Official UK procurement notice
Contractor Flying Approved Organization Scheme (Basic Remotely Piloted Air Systems) Commercial Framework
Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionUncrewed Air Systems (UAS) are a vital capability for Defence, requiring defence to rapidly assess, develop and use new capabilities. The aim of this PMEN is to understand the current capability of industry to be part of a commercial framework of competent and approved civilian organisations to support MOD UAS Test and Evaluation (T&E) in a more efficient way. UK MOD is seeking companies to submit proposals for the following:
-The capability to conduct UAS T&E in accordance with Regulatory Article (RA) 1031: Contractor flying approved organization scheme (basic remotely piloted air systems) (CFAOS (BR).
-The ability to gain MAA CFAOS (BR) approval within 6 months of a T&E commercial framework being established.
-Equivalence of civilian T&E qualifications to MAA qualifications required for CFAOS (BR) approval.
- To conduct relatively short notice UAS T&E on Open - S1 platforms or system of systems.
CPV: Non-piloted aircraft · Research and experimental development services · Technical inspection services · Technical services · Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Framework period
- 3 yrs · up to 5 yrs from 1 Apr 2027
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedWhat 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).
- “Contractor Flying Approved Organization Scheme (Basic Remotely Piloted…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Past planning notice
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Defence & security
- Commercial structure
- Framework agreement
- Who may use this agreement
- Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 16 Oct 2025, 09:30 BST
- Last source update
- 16 Oct 2025, 09:30 BST
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-065784- Latest notice
- Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05cdb7Find a Tender
How it was run
Official notice- Appointment period ends
- —
Timeline
16 Oct 2025 → 1 Apr 2027 · 4 dates- Planning notice published375 days ago16 Oct 2025, 09:30 BST
- Market engagement346 days ago14 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
This notice is for the Defence Uncrewed Systems Design Authority (DUxDA) to understand the current state of the market of civilian UAS T&E organisations that may operate military UAS under MAA CFAOS (BR) Regulations to undertake T&E activity. The description is deliberately high level so as not to unduly limit the scope of discussions with the market. The Authority wishes to understand the current civilian T&E UAS organisations, T&E SQEP/qualifications and supporting T&E facilities.
The DUxDA intends to hold a industry day with interested suppliers between 19/11/2025 - 26/11/2025.
Contact email: [email protected]
This notice is solely for the purpose of engaging the market to gather information. It does not constitute a call for competition or form part of any formal procurement process. Participation in this engagement will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement, nor will it bind the Authority to proceed with any specific course or action.
- Tender notice expected208 days ago1 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today27 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 155 days1 Apr 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Preliminary market engagement notice published16 Oct 2025, 09:30 BSTUK2
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Pipeline notice- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender