Closing soon2 days left · express interest by 4pm, Friday 2 October 2026

DGM/2073 - Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS)

Defence Equipment and Support · Central government

In brief

Defence Equipment and Support is looking for suppliers for this contract (UK-wide).

The estimated value is £1,230,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 3 years, up to 5 years with extensions, starting 4 January 2027.

The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.

This is the first stage: register your interest by 4pm, Friday 2 October 2026, and shortlisted suppliers are invited to bid.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

Can I win this?

Key dates

Questions by: 4pm, Wednesday 23 September 2026
Express interest by: 4pm, Friday 2 October 2026

This is the first stage. You register interest now, and shortlisted suppliers are invited to bid later.

How bids are scored

Cost 60% · Non-Cost 40%

Price matters most. Expect to compete hard on cost.

Competition

Typical: a median of 3 bids per contract for this buyer (from 15 awards in the last 12 months).

What the notice says

A requirement to supply Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) Accredited Stores to the MoD to ensure vessels are equipped with the appropriate capabilities. This procurement seeks to purchase the relevant pyrotechnics for distress signalling & man overboard recovery. The procurement is likely to require a specific number of items to be delivered each year. The items will be required to meet SOLAS standards (where applicable) and be within a specific measurement tolerance to ensure items are able to be stored on vessels. UK1: Pipeline notice was published under Notice identifier: 2026/S 000-067506

Should I bid?

Tick what applies to you. Nothing is saved.

Can you prepare a good bid in 2 days?That is tight, especially for a first bid with this buyer.
Is a contract of about £1,230,000 a size you can deliver?Buyers often check that your turnover is comfortably larger than the yearly contract value.
Can you deliver in locations across the UK?Check the delivery locations in the tender documents.
Are you registered on the Central Digital Platform?You need to be registered to take part under the Procurement Act 2023.
The buyer says this suits small businesses.A good sign if you are an SME, but check the requirements.

How to bid

Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
Send clarification questions before 4pm, Wednesday 23 September 2026.
Register your interest before 4pm, Friday 2 October 2026. Shortlisted suppliers are then invited to bid.

Timeline

17 July 2026Pipeline notice · UK1, notice 067506-2026
4 September 2026Tender notice · UK4, notice 083972-2026

About the buyer

Defence Equipment and SupportLast 12 months

Procurements

233

Awards

Suppliers it has used most

BAE Systems (Operations) Limited2 contracts
Jeppesen UK Limited2 contracts
Leonardo UK Ltd2 contracts
Ultra Maritime UK Limited2 contracts
Adler & Allan Limited1 contract
Aebi Schmidt UK Limited1 contract
Airbus Defence and Space Limited1 contract
Aircraft Restoration Company Limited1 contract

All tenders and awards from Defence Equipment and Support

From notice 067506-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 17 July 2026, last updated 4 September 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.