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Published 8 Sept 2026, 10:04 BST

Official UK procurement notice

715760479 CR2/CR3 Cupola Wiper Motor Assembly Contract award Notice (uk6)

Authority: Defence Equipment and Support (Central government)

Direct award
Sectors: Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment (35) Delivery: UK
Awarded value£1,951,000published award · exc. VAT
Awarded 3 Sept 2026no call for competition
Awarded to Thistle Design (MMC) Ltd

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The requirement is for the Contractor to supply two hundred (200) Wiper Motor Assemblies, one hundred (100) of each side, for the Commanders Cupola in the Challenger 2 and Challenger 3 Main Battle Tanks (MBT). The Wiper Motor Assemblies are to be manufactured in accordance with the technical drawing pack and packaged in appropriate packaging for delivery in to the Donnington Fulfillment Centre. The value of the goods is £1,951.000 (Ex VAT). The CPV code is 35422000 - Electronic and electrical spare parts for military vehicles.

The Direct Award Justification as included in the UK5 Transparency Notice is copied below for information.

There is a requirement to contract for the purchasing of Cupola Wiper Motors used to satisfy the Challenger 3 Manufacturing Phase.

The Land Combat Vehicles 1 Team, part of the Secretary of State for Defence (the “Authority”), intends to award a contract to Thistle Design (MMC) Ltd ("TD") for the provision of Challenger 3 Cupola Wiper Motors, for a period of up to 2 years. The estimated contract value is £2,400,000.00, excluding VAT. The requirement will deliver Qty 200 Cupola Wiper Motors (Qty 100 left hand and Qty 100 right hand).

This procurement is governed by the Procurement Act 2023. 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. Due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier, Thistle Design (MMC) Ltd, has the necessary technical expertise and knowledge to deliver the requirement at the standard required. As the Design Authority and the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the motor and experienced repairer of the Cupola Wiper Motor Assemblies, only Thistle Design (MMC) Ltd can deliver this requirement.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1Lot 1Awarded
Delivery: UK
35422000 Electronic and electrical spare parts for military vehicles

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
No (one-off requirement)
First published
8 Sept 2026, 10:04 BST
Last source update
8 Sept 2026, 10:04 BST
Authority reference
715760479
Latest notice
Contract award notice (UK6)
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0658e0
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification
There is a requirement to contract for the purchasing of Cupola Wiper Motors used to satisfy the Challenger 3 Manufacturing Phase. The Land Combat Vehicles 1 Team, part of the Secretary of State for Defence (the “Authority”), intends to award a contract to Thistle Design (MMC) Ltd ("TD") for the provision of Challenger 3 Cupola Wiper Motors, for a period of up to 2 years. The estimated contract value is more…£2,400,000.00, excluding VAT. The requirement will deliver Qty 200 Cupola Wiper Motors (Qty 100 left hand and Qty 100 right hand). This procurement is governed by the Procurement Act 2023. 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. Due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier, Thistle Design (MMC) Ltd, has the necessary technical expertise and knowledge to deliver the requirement at the standard required. As the Design Authority and the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the motor and experienced repairer of the Cupola Wiper Motor Assemblies, only Thistle Design (MMC) Ltd can deliver this requirement.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics — not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £1,951,0001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Thistle Design (MMC) LtdSME715760479 Cupola Wiper Motor Assembly CAN22 Sept 2026 — 30 Sept 2029£1,951,0003 Sept 2026Awarded

Notice history

3 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 20 Feb 2026
  1. Contract signature expected
    22 Sept 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
  2. Contract award notice published
    8 Sept 2026, 10:04 BSTUK6
  3. Transparency notice published
    20 Feb 2026, 10:32 GMTUK5

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Defence Equipment and Support

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PVRL-5831-GLMM MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, South West, BS34 8JH [email protected]

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • Thistle Design (MMC) LtdAwarded supplierGB-COH: SC166769 40 Dryden Road, Bilston Glen Industrial Estate, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland, EH20 9LZ

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Tender pack and attachments

  • Conflict of interest declarationtenderConflict of interest declarationNot published

Notices published for this procedure

  • Contract award notice awardContract award noticeUK6Contract award notice on Find a Tender
  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender