Official UK procurement notice
A-Class Platform Complex Systems - Batch 2 PMS
Authority: Submarine Delivery Agency (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Platform Equipment Delivery Team (PEDT), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”), intends to enter into a contract (the “Contract”) with Northrop Grumman UK Limited (NGUKL) (the “Contractor”) to take effect on and from 1st January 2026 for a period of 7 years for the provision of in-service support of the Astute Class Platform Complex Systems Batch 2 Platform Management System (PMS), and equipment, providing technical support, waterfront support and PDS in support of the Authority, ensuring that availability is maintained and obsolescence and reliability issues are addressed. The system provides critical safety and operational functions in support of the Authority’s Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) capabilities. The Contract has a value (ex VAT) of approx. £29,000,000 (Twenty-Nine million pounds sterling).
It is considered that the Contract can be entered into using Direct Award pursuant to Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that the Contract may be awarded only to the Contractor for 7(a) the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from or incompatible with , the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operational maintenance.
The Contractor is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) for, and holder of all relevant proprietary information in, the A-Class Platform Complex Systems Batch 2 PMS. The PMS is a complex piece of equipment, which requires a carefully considered strategic approach to its through life support to maintain continuity, reduce operational risk and maintain capability. The Contractor as the OEM and DA, have the ability to ensure that all platforms with the Contractor’s PMS’s on board are continually upgraded to the latest software and is supported. The Contractor, as the only manufacturer and supplier of the A-Class Platform Complex systems Batch 2 PMS, is the only economic operator with the specific technical knowledge and experience of the A-Class PMS system to be able to support and update such equipment, avoiding safety and availability risk issues.
CPV: Technical support services
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
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Defence & security
- 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
- 12 May 2025, 11:46 BST
- Last source update
- 21 May 2025, 13:02 BST
- Authority reference
714412455- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-023845- Latest notice
- Transparency notice (UK5)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0510abFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons; Defence Security Operational
- Published justification
The Platform Equipment Delivery Team (PEDT), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”), intends to enter into a contract (the “Contract”) with Northrop Grumman UK Limited (NGUKL) (the “Contractor”) to take effect on and from 1st January 2026 for a period of 7 years for the provision of in-service support of the Astute Class Platform Complex Systems Batch 2 Platform Management System (PMS), and equipment, providing technical support, waterfront support and PDS in support of the Authority, ensuring that availability is maintained and obsolescence and reliability issues are addressed. The system provides critical safety and operational functions in support of the Authority’s Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) capabilities. The Contract has a value (ex VAT) of approx. £29,000,000 (Twenty-Nine million pounds sterling).
It is considered that the Contract can be entered into using Direct Award pursuant to Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that the Contract may be awarded only to the Contractor for 7(a) the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from or incompatible with , the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operational maintenance.
The Contractor is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) for, and holder of all relevant proprietary information in, the A-Class Platform Complex Systems Batch 2 PMS. The PMS is a complex piece of equipment, which requires a carefully considered strategic approach to its through life support to maintain continuity, reduce operational risk and maintain capability. The Contractor as the OEM and DA, have the ability to ensure that all platforms with the Contractor’s PMS’s on board are continually upgraded to the latest software and is supported. The Contractor, as the only manufacturer and supplier of the A-Class Platform Complex systems Batch 2 PMS, is the only economic operator with the specific technical knowledge and experience of the A-Class PMS system to be able to support and update such equipment, avoiding safety and availability risk issues.
- Risks
Spares and Repairs, Post Design Services, Support to Operations of the A-Class Boats
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
12 May 2025 → 1 Jan 2026 · 4 dates- Planning notice published12 May 2025, 11:46 BST
- Next notice expected12 May 2025, 23:59 BST
- Latest notice published21 May 2025, 13:02 BST
- Contract starts299 days ago1 Jan 2026
Notice history
5 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 12 May 2025- Pipeline notice published12 May 2025, 11:46 BSTUK1
- Transparency notice published21 May 2025, 13:02 BSTUK5
- Status changed to complete21 May 2025, 13:02 BST
- Procurement method changed21 May 2025, 13:02 BST
- Contract signature expected11 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMTscheduled
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northrop Grumman UK Ltd1 Jan 2026 – 31 Dec 2032 | £29,000,000 | — | Standstill |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Nortrop Grumman UK LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (2)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender