Construction Contract Leads
United Kingdom
Category Services
Type Tender
No. of Lots 1
Status Active
Published 23rd Apr 2026
| Reference | ocds-h6vhtk-05586e |
| Common Procurement Vocabulary | Engineering design services |
| Procurement Method | Open procedure |
| Value | £2,500,000 |
United Kingdom
Category Services
Type Tender
No. of Lots 1
Status Active
Published 23rd Apr 2026
| Reference | ocds-h6vhtk-05586e |
| Common Procurement Vocabulary | Engineering design services |
| Procurement Method | Open procedure |
| Value | £2,500,000 |
Scope
Reference
715245452-13 Pounder Design Organisation (DO)
Description
This procurement seeks to competitively appoint a suitably qualified Design Organisation (DO) to provide through鈥憀ife design authority, engineering assurance, configuration management, and technical documentation support for the Ordnance Quick Fire 13鈥慞ounder ceremonial guns operated by The King鈥檚 Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Total value (estimated)
- 拢2,500,000 excluding VAT
- 拢3,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 13 October 2026 to 15 October 2029
- Possible extension to 8 October 2030
- 3 years, 11 months, 27 days
Description of possible extension:
1 Option Year after the end of initial contract
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
1 Option Year after the end of initial contract
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 71320000 - Engineering design services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Legal Status and Capacity
Suppliers must be legally constituted organisations capable of entering into a binding contract. Evidence must be provided in the form of a Certificate of Incorporation, Partnership Agreement, or equivalent legal documentation, together with a valid Company Registration Number. Where a bid is submitted by a consortium or group, suppliers must also clearly describe the legal and governance structure, identify the lead member, and explain the role of each participating entity.
Exclusion and Eligibility Compliance
Suppliers are required to confirm that they are eligible to participate in the procurement and are not subject to any mandatory or discretionary exclusion grounds under UK procurement legislation. This includes confirmation that the supplier is not listed on the UK Debarment List. Suppliers must ensure their core supplier information, connected person details, and exclusion information are registered on the Central Digital Platform and shared with the Authority. Any Associated Persons relied upon to meet the Conditions of Participation must also meet these requirements.
Sanctions and Geographic Restrictions
Suppliers must confirm that neither they nor any part of their intended supply chain is constituted or organised under the laws of Russia or Belarus, nor owned or controlled, in whole or in part, by Russian or Belarusian persons or entities. Compliance must account for ownership, control, and supply chain relationships, subject only to the limited treaty鈥慴ased exceptions set out in the PSQ.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance
Suppliers must confirm compliance with all relevant UK statutory obligations applicable to contract delivery. This includes compliance with equality legislation under the Equality Act 2010 and associated regulations, and with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 where applicable. Suppliers with a turnover of 拢36 million or more must have published a compliant Modern Slavery Statement, or provide credible assurance that compliance will be achieved prior to contract award.
Financial Standing and Viability
Suppliers must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial capacity to perform the contract. This includes providing turnover figures for the last two financial years, signed statutory accounts covering up to three accounting periods where available, a current cashflow forecast, and bank evidence confirming access to sufficient cash or credit facilities. Suppliers trading for less than one year must provide alternative evidence of financial standing. Where a supplier relies on a guarantor, full financial information and supporting evidence for the guarantor must also be provided.
Insurance Cover
Suppliers must confirm that they hold, or commit to obtaining by contract award, adequate levels of insurance to support contract delivery. As a minimum, this includes Employer鈥檚 Liability Insurance of 拢10 million, Public Liability Insurance of 拢10 million, and Professional Indemnity Insurance of 拢3 million. Details of existing policies or a clear plan for obtaining the required cover must be provided.
Technical ability conditions of participation
Allows for equivalent qualifications and standards
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
15 May 2026, 11:59pm
Tender submission deadline
29 May 2026, 11:59pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
13 October 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical | Technical Evaluation The Technical Evaluation assesses the bidder鈥檚 ability to deliver the Design Organisation role safely, compliantly, and effectively across the equipment lifecycle. Technical... quality represents 90% of the total quality score and is subject to a minimum pass threshold of 70%. Any tender failing to meet this threshold will be rejected and will not proceed to the Value for Money assessment. Technical evaluation is structured across three areas: Engineering This assesses the robustness and maturity of engineering governance, lifecycle management, and control arrangements. It includes evaluation of the Supplier Engineering Management Plan (SEMP), alignment with ISO 15288, risk and opportunity management, quality assurance systems, resource and SQEP management, stakeholder engagement, configuration management aligned to relevant DEFSTANs and DEFCONs, technical documentation management, and the handling and stewardship of Government Furnished Information (GFI). Responses must demonstrate Defence鈥憇pecific understanding, clear processes, and evidence of delivery from previous programmes. Project Management This assesses the bidder鈥檚 approach to planning, scheduling, governance, and control of the Design Organisation function. Evaluation covers project planning and milestones, reporting and escalation mechanisms, risk, issue and change management, and communications and stakeholder engagement throughout the project lifecycle. Maintenance This evaluates how through鈥憀ife support has been considered at the design stage. It includes availability, reliability, maintainability and testability, handling, storage and transport, technical information control, obsolescence and material availability management, and through鈥憀ife innovation aimed at reducing future support burden and improving long鈥憈erm cost efficiency. All technical responses are scored on a 0鈥�4 scale, where higher scores reflect increasing levels of compliance and added value. | Quality | 90% |
| Social Value | Social Value Evaluation Social Value represents 10% of the total quality score and is assessed in line with the Government Social Value Model and PPN guidance. Bidders are expected to demonstrate... credible, measurable commitments that will be delivered through the contract. The evaluation covers three equally weighted themes: Fair Work This includes fair pay and working conditions, high鈥憅uality job creation, in鈥憌ork progression, staff engagement, and identification and management of modern slavery risks within the supply chain. Employment and Training for Those Who Face Barriers to Employment This assesses how the bidder will create opportunities for under鈥憆epresented or disadvantaged groups, including inclusive recruitment practices, apprenticeships and training, actions to address skills shortages, and measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills, and pay. Health and Wellbeing This evaluates support for physical and mental wellbeing within the contract workforce, including wellbeing strategies, access to support services, and actions to address health inequalities. Social Value responses are scored on a 0鈥�4 scale, with higher scores awarded where clear added value and robust delivery arrangements are demonstrated. | Quality | 10% |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Special regime
Defence and security
Contracting authority
Defence Equipment and Support
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVRL-5831-GLMM
MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
United Kingdom
Contact name: David Livingston
Email: david.livingston104 [at] mod.gov.uk
Website:
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government