Official UK procurement notice
Diving Life Support (DLS) In-Service Support (ISS)
Authority: Defence Equipment and Support (Central government)
What is being bought4 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionDefence Equipment and Support (DES) Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) Delivery Team (DT) have a requirement for the provision of In-Service Support (ISS) to the Diving Life Support (DLS) portfolio of equipment.
The DLS portfolio provides a diving capability to the UK Military, led by the Royal Navy, to support a full range of technical and support activities to enable the delivery of underwater Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), underwater engineering, underwater search and engineering tasks in support of UK Defence Tasks.
The DLS ISS requirement is divided into the following four Lots:
Lot 1 - Diver's Dress and Dive Ancillaries
Includes: Diver's dress, e.g. dive suits, boots, gloves, etc and Dive Ancillaries
Lot 2 - Diving Support Equipment
Includes:
Diver Through Water Communication (DTWC)
Gas Boosters Pumps
Portable Breathing Air Compressor (PBAC)
Portable Oxygen Monitoring Apparatus (POMA)
Type B Recompression Chamber (RCC)
Lot 3 - Dive Sets and Dived Equipment
Includes:
Enclosed Mine Lift Bags (EMLB)
Swimmers Oxygen Breathing Apparatus (SOBA), including Excursion variant
Surface Supplied Diving Equipment (SSDE)
Parachute Lift Bags (PLB)
Underwater Hydraulic Tools
Lot 4 - Self-Contained Air Diving Equipment (SCADE) and Clearance Diver Life Support Equipment (CDLSE)
Includes:
Self-Contained Air Diving Equipment (SCADE), including Swimmers Air Breathing Apparatus (SABA) and Rechargeable Air Breathing Apparatus (RABA)
Clearance Divers Life Support Equipment (CDLSE)
The publication of this Contract Award Notice (UK6) shall commence standstill, with the last day of the standstill period being 19th August 2026.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 30 Aug 2030, 23:59 BST.
- How the procedure runs: A tenderers' conference is to be held online via MS teams on 29/30th September 2025. Tenderers requiring an invite to this should send an email to [email protected], for the attention of Marion Stone, no later than 13:00 25th September 2025. Further details of the conference can be found within the DEFFORM 47. Tenderers are to submit their Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) response and tenders via the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). Tenderers are required to submit a response to the PSQ by 23:59 21st November 2025; this covers all Lots. Tenderers are also required to submit tenders in response to the Lots they are interested in tendering for by the same date, 23:59 21st November 2025. Tenderers should submit one response to the 'All Lots' ITT, and then submit responses to one or more of the Lot-specific ITTs. To note - each tenderer is permitted to submit a tender for a maximum of three out of the four Lots. PSQ - https://contracts.mod.uk/go/5075130201996D0E0F0F All Lots ITT - https://contracts.mod.uk/go/161145270199709EE502 Lot 1 ITT - https://contracts.mod.uk/go/554509340199709F9CE4 Lot 2 ITT - https://contracts.mod.uk/go/884851360199709FEB29 Lot 3 ITT - https://contracts.mod.uk/go/57767694019970A03197 Lot 4 ITT - https://contracts.mod.uk/go/58904938019970A08E7B Compliant tenderers from the PSQ submission will then have their tenders evaluated. Each Lot will be evaluated separately. Full details of the evaluation process for each Lot can be found within the tender documentation - specifically DEFFORM 47 and its associated annexes and appendicies. The Contracting Authority reserves its right to rely on section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023 to refine award criteria as part of the competitive flexible procedure. Refinements to the award criteria may include but are not limited to: refining award criteria weightings; and/or adding sub-criteria or more detail to the sub-criteria (relevant to the existing main criteria). The Contracting Authority reserves the right to directly award a contract for similar goods or services without further competition pursuant to Schedule 5 paragraph 8, including to other parts of the Ministry of Defence.
CPV: Air compressors · Breathing apparatus for diving · Compressed-air cylinders · Diving instruments or accessories · Diving wear · Dry suits · Hydraulic equipment · Hyperbaric chambers · Protective and safety clothing · Repair and maintenance services · Wetsuits
Lots and requirements (4)Procurement structure
4 lots · all with a published value (£62,500,000 together)Lot #1Dive Dress and Dive AncillariesAwardedRenewalPublished value£10,000,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
As detailed in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire.
- Technical & professional ability
As detailed in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, where suppliers will be required to demonstrate that they or their nominated supply chain have the technical ability to meet the requirements of the specified Lot.
Lot #2Diving Support EquipmentAwardedRenewalPublished value£14,000,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
As detailed in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire.
- Technical & professional ability
As detailed in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, where suppliers will be required to demonstarte that they or their nominated supply chain have the technical ability to meet the requirements of the specified Lot.
Lot #3Dive Sets and Dived EquipmentAwardedRenewalPublished value£21,000,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
As detailed in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire.
- Technical & professional ability
As detailed in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, where suppliers will be required to demonstarte that they or their nominated supply chain have the technical ability to meet the requirements of the specified Lot.
Lot #4Self-Contained Air Diving Equipment (SCADE) and Clearance Diver Life Support Equipment (CDLSE)AwardedRenewalPublished value£17,500,000
The source published no individual description for this lot.
- Economic & financial standing
As detailed in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire.
- Technical & professional ability
As detailed in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, where suppliers will be required to demonstarte that they or their nominated supply chain have the technical ability to meet the requirements of the specified Lot.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Defence & security
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Yes · next expected 30 Aug 2030
- First published
- 17 Mar 2025, 10:37 GMT
- Last source update
- 10 Aug 2026, 16:39 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Aug 2026
- Authority reference
712091450- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-058360- Latest notice
- Contract award notice (UK6)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04edacFind a Tender
- How it runs
A tenderers' conference is to be held online via MS teams on 29/30th September 2025. Tenderers requiring an invite to this should send an email to [email protected], for the attention of Marion Stone, no later than 13:00 25th September 2025. Further details of the conference can be found within the DEFFORM 47.
Tenderers are to submit their Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) response and tenders via the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP).
Tenderers are required to submit a response to the PSQ by 23:59 21st November 2025; this covers all Lots.
Tenderers are also required to submit tenders in response to the Lots they are interested in tendering for by the same date, 23:59 21st November 2025.
Tenderers should submit one response to the 'All Lots' ITT, and then submit responses to one or more of the Lot-specific ITTs. To note - each tenderer is permitted to submit a tender for a maximum of three out of the four Lots.
PSQ - contracts.mod.uk/go/5075130201996D0E0F0F ↗
All Lots ITT - contracts.mod.uk/go/161145270199709EE502 ↗
Lot 1 ITT - contracts.mod.uk/go/554509340199709F9CE4 ↗
Lot 2 ITT - contracts.mod.uk/go/884851360199709FEB29 ↗
Lot 3 ITT - contracts.mod.uk/go/57767694019970A03197 ↗
Lot 4 ITT - contracts.mod.uk/go/58904938019970A08E7B ↗
Compliant tenderers from the PSQ submission will then have their tenders evaluated. Each Lot will be evaluated separately. Full details of the evaluation process for each Lot can be found within the tender documentation - specifically DEFFORM 47 and its associated annexes and appendicies.
The Contracting Authority reserves its right to rely on section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023 to refine award criteria as part of the competitive flexible procedure. Refinements to the award criteria may include but are not limited to: refining award criteria weightings; and/or adding sub-criteria or more detail to the sub-criteria (relevant to the existing main criteria).
The Contracting Authority reserves the right to directly award a contract for similar goods or services without further competition pursuant to Schedule 5 paragraph 8, including to other parts of the Ministry of Defence.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 21 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 12 Nov 2025, 13:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opport… ↗
Responses to the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, the 'all Lots' ITT and the Lot-specific ITTs you wish to tender for must be completed and submitted in the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) by 23:59 21st November 2025. Any Clarification Questions should also be submitted through the DSP.
Timeline
17 Mar 2025 → 17 Aug 2026 · 10 dates- Planning notice published17 Mar 2025, 10:37 GMT
- Market engagement4 Apr 2025, 23:59 BST
This notice serves to inform Industry of the Authority’s intention to conduct market engagement in the form of holding an industry day for this requirement.
A market interest and equipment familiarisation day will be held on 03/04/2025 at the Defence Diving School, Horsea Island, Portsmouth. This will consist of an overview of the requirement and contracting approach, including an indicative procurement timeline; a questionnaire to gain supplier feedback; and a question and answer session. Furthermore, there will also be the ability to view equipment in scope of the requirement, and a question and answer session. Subject matter experts will be available to answer technical questions.
Please note, the date stated above may be subject to change.
The aim of the day is to:
a) determine if there is an established market that can meet the Authority’s requirements and enable a successful competition to be run;
b) provide suppliers with an overview of the requirement, e.g. type/volume of equipment that needs to be supported/bought;
c) gain suppliers’ opinions on the requirement and proposed contracting approach (e.g. amendments to the four proposed Lots)
d) provide suppliers the mechanism to suggest alternative ways of meeting the overarching requirement; and
e) provide the opportunity for suppliers to discuss opportunities with one another (e.g. sub-contracting and forming consortia, etc)
If you are interested in attending this day, please submit expressions of interest to [email protected] by 12:00 hours on 26/03/2025.
More information, including booking onto site, timings and maximum number of attendees will be provided to those who register their interest.
The supplier shall bear all costs of their attendance at the industry day.
For the avoidance of doubt, this notice is not a call for competition. Any comments, indications of interest, participation, or non-participation by any organisation at this stage will not influence the process, selection and/or award decision for any future possible procurement, nor will it be taken as a supplier’s committed position. Non-participation in the industry day will not exclude you from any possible future competition for this requirement.
- Next notice expected30 Jun 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published393 days ago22 Sept 2025, 10:02 BST
- Clarification questions by342 days ago12 Nov 2025, 13:00 GMT
- Submission deadline333 days ago21 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Award decision expected by80 days ago1 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Assessment summaries sent72 days ago10 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published71 days ago10 Aug 2026, 16:39 BST
- Contract starts65 days ago17 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST
Notice history
13 events · 7 releases on Find a Tender · since 17 Mar 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published17 Mar 2025, 10:37 GMTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published24 Mar 2025, 09:41 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published22 Sept 2025, 10:02 BSTUK4
- Status changed to active22 Sept 2025, 10:02 BST
- Procurement method changed22 Sept 2025, 10:02 BST
- Deadline published: 14 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT22 Sept 2025, 10:02 BST
- Tender notice published22 Sept 2025, 12:26 BSTUK4
- Tender notice published16 Oct 2025, 12:40 BSTUK4
- Deadline moved to 21 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT16 Oct 2025, 12:40 BST+7 days · was 14 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Contract award notice published10 Aug 2026, 16:05 BSTUK6
- Status changed to complete10 Aug 2026, 16:05 BST
- Contract award notice published10 Aug 2026, 16:39 BSTUK6
- Contract signature expected1 Oct 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
Published amendments (2)
Date of tenderers' conference, and how to participate added.
Tender and Clarification Question (CQ) submission deadline extension.
Routine re-releases (7)
- 2025-09: 2 releases · 22 Sept 2025, 22 Sept 2025
- 2025-03: 2 releases · 17 Mar 2025, 24 Mar 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lot 1 · Dive Dress and Dive Ancillaries1 award | |||
| Northern diver international ltdSMEDiving Life Support (DLS) In-Service Support (ISS) - Lot 11 Oct 2026 – 30 Sept 2031 · up to 30 Sept 2033Extensions: There will be two (2) separately exercisable, one (1) year extensions, which will be irrevocable and available for the Authority to invoke subject to a stated notice period. If all the options to extend are exercised by the Authority, the contract's duration will be a total of seven (7) years. · Options: There will be the option to procure more/new Diving Life Support equipment, and in-service support. · Amended: Date of standstill period entered. | £12,091,667 | 10 Aug 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 2 · Diving Support Equipment1 award | |||
| JFD LimitedDiving Life Support (DLS) In-Service Support (ISS) - Lot 21 Oct 2026 – 30 Sept 2031 · up to 30 Sept 2033Extensions: There will be two (2) separately exercisable, one (1) year extensions, which will be irrevocable and available for the Authority to invoke subject to a stated notice period. If all the options to extend are exercised by the Authority, the contract's duration will be a total of seven (7) years. · Options: There will be the option to procure more/new Diving Life Support equipment, and in-service support. · Amended: Date of standstill period entered. | £22,650,000 | 10 Aug 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 3 · Dive Sets and Dived Equipment1 award | |||
| JFD LimitedDiving Life Support (DLS) In-Service Support (ISS) - Lot 31 Oct 2026 – 30 Sept 2031 · up to 30 Sept 2033Extensions: There will be two (2) separately exercisable, one (1) year extensions, which will be irrevocable and available for the Authority to invoke subject to a stated notice period. If all the options to extend are exercised by the Authority, the contract's duration will be a total of seven (7) years. · Options: There will be the option to procure more/new Diving Life Support equipment, and in-service support. · Amended: Date of standstill period entered. | £16,055,000 | 10 Aug 2026 | Awarded |
| Lot 4 · Self-Contained Air Diving Equipment (SCADE) and Clearance Diver Life Support Equipment (CDLSE)1 award | |||
| JFD LimitedDiving Life Support (DLS) In-Service Support (ISS) - Lot 41 Oct 2026 – 30 Sept 2031 · up to 30 Sept 2033Extensions: There will be two (2) separately exercisable, one (1) year extensions, which will be irrevocable and available for the Authority to invoke subject to a stated notice period. If all the options to extend are exercised by the Authority, the contract's duration will be a total of seven (7) years. · Options: There will be the option to procure more/new Diving Life Support equipment, and in-service support. · Amended: Date of standstill period entered. | £13,589,167 | 10 Aug 2026 | Awarded |
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Dive Dress and Dive Ancillaries | 1final-stage tenders · 2 at stage one | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2 · Diving Support Equipment | 2final-stage tenders | 1 | 0 | — |
| 3 · Dive Sets and Dived Equipment | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
| 4 · Self-Contained Air Diving Equipment (SCADE) and Clearance Diver Life Support Equipment (CDLSE) | 1final-stage tenders | 0 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonNorthern Diver (International) LimitedSME · North West England · 1, 2
- wonJFD Limited · Scotland · 2, 3, 4
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- JFD LimitedAwarded supplier
- Northern Diver (International) LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (14)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Books of Reference for each Master Equipment will be uploaded to the attachment area relevant to each Lot within the Defence Sourcing Portal.
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
Show 5 more notices
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender