Official UK procurement notice
707770451 - Type 31 Through Life Support
Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)·Consortium: 3 public authorities
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”) has a requirement to provide a through-life support solution for five (5) new Type 31 (“T31”) ‘Inspiration Class’ frigates for the Royal Navy (RN). These ships are intended to replace five general-purpose Type 23 frigates which have served the RN since the early 1990s.
T31 will be at the heart of the RN’s surface fleet, deterring aggression and maintaining the security of the UK’s interests. They will work alongside our Allies to deliver credible UK warship presence across the globe. Flexible and adaptable by design, T31 frigates will undertake missions such as interception and disruption of those using the sea for unlawful purposes, collecting intelligence, conducting defence engagement and assisting those in need. The RN will therefore require an efficient and economically viable T31 support solution that achieves the high levels of availability required to sustain operations at the intensity and global range that the UK’s defence commitments demand.
A contract covering a minimum of an eight-year period with 2 additional option years is to be secured and delivered through the Competitive Negotiated procedure under DSPCR 2011. The aim is to create a collaborative, hybrid solution in order to optimise the availability and operational service of all T31 frigates.
The management and support requirements as part of this contract (but not limited to) have been grouped into the following sections:
Manage the Service;
Manage Maintenance;
Manage the Supply Chain;
Manage Design Services;
Manage Engineering Services;
Manage Support Information;
Manage Safety, Environmental Protection and Security.
CPV: Other services · Repair and maintenance services of warships
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
- Suitability
Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender:
- Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once)
- Browse to the eSourcing Portal
- Click the “Click here to register” link
- Accept the terms and conditions and click “continue”
- Enter your correct business and user details
- Note the username you chose and click “Save” when complete
- You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure)
- Express an Interest in the tender
- Login to the portal with the username/password
- Click the "PQQs Open to All Suppliers" link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires open to any registered supplier)
- Click on the relevant PQQ to access the content.
- Click the “Express Interest” button in the “Actions” box on the left-hand side of the page.
- This will move the PQQ into your “My PQQs” page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only)
- Click on the PQQ code, you can now access any attachments by clicking the “Settings and Buyer Attachments” in the “Actions” box
- Responding to the tender
- You can now choose to “Reply” or “Reject” (please give a reason if rejecting)
- You can now use the ‘Messages’ function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification
- Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ
- There may be a mixture of online & offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available)
If you require any furt…
- Suitability
Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender:
- Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once)
- Browse to the eSourcing Portal
- Click the “Click here to register” link
- Accept the terms and conditions and click “continue”
- Enter your correct business and user details
- Note the username you chose and click “Save” when complete
- You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure)
- Express an Interest in the tender
- Login to the portal with the username/password
- Click the "PQQs Open to All Suppliers" link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires open to any registered supplier)
- Click on the relevant PQQ to access the content.
- Click the “Express Interest” button in the “Actions” box on the left-hand side of the page.
- This will move the PQQ into your “My PQQs” page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only)
- Click on the PQQ code, you can now access any attachments by clicking the “Settings and Buyer Attachments” in the “Actions” box
- Responding to the tender
- You can now choose to “Reply” or “Reject” (please give a reason if rejecting)
- You can now use the ‘Messages’ function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification
- Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ
- There may be a mixture of online & offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available)
If you require any furt…
- Economic & financial standing
Selection criteria as stated within the procurement documentation.
- Economic & financial standing
Selection criteria as stated within the procurement documentation.
- Technical & professional ability
Selection criteria as stated within the procurement documentation.
- Technical & professional ability
Selection criteria as stated within the procurement documentation.
- Second stage candidates
- 3–6 candidates invited to tender
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Negotiated
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32009L0081 Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (Directive 2009/81/EC)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 28 Jun 2021, 22:45 BST
- Last source update
- 22 Jul 2026, 09:45 BST
- Authority reference
2023/S 000-035211- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-068980- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-02c11fFind a Tender
- Other terms
There will be a requirement for the Potential Provider to handle up to SECRET and SECRET UK EYES ONLY information as part of this contract.
Publisher note: To be able to register an interest for this procurement, you must have access to the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). Guidance on how to self-register can be found here: https://www.contracts.mod.uk/web/user-guide/html The direct link to the DSP Opportunity for this procurement is: https://contracts.mod.uk/go/82247548018BFD07B4B4 The Authority is using DSP(AWARD®) for this procurement and will use it to complete all DPQQ and ITN activities. If your company does not already have an DSP(AWARD®) account, please self-register via the following link: https://award.commercedecisions.com/dsp/web/project/507ac39c-e089-46fa-b0e3-d9ef00d6d3ac/register. Once you have self-registered to both DSP and DSP(AWARD®), you will be able to access the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) via the T31 Through Life Support NDA Data Room on DSP(AWARD®). You will have to sign and return the NDA before being given access to the DPQQ. Please download the NDA from the “Authority NDA for Completion” Document Group. Sign the NDA, then return the signed NDA to the Authority by uploading it to the “Signed NDA” Document Group. Do this in a timely manner to avoid any impact to your response window. Your counter-signed NDA will be uploaded to the “Counter Signed NDAs” Document Group. Once the Authority is content with the signed NDA you will be notified by DSP(AWARD®) e-mail that the DPQQ has been published for you to see in the “PQQ for Suppliers who have signed the NDA” Document Group. For information, Cyber risk has been considered and, in accordance with the Cyber Security Model, resulted in a Cyber Risk Profile of ‘Moderate’. The Risk Assessment Reference is: RAR -548515002. Potential Providers are required to complete the Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ), using the SAQ Form available at: https://suppliercyberprotection.service.gov.uk and to submit this as part of their Tender response at ITN stage.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 29 Jan 2024, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- {"written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Deposits and guarantees
- Signed Statement Relating to Good Standing (SRGS)
Timeline
29 Jan 2024 → 22 Jul 2026 · 2 dates- Submission deadline29 Jan 2024, 17:00 GMT
- Notice published97 days ago22 Jul 2026, 09:45 BST
Notice history
6 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 29 Nov 2023- Published value updated to £300,000,00029 Nov 2023, 13:34 GMTwas £600,000,000
- Status changed to active29 Nov 2023, 13:34 GMT
- Procurement method changed29 Nov 2023, 13:34 GMT
- Deadline published: 29 Jan 2024, 17:00 GMT29 Nov 2023, 13:34 GMT
- Buyer details updated29 Nov 2023, 13:34 GMT
- Buyer details updated22 Jul 2026, 09:45 BST
Published amendments (3 · 0 deadline changes)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | TextII.4 | Suppliers who are interested in participating in the Launch Event and receiving the market engagement paper should write to the Authority at [email protected] to confirm their interest and to request a market engagement session. With your response you must send: a) details of your company name; and b) two (2) points of contact and their contact details (name, phone number, emai… | Suppliers who are interested in participating in the Launch Event and receiving the market engagement paper should write to the Authority at [email protected] in the first instance to confirm their interest and to request a market engagement session. Should technical issues render the above email address unavailable, suppliers should instead write to the Authority at rob.brownl… | |
| — | TextII.4 | Suppliers who are interested in participating in the Launch Event and receiving the market engagement paper should write to the Authority at [email protected] to confirm their interest and to request a market engagement session. With your response you must send: a) details of your company name; and b) two (2) points of contact and their contact details (name, phone number, emai… | Suppliers who are interested in participating in the Launch Event and receiving the market engagement paper should write to the Authority at [email protected] to confirm their interest and to request a market engagement session. With your response you must send: a) details of your company name; and b) two (2) points of contact and their contact details (name, phone number, emai… | |
| — | TextShort description of the contract or purchase · II.1.5 | The Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”) has a requirement to provide a through-life support solution for five (5) new Type 31 (“T31”) ‘Inspiration Class’ frigates for the Royal Navy (RN). These ships are intended to replace five general-purpose Type 23 frigates which have served the RN since the early 1990s. T31 will be at the heart of the RN’s surface fleet, deterring aggression and maintaining… | The Ministry of Defence proposed to award a contract for a minimum of an eight-year period with 2 x one year extension options seeking management and through-life support services for the five ‘Inspiration Class’ Type 31 (T31) frigates. Having reviewed the procurement and the changes to the programme context, commercial practicality, and enterprise support planning mean the assumptions underpinnin… |
It is currently anticipated that any formal procurement relating to the provision of in-service support solutions for the T31 frigates would be subject to the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (“DSPCR”) and there may be potential for elements of the scope to be exempt from the DSPCR. Neither the Authority nor its respective advisers will be liable for any costs or expenses inc…
It is currently anticipated that any formal procurement relating to the provision of in-service support solutions for the T31 frigates would be subject to the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (“DSPCR”) and there may be potential for elements of the scope to be exempt from the DSPCR. Neither the Authority nor its respective advisers will be liable for any costs or expenses inc…
This notice announces the abandonment of this tender activity and is for the purposes of transparency only. This is not a request for expressions of interest.
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2021-06: 2 releases · 28 Jun 2021, 29 Jun 2021
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeDispute resolution & review bodies
- Type 31 - Ships Support Strategy Team (SSST), Ministry of DefenceReview body
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.