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Strategic Test & Evaluation Portfolio (STEP) UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement
Ministry of Defence · Central government
In brief
Ministry of Defence has announced plans to buy research work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.
The estimated value is £1 excluding VAT.
The contract runs for 10 years, starting 1 April 2033.
The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.
Can I win this?
Competition
Usually low: a median of 2 bids per contract for this buyer (from 88 awards in the last 12 months).
What the notice says
Description The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an enduring requirement for the provision of Test and Evaluation (T&E) services. T&E is core to all Defence equipment programmes to ensure the reliability and fitness for purpose of the equipment it uses. The MOD has established a T&E Transformation Programme which is reviewing how T&E will be delivered in the future and how new, innovative technologies can improve and enhance current capability to enable T&E for military advantage rather than solely for equipment acceptance. The Transformation Programme is developing a new requirement for the provision of future T&E services and there is an opportunity for Industry to help shape this. Whilst…Read the full description
Description
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an enduring requirement for the provision of Test and Evaluation (T&E) services. T&E is core to all Defence equipment programmes to ensure the reliability and fitness for purpose of the equipment it uses.
The MOD has established a T&E Transformation Programme which is reviewing how T&E will be delivered in the future and how new, innovative technologies can improve and enhance current capability to enable T&E for military advantage rather than solely for equipment acceptance.
The Transformation Programme is developing a new requirement for the provision of future T&E services and there is an opportunity for Industry to help shape this. Whilst this is in development, MOD has created a Taxonomy Data Capture Tool and is inviting interested parties to populate it. This will inform the requirement and support understanding of Industry’s needs and the potential market in terms of both capabilities and skills.
The aims are to:
• Understand the current marketplace for the provision of T&E capabilities with a view of the market’s demand and their ability to supply
• Ensure MOD’s future requirement is aligned with the capabilities, capacity and skills in the market
• Identify supplier owned capabilities that could meet defence T&E requirements and provide an opportunity to highlight, opportunities and risks around this
• Capture T&E supplier details for inclusion in the new MOD T&E Marketplace Digital Platform
Due to the nature of the work, only UK-registered suppliers are eligible to participate. To register your interest to populate the MOD T&E Taxonomy Data Capture Tool, please respond to this PIN with your Companies House Registration Number and contact details to the following email address: [email removed] by GMT 12:00 noon on 12th May 2026
Following successful registration of interest, the Taxonomy Data Capture Tool and accompanying information will be sent by return email within 48 hours of the registration deadline. Thereafter, suppliers are requested to then complete their submission within 6 weeks.
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.
Timeline
- Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 038565-2026
About the buyer
Ministry of DefenceLast 12 months
Procurements
604Awards
340Suppliers it has used most for research
- Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine3 contracts
- AC Doyle Ltd1 contract
- ASTM International UK1 contract
- Accenture UK Ltd1 contract
- Breathing and Performance PTY Ltd1 contract
Similar open tenders
All open research tenders- £350kestimated
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- £260mframework ceiling
- £170kestimated
From notice 038565-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 28 April 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.