Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: 078382/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: MOD Abbeywood
Town: Bristol
Region: Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Postal code: BS34 8JH
Country: United Kingdom

Email: descommercial-salmo@mod.gov.uk

Internet address

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

II) Object
II.1.1) Title
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Emergency Recovery System (ERS) – PMEN
Reference number: ocds-h6vhtk-06e632

II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies

II.1.4) Short description
The intended procurement is for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Emergency Recovery System (ERS) to provide the Ministry of Defence with a safer, more controlled and lower-risk method of recovering AUVs during non-standard or emergency recovery operations. The system should be capable of supporting the recovery of an AUV up to 7 metres in length and up to 3 tonnes in weight, either independently or in conjunction with existing vessel crane arrangements. It should be compatible with a broad range of vessels including varying deck layouts, freeboards, crane configurations and operational constraints.
The ERS is intended to reduce reliance on improvised recovery arrangements and improve operational resilience where the primary recovery system is unavailable or unsuitable. The system should reduce personnel exposure at the vessel edge, help mitigate the risk of person overboard incidents, and reduce the likelihood of damage to the AUV or host vessel. The Authority is also interested in solutions that are simple to rig, transportable, recoverable in challenging maritime conditions, and support emergency recovery scenarios where the AUV has suffered propulsion, communications, navigation or power-system failures.
The ERS should be suitable for use in the maritime environment, capable of repeated operational use, and supplied with the necessary certification, operating instructions, maintenance information and inspection requirements to support safe use and through-life assurance. The Authority is also interested in any maintenance and support services, as well as options around operational training, where these are applicable. The Authority will be interested in average lead times from the point of order placement to delivery. The Authority is conducting market research to understand available recovery technologies, innovation potential, vessel integration considerations, certification requirements and value for money within the market. Subject to funding and approvals, the Authority may issue a contract notice for this requirement with delivery within financial year 2026/2027, subject to lead times.
In issuing this Prior Procurement Notice (PPN) and engaging with the market, the MoD are not obligated to commit to carrying out any procurement in relation to the information stated in this PPN.

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

II.2.2) CPV codes
Main CPV codes
34930000
35512400

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

II.2.7) Contract dates (estimated)
Start
2027-02-01 00:00
End
2029-02-01 23:59
Duration
2 years 1 day

II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
2026-10-31 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)
Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)

VI) Complementary information
Link to source/bidding documents

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
2026-08-18 09:39

VI.6) Engagement information
Engagement deadline
2026-09-18 23:59
Engagement process description
No supplier engagement events are currently planned as part of this market engagement activity.
Suppliers wishing to express an interest in the requirement should do so by email to DESCommercial-SALMO@mod.gov.uk.
Any clarification questions relating to this notice should also be submitted to DESCommercial-SALMO@mod.gov.uk.
Responses should clearly identify the supplier organisation, point of contact, and any relevant information relating to the capability being proposed.