source.