Official UK procurement notice
ACTS Early Works and Risk Reduction (EWRR)
Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Collective Training Transformation Programme will deliver the Army Collective Training Service (ACTS). ACTS is the overarching requirement for the delivery of the UK military's collective training by a Strategic Training Partner (STP). The overarching requirement is the delivery of the UK military's collective training which aims to develop the ability of small teams to entire units and formations to function as a cohesive entity. Around 60,000 soldiers are involved in collective training every year. The objective of the Army Collective Training Service (ACTS) is to transform this training to match ever more complex future threats, through digitalisation, simulation, a different relationship with industry, and by changing how and where the military trains.
The programme will deliver a modernised, integrated, expeditionary and digitalised Collective Training System, with the flexibility to allow the Army to train globally when and where it needs. It will prepare Land Force Elements to meet their Defence outputs and allow the Army to train, in challenging, realistic, multi domain and world leading environments –including instrumented urban.
The Early Works and Risk Reduction (EWRR) Contract is intended to acts as a bridge between for the transition from the current Collective Training system to the ACTS and will mitigate the risks to transition and delivery.
The Programme Team have identified critical derisking activities such as continuing to mature the Secure by Design products and processes, detailed GFX audits, the plan for transition for legacy equipment, and updating training demand/delivery plans to reflect training year 26/27.
In addition the EWRR Contract is required to support STEADFAST DEFENDER 27 through direct support to a NATO Exercise, named ARRCADE STORM 26, the validating precursor activity for the Headquarters UK 1st Division. ARRCADE STORM 26 will be used to validate HQ 1(UK) Div and train HQ ARRC ahead of NATO validation in 2027, develop UK Sovereign capability and demonstrate UK commitment to the Strategic Reserve Corps. It will provide an opportunity for multi-national elements to also participate.
The Contract is required for a five month period February 2026 to July 2026, in line with the anticipated FBC approval dates and anticipated Contract Award dates for ACTS.
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
- 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
- 11 Feb 2026, 16:20 GMT
- Last source update
- 25 Mar 2026, 13:45 GMT
- Authority reference
715634464- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-027350- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area in notice
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-064e4aFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Defence Security Operational
- Published justification
The Direct Award justification for the EWRR is based on Paragraph 20 of Schedule 5 (Direct Award) of the Procurement Act 2023. Paragraph 20 states that the Authority may place a Direct Award if: (a) the contract is a defence authority contract, (b) the contract is not a defence and security contract only by virtue of section 7(1)(g) (or, in the case of a framework, section 7(1)(g) and (2)), and (c) it is necessary for the contract to be awarded directly in order to enhance or maintain the operational capability, effectiveness, readiness for action, safety or security of the armed forces.
Land Forces are now at the forefront of the SDR’s direction to warfight at scale with NATO. NATO’s highest near-term priority is the delivery of a fully enabled Strategic Reserve Corps.
The Early Works and Risk Reduction (EWRR) Contract is required to support STEADFAST DEFENDER 27 through direct support to a NATO Exercise, named ARRCADE STORM 26, the validating precursor activity for the Headquarters UK 1st Division. ARRCADE STORM 26 will be used to validate HQ 1(UK) Div and train HQ ARRC ahead of NATO validation in 2027, develop UK Sovereign capability and demonstrate UK commitment to the Strategic Reserve Corps. It will provide an opportunity for multi-national elements to also participate.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
20 Feb 2026 → 25 Mar 2026 · 2 dates- Standstill ends249 days ago20 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Notice published216 days ago25 Mar 2026, 13:45 GMT
Notice history
4 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 11 Feb 2026- Transparency notice published11 Feb 2026, 16:20 GMTUK5
- Contract award notice published11 Feb 2026, 16:26 GMTUK6
- Contract signature expected23 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published25 Mar 2026, 13:45 GMTUK7
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raytheon Systems LimitedACTS Early Works and Risk Reduction23 Feb 2026 – 1 Jul 2026Options: Additional packages of work above the core elements of the contract will be taken up at the discretion of the Authority | £4,910,000 | 12 Jan 2026 | Awarded |
Contracts
ACTS Early Works and Risk Reduction · Raytheon Systems Limited
- Signed
- 23 Feb 2026
- Value
- £4,910,000
- Period
- 23 Feb 2026 – 1 Jul 2026
- Status
- active
- Options
- Additional packages of work above the core elements will be taken up at the discretion of the Authority
No agreed KPIs: Due to the short-term nature of the contract, milestone based on delivery of specific work packages backed up by monthly reporting against such milestones was deemed sufficient performance management.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Raytheon Systems LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Signed contract Contract
Notices 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