Official UK procurement notice
714155450 - Personal Hard Armour Framework
Authority: Defence Equipment and Support
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe UK Ministry of Defence is establishing a Framework for the procurement of Personal Hard Armour to support its Armed Forces Personnel. The Personal Hard Armour Framework will facilitate the procurement of personal ballistic protection through the pre-approval of suppliers and will deliver agility, consistency, and financial savings in the procurement of personal hard armour - whilst encouraging innovation and optimising organisational outputs.
Defence requires the ability to procure personal hard armour in low and high quantities, with the agility to meet emerging demands.
Potential future requirements and technologies that may utilise the Framework are as below:
a. Osprey Replacement.
b. Reduced threat plates.
c. Buoyant plates.
d. Non-standard shaped plates (complex curvature).
e. Covert plates.
The Authority therefore intends to establish a Closed, non-committal, Defence and Security Framework for an 8 year duration.
- Not divided into lots: Lots have been discounted to enable suppliers more opportunities to bid and obtain work through multiple requirements rather than being specific requirements under a certain Lot. UK MOD requires flexibility to obtain a wide range of requirements over the duration of the Framework and utilise the wide supplier base under the Framework.
- How the procedure runs: This procurement will be conducted using the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with Procurement Regulations 2024. This multi-stage procurement process will consist of the following stages: 1. PSQ – Procurement Specific Questionnaire 2. ITT – Invitation to Tender Stage 3. Contract Award Conditions of Participation (COP): Suppliers will be required to demonstrate that they meet the minimum standard for the Personal Hard Armour Framework and will be assessed on the following areas on a pass/fail basis as outlined in the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Documents issued at the same time as this notice. Suppliers who pass the PSQ stage will then be invited to submit tenders at the ITT stage. •Legal •Financial •Technical Capability Full details of the evaluation methodology will be provided in the ITT documentation to suppliers that satisfy the COP and are shortlisted to the ITT stage. Tenderers will be given appropriate time to respond with their tenders. The final evaluation and contract award will be based solely on the award criteria set out in the ITT documentation. There shall be no maximum number of suppliers able to be awarded a place on the Framework
CPV: Bullet-proof vests · Combat gear · Cover plates · Protective gear
How this framework works
From the published notice- Type
- Open framework
- Call-offs
- call-offs may be awarded directly or by further competition
- Framework period
- 8 yrs from 29 May 2026
- Buyer regions
- UK
Who may buy through it
Other Defence and Security government departments
Published description of the framework
Prices shall be determined at the point of mini competition. In order to participate in call off competitions for a requirement, suppliers must first have a product that is qualified against that specific requirement within the framework in order to receive the Request for Quote. Evaluation methodology of the RfQ may vary dependent on the priority of the Authority at the time.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Published value£208,333,333
- Economic & financial standing
Details of the legal and Financial capacity requirements as part of the conditions of participation can be found in the Qualification Envelope PSQ Guidance document.
- Technical & professional ability
Details of the Technical ability required as part of the conditions of participation can be found in the Technical Envelope PSQ Guidance document.
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).
- Commercial: all details of the Commercial requirements shall be set out in the associated Tender documents.
- Technical: all details of the Technical requirements shall be set out in the associated Tender documents.
- Economic & financial standing
Details of the legal and Financial capacity requirements as part of the conditions of participation can be found in the Qualification Envelope PSQ Guidance document.
- Technical & professional ability
Details of the Technical ability required as part of the conditions of participation can be found in the Technical Envelope PSQ Guidance document.
- “714155450 - Personal Hard Armour Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract: call-offs may be direct or by further competition.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Defence & security
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Other Defence and Security government departments
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 25 Mar 2025, 15:21 GMT
- Last source update
- 20 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 19 May 2026
- Authority reference
714155450- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-004752- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04f88fFind a Tender
- How it runs
This procurement will be conducted using the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with Procurement Regulations 2024.
This multi-stage procurement process will consist of the following stages:
- PSQ – Procurement Specific Questionnaire
- ITT – Invitation to Tender Stage
- Contract Award
Conditions of Participation (COP):
Suppliers will be required to demonstrate that they meet the minimum standard for the Personal Hard Armour Framework and will be assessed on the following areas on a pass/fail basis as outlined in the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Documents issued at the same time as this notice. Suppliers who pass the PSQ stage will then be invited to submit tenders at the ITT stage.
•Legal
•Financial
•Technical Capability
Full details of the evaluation methodology will be provided in the ITT documentation to suppliers that satisfy the COP and are shortlisted to the ITT stage. Tenderers will be given appropriate time to respond with their tenders.
The final evaluation and contract award will be based solely on the award criteria set out in the ITT documentation.
There shall be no maximum number of suppliers able to be awarded a place on the Framework
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 17 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Appointment period ends
- 17 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 9 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
please submit electronically on the DSP - contracts.mod.uk/esop/ogc-host/public… ↗
Link to PSQ - contracts.mod.uk/go/29074572019BDB320926 ↗
Timeline
25 Mar 2025 → 29 May 2026 · 8 dates- Planning notice published25 Mar 2025, 15:21 GMT
- Market engagement17 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
Previous engagement:
Market engagement has been conducted during the DE&S wide SME engagement day held at Abbey Wood on 20th March 2024. Further engagement has taken place through events such as DSEI 2023, DVD 2024, visiting various stands throughout the events. Project and Commercial leads used these as an opportunity to promote the Framework and advised on signing up to the Defence Sourcing Portal.
AUSA Washington USA – 14-16 October 24
Enforcetac – Germany - 24-26 February 25
Members of the project team attended AUSA and Enforcetac on the above dates to promote the Personal Hard Armour Framework to suppliers in the hard armour market. A key objective of setting up and promoting the framework is to broaden and strengthen our supply base for Personal Hard Armour, giving the UK MOD the potential to surge and meet evolving demands, as well as further building our understanding of the wider market. Through attending these key exhibitions the team were able to gain knowledge of suppliers, products, and new technologies on offer. The team visited a number of stands that were recorded as suppliers of ballistic plates or were showcasing ballistic plates and discussed with them the UK MODs intent on setting up a Framework to be the main commercial route for all the Authority's hard armour requirements. Information was provided on how to sign up to the Defence Sourcing Portal, estimated timelines for the framework, as well as information on the type of requirements that could be going through the Framework.
Upcoming engagement:
**The market engagement day that was previously intended to be run has now been cancelled**
Please note, the release of this UK 2 Preliminary Market engagement Notice is not the formal start to the competition process. You will have an opportunity to participate in the Tender process when it formally starts with the release of the UK 4 Tender Notice, which will be advertised via the Defence Sourcing Portal and Find a Tender Service via the Central Digital Platform in the future. At this stage suppliers are only able to register interest for the market engagement day coming up.
- Next notice expected394 days ago25 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published278 days ago20 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification questions by257 days ago9 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Admission / appointment period ends249 days ago · period end, not a bid countdown17 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Award decision expected by158 days ago19 May 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts149 days ago29 May 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
13 events · 10 releases on Find a Tender · since 25 Mar 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published25 Mar 2025, 15:21 GMTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published11 Apr 2025, 12:02 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published11 Apr 2025, 12:28 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published11 Apr 2025, 13:25 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published15 Apr 2025, 12:37 BSTUK2
- Pipeline notice published22 May 2025, 15:28 BSTUK1
- Status changed to planned22 May 2025, 15:28 BST
- Pipeline notice published29 May 2025, 14:16 BSTUK1
- Pipeline notice published17 Jul 2025, 15:55 BSTUK1
- Preliminary market engagement notice published17 Jul 2025, 16:09 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published20 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMTUK4
- Status changed to active20 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
- Procurement method changed20 Jan 2026, 12:00 GMT
Published amendments (7)
The estimated date of release of the UK4 - Tender Notice has been updated 05/06/2025, however this date is still subject to change. The details within the engagement section for the upcoming market engagement day and how to register interest, have been amended - please read this section
The estimated date of release of the UK4 - Tender Notice has been updated 05/06/2025, however this date is still subject to change. The details within the engagement section for the upcoming market engagement day and how to register interest, have been amended - please read this section
The estimated date of release of the UK4 - Tender Notice has been updated 05/06/2025, however this date is still subject to change. The estimated duration has been updated to 07/11/2025 - 06/11/2033. This is also subject to change. The details within the engagement section for the upcoming market engagement day and how to register interest, have been amended - please read this section
Market Engagement Day scheduled for June 2025 - further details on how to register interest are in the Engagement Section. Wording on 'Future requirements' within the Procurment Description changed to read 'Potential future requirements and technologies that may utilise the Framework' Previous engagement updated to provide more clarity.
Update to contact email address - New contact email: [email protected]
Routine re-releases (10)
- 2025-05: 2 releases · 22 May 2025, 29 May 2025
- 2025-04: 4 releases · 11 Apr 2025, 15 Apr 2025
- 2025-03: 1 release · 25 Mar 2025
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (11)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: The PSQ and PSQ Assessment Methodology will be published on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) via the submission address link included in this notice. Details of submission instructions can be found in the PSQ Assessment Methodology documents.
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Show 2 more notices
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender