Official UK procurement notice
UK5 - Lancaster Wheels Production (P3)
Procurement agent: Defence Equipment and Support·On behalf of: Government Commercial Agency
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Defence Equipment & Support, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”), intends to award a contract to Retrotec Limited for the production and in-service support of Lancaster Mainwheel Hub Assemblies, a critical component for the continued airworthiness of the Lancaster aircraft operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). The contract is intended to run for a two-year period of ~ 02-2026 to 02-2028. The estimated contract value is £1m excluding VAT.
It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 applies.
The Authority submits that this justification applies because due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, and there being no alternatives, only Retrotec Limited are able to provide the services required. Retrotec Limited has the required technical expertise necessary to fulfil the Authority’s requirement as they operate as the only approved Design Organisation (DO) for the Lancaster Mainwheel Hub Assembly component, which is a critical requirement from the MAA for any Company completing production activities for the Lancaster aircraft to ensure the components produced are safe and airworthy.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Awarded
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 14 Jan 2026, 16:55 GMT
- Last source update
- 27 Aug 2026, 10:42 BST
- Authority reference
715469451- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-081642- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-060610Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
The Defence Equipment & Support, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”), intends to award a contract to Retrotec Limited for the production and in-service support of Lancaster Mainwheel Hub Assemblies, a critical component for the continued airworthiness of the Lancaster aircraft operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). The contract is intended to run for a two-year period of ~ 02-2026 to 02-2028. The estimated contract value is £1m excluding VAT.
It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 applies.
The Authority submits that this justification applies because due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, and there being no alternatives, only Retrotec Limited are able to provide the services required. Retrotec Limited has the required technical expertise necessary to fulfil the Authority’s requirement as they operate as the only approved Design Organisation (DO) for the Lancaster Mainwheel Hub Assembly component, which is a critical requirement from the MAA for any Company completing production activities for the Lancaster aircraft to ensure the components produced are safe and airworthy.
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 14 Jan 2026- Transparency notice published14 Jan 2026, 16:55 GMTUK5
- Contract award notice published26 Jun 2026, 14:06 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected9 Jul 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published27 Aug 2026, 10:42 BSTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retrotec LimitedSMELancaster Wheels Production (P3)9 Jul 2026 – 31 Jul 2028 · up to 26 Jul 2029Extensions: (Option) Year 3: LWP P3 – ISS Solution · Options: (Option) Year 3: LWP P3 – ISS Solution | £884,316 | 26 Jun 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
715469451 Lancaster Wheels Sustainment · Retrotec LimitedSME
- Signed
- 21 Jul 2026
- Value
- £1,080,242
- Period
- 21 Jul 2026 – 30 Jun 2027 · up to 30 Jun 2028 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Single Options Year of ISS services.
- Options
- Single Options Year of ISS services.
3 agreed KPIs: Service Level Agreement - Response Time · Project Plan Pack Issue · Delivery of updated and maintained ‘Project Schedule’.
- Service Level Agreement - Response Time, % of Service Enquiries responded to within stipulated timeframes: Urgent – Formal Response within 5 Working Days Routine – Formal Response within 15 Working Days.
- Project Plan Pack Issue, Latest ‘Project Plan’ pack issued to the Authority 3 working days prior to the monthly review (MRPM).
- Delivery of updated and maintained ‘Project Schedule’., Latest ‘Project Schedule’ issued to the Authority 3 working days prior to the quarterly review (MRPM).
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
3 public bodies on the noticeClients of the procurement agent
- Government Commercial AgencyBeneficiary authority
- Crown Commercial ServicesProcuring entityOther Organisation for Cabinet Office
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Retrotec LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender