Official UK procurement notice
Project HERA · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionProject HERA is a significant and wide-ranging Royal Air Force (RAF)-led project aimed at delivering services and technical support across UK military sites. It is a key part of the Authority’s strategy to ensure the continued efficient and safe operation of Authority units.
The Services will be consolidated under a single national Contract for an anticipated initial period of eight years and 10 months, with an option to extend the Contract for a further two years (the anticipated 10-month mobilisation period is included within the initial term). The Authority will enter into the Contract with a single supplier entity (notwithstanding any Consortium arrangements).
Project HERA will replace four existing contracts (three delivered under Programme HADES, as well as the separate Brize Support Contract).
This Contract may be used by the Authority as a mechanism to develop additional airbase enabling and technical support services delivered to the Authority, subject to Procurement Act 2023.
Project HERA Services: The comprehensive range of Services expected to be delivered under Project HERA includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Supply
Mechanical Transport (MT) Operations
General Engineering Services
Flying Clothing and Survival Equipment
Airport and Airfield Support Services
Aircraft Maintenance
Fuels and Lubricants
Media and Graphics
Digital and Cyberspace Support Services
General Duties and Administration Support
Training Support and Sport Services
Armoury Support
Contingency Planning
Supplier Personnel Management
Service Delivery Data
Service Line Development during the term of the Contract aligned to the aforementioned activities.
The Sites expected to be deilvered under Project HERA includes, but is not limited to, the following:
RAF Valley
RAF Shawbury
RAF Cosford
MOD Lyneham
Middle Wallop
RAF Brize Norton
RAF High Wycombe
RAF Northolt
RAF Halton
RAF Henlow
RAF Wyton
RAF Waddington
RAF Cranwell
Digby
RRH Staxton Wold
RRH Buchan
RAF Boulmer
RAF Fylingdales
Registering on AWARD
The link below will take you to the DSP AWARD® registration page where the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Document can be found.
award.commercedecisions.com/dsp/web/project/29ed… ↗
If your organisation is already registered in DSP AWARD but you do not know your login details or your account has become inactive, please contact the AWARD helpdesk ([email protected]). Once registered/logged in you will have visibility of the HERA PSQ AWARD project.
Only one user per company will be able to complete registration. Once registered, additional users can be requested by raising a Clarification in the PSQ containing the new users names and e-mail addresses.
Further Information
Suppliers should note Supplier response restrictions as detailed within the PSQ Guidance Document, including paragraphs 2 to 4.
The HERA Contract will be based on the Government’s Model Services Contract (MSC), together with relevant narrative MOD DEFCON clauses and project specific bespoke drafting.
Parts of the draft Contract will be made available to Suppliers with the PSQ, in the Data Room on the AWARD®. The specific release dates for the draft Contract Schedules will be communicated to interested parties via the AWARD® portal.
These draft Contract documents are being shared at the PSQ Stage for information purposes only and in order to provide Suppliers with an early understanding of certain potential contractual terms. These documents are subject to amendment, and updated drafts will be made available with the ITT to Tenderers.
Suppliers should note that access to the Data Room and the contract documents contained in it is subject to certain conditions as set out in the PSQ Guidance Document.
- Not divided into lots: Project HERA will provide airbase enabling and technical support services at RAF, Army and Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) locations. The services at these locations are already contracted out under the 3 regional HADES contracts and under a separate Brize Support Contract (BSC). The Procurement Act 2023 requires contracting authorities considering outsourcing to consider lotting as a potential delivery approach. The Authority conducted a comprehensive Project HERA Delivery Model Assessment. That assessment included various lotting strategies and a single national contract approach. The conclusion of the DMA was that that a single national contract offers key benefits in terms of operational agility and flexibility, consistency of service, reduced contract management overhead on the part of the MOD and better value for money. On this basis, Project HERA will be delivered as a single national contract.
- The authority expects to re-tender this requirement around 2 Apr 2035, 23:59 BST.
- How the procedure runs: The Contract will be procured under the competitive flexible procedure. It is anticipated that the procurement process for the HERA project will be structured as a multi-stage procurement process consisting of the following stages: a. PSQ stage. The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) stage commenced with the publication of this Tender Notice. The PSQ questions and assessment methodology (including whether pass/fail or scored, and weightings and minimum score thresholds for scored PSQ questions) are set out in the PSQ Guidance Document, and on AWARD®. The four highest scoring suppliers (as described in the PSQ Guidance Document) who submit a compliant PSQ response, achieve a ‘Pass’ for all PSQ questions assessed on a pass/fail basis and who meet the minimum score thresholds set out in the PSQ Guidance Document will be invited to the next stage of the procurement process and will be issued with the Invitation to Tender (ITT). Any other suppliers who submitted a PSQ response will not be taken through to the ITT Stage of the procurement process and will not participate any further in this procurement. b. Initial Tender stage. The ITT will be issued to the four suppliers shortlisted following the assessment of their PSQ responses (the “Tenderers”). Following a series of launch/introductory meetings and site visits, Tenderers will be invited to submit Initial Tenders which will be assessed by the Authority in accordance with the assessment criteria and methodology set out in the ITT. The Authority does not intend to down-select at Initial Tender stage. c. Negotiation stage. Following assessment of Initial Tenders and the provision of feedback to Tenderers, the Authority will hold a series of negotiation meetings with Tenderers to discuss any key issues. This Negotiation Stage will continue until the Authority is satisfied that all key issues have been thoroughly discussed and it has decided on its position in relation to those key issues. At that stage, the Authority will close the Negotiation Stage and issue the Invitation to Submit Final Tenders (ISFT). d. ISFT stage. Once the Authority has closed the Negotiation Stage, Tenderers will be invited to submit Final Tenders through the issue of the ISFT. Final Tenders will be evaluated in accordance with the assessment criteria and methodology set out in the ISFT to identify the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT). e. Approvals and award stage. Subject to final approvals, the Tenderer offering the MAT in their Final Tender will be awarded the Contract. Further details regarding the competitive flexible procedure for this procurement are set out in the PSQ Guidance Document
CPV: Air-traffic control training · Aircraft refuelling services · Aircraft repair services · Airport engineering services · Airport operation services · Engineering services · Hangar services · Personnel services except placement and supply services · Photographic and ancillary services · Road transport services · Support services for air transport · Technical support services · +1 more
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£605,695,000
- Economic & financial standing
As set out in the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Document.
- Technical & professional ability
As set out in the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Document.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
As set out in the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Document.
What 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).
- Compliance Check: This will consist of a check against the following criteria: a. Requirements Compliance (Evaluated on Pass/Fail basis) b. Commercial Compliance (Evaluated on Pass/Fail basis) c. Financial Compliance (Evaluated on Pass/Fail basis) This criteria is PASS/FAIL. Full detail to be provided at ITT.
- Non-Cost Criteria: The Non-Cost quality assessment consists of three key areas, that will be weighted and assessed in accordance with the assessment criteria developed: a. Service Line (Requirements) Criteria b. Non-Service Line Criteria c. Social Value Criteria This criteria is weighted at 60%. Full detail to be provided at ITT.
- Cost Criteria: This will be the Net Present Value (NPV) of the Total Value of the Contract and will derived from the weighted price given by the Bidder. The Net Present Value of the whole life contract cost is calculated and this is then inputted (together with the quality score) into the stated Weighted Value for Money formula to determine the Most Advantageous Tender. WVfM=(Non-Cost Score (60/40))/(Cost (£M)(NPV of the Total Value)) This criteria is weighted at 40%. Full detail to be provided at ITT.
- Economic & financial standing
As set out in the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Document.
- Technical & professional ability
As set out in the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Document.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
As set out in the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Document.
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
- Closed
- 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 2 Apr 2035
- First published
- 26 May 2025, 08:35 BST
- Last source update
- 17 Oct 2025, 12:33 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 2 Jun 2027
- Authority reference
714936450- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-066282- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05262eFind a Tender- Contract terms summary
As set out in the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Document.
- How it runs
The Contract will be procured under the competitive flexible procedure. It is anticipated that the procurement process for the HERA project will be structured as a multi-stage procurement process consisting of the following stages:
a. PSQ stage.
The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) stage commenced with the publication of this Tender Notice.
The PSQ questions and assessment methodology (including whether pass/fail or scored, and weightings and minimum score thresholds for scored PSQ questions) are set out in the PSQ Guidance Document, and on AWARD®.
The four highest scoring suppliers (as described in the PSQ Guidance Document) who submit a compliant PSQ response, achieve a ‘Pass’ for all PSQ questions assessed on a pass/fail basis and who meet the minimum score thresholds set out in the PSQ Guidance Document will be invited to the next stage of the procurement process and will be issued with the Invitation to Tender (ITT). Any other suppliers who submitted a PSQ response will not be taken through to the ITT Stage of the procurement process and will not participate any further in this procurement.
b. Initial Tender stage.
The ITT will be issued to the four suppliers shortlisted following the assessment of their PSQ responses (the “Tenderers”). Following a series of launch/introductory meetings and site visits, Tenderers will be invited to submit Initial Tenders which will be assessed by the Authority in accordance with the assessment criteria and methodology set out in the ITT. The Authority does not intend to down-select at Initial Tender stage.
c. Negotiation stage.
Following assessment of Initial Tenders and the provision of feedback to Tenderers, the Authority will hold a series of negotiation meetings with Tenderers to discuss any key issues. This Negotiation Stage will continue until the Authority is satisfied that all key issues have been thoroughly discussed and it has decided on its position in relation to those key issues. At that stage, the Authority will close the Negotiation Stage and issue the Invitation to Submit Final Tenders (ISFT).
d. ISFT stage.
Once the Authority has closed the Negotiation Stage, Tenderers will be invited to submit Final Tenders through the issue of the ISFT. Final Tenders will be evaluated in accordance with the assessment criteria and methodology set out in the ISFT to identify the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT).
e. Approvals and award stage.
Subject to final approvals, the Tenderer offering the MAT in their Final Tender will be awarded the Contract.
Further details regarding the competitive flexible procedure for this procurement are set out in the PSQ Guidance Document
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 21 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Submission deadline
- 21 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 12 Nov 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
26 May 2025 → 29 Jun 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published26 May 2025, 08:35 BST
- Market engagement18 Jul 2025, 23:59 BST
Industry Webinar
Following on from previous market engagement webinars, the Authority is conducting an Industry Webinar on Wednesday 2 July 2025, 1430-1600hrs, to provide an update on the progress of Project HERA. This webinar will cover:
- Commercial Construct of HERA
- HERA Statement of Requirement
- Mandatory Regulatory Requirements of HERA
- Pricing and Payment Mechanism
- Performance Management Regime
- Insurance Requirements including Limitation of Contractor’s Liability
- Procurement Timelines and Evaluation process
- Implementation
Please follow the link below to register for the Industry Webinar:
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/f429b256-f69b-… ↗
Attendance at the webinar is not compulsory and non-attendance does not preclude any company from bidding on any future opportunity. This webinar is part of a series of preliminary market engagement sessions.
Any related future procurement activity will be subject to the Procurement Act 2023 and shall be advertised accordingly.
We recommend that you register for the webinar as soon as possible to ensure you receive early visibility of the presentation and other supporting material.
Attendees will not be able to use microphone/video during the webinar, but there will be a Q&A function to allow written questions to be submitted during the webinar. We will also be accepting feedback and questions after the webinar that can be submitted via the Project HERA multiuser - [email protected]
Whilst we cannot guarantee an answer to all questions, we will endeavour to respond to as many as we are able to.
After the webinar, a list of industry attendees will be circulated to facilitate discussions on potential collaborations between interested bidders and when registering you will be asked to give consent for your details to be shared. Your inclusion on the attendees list is optional and not a requirement for you to register for and attend the webinar.
121 Engagements
The Authority will also be conducting a limited number of 121s with Industry, week commencing 7th July. These 121 sessions are aimed at Prime Contractors only, who envision/intend to be the main entity or company that contracts with MOD to deliver the HERA services.
If your organisation is interested in a 121 and meets this criterion, please email [email protected] to express your interest in a 121 and we will send you further details. There are a limited number of 121 slots available and the Authority therefore reserves the right to refuse a request for a 121 meeting. Not participating in a 121 meeting does not preclude any company from bidding on any future opportunity.
- Next notice expected1 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published373 days ago17 Oct 2025, 12:33 BST
- Clarification questions by347 days ago12 Nov 2025, 10:00 GMT
- Submission deadline337 days ago21 Nov 2025, 17:00 GMT
- Today25 Oct 2026
- Award decision expected byin 221 days2 Jun 2027, 23:59 BST
- Contract startsin 247 days29 Jun 2027, 00:00 BST
Notice history
7 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 26 May 2025- Pipeline notice published26 May 2025, 08:35 BSTUK1
- Preliminary market engagement notice published16 Jun 2025, 16:45 BSTUK2
- Published value updated to £466,845,60016 Jun 2025, 16:45 BSTwas £447,200,000
- Tender notice published17 Oct 2025, 12:33 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £605,695,00017 Oct 2025, 12:33 BSTwas £466,845,600
- Status changed to active17 Oct 2025, 12:33 BST
- Procurement method changed17 Oct 2025, 12:33 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Future documents will be provided on the AWARD@ portal. Registering on AWARD The link below will take you to the DSP AWARD® registration page where the PSQ and PSQ Guidance Document can be found. https://award.commercedecisions.com/dsp/web/project/29edf3d7-0a2a-48aa-83f1-4657f5475c77/register If your organisation is already registered in DSP AWARD but you do not know your login details or your account has become inactive, please contact the AWARD helpdesk ([email protected]). Once registered/logged in you will have visibility of the HERA PSQ AWARD project. Only one user per company will be able to complete registration. Once registered, additional users can be requested by raising a Clarification in the PSQ containing the new users names and e-mail addresses. Further Information Suppliers should note Supplier response restrictions as detailed within the PSQ Guidance Document, including paragraphs 2 to 4. The HERA Contract will be based on the Government’s Model Services Contract (MSC), together with relevant narrative MOD DEFCON clauses and project specific bespoke drafting. Parts of the draft Contract will be made available to Suppliers with the PSQ, in the Data Room on the AWARD®. The specific release dates for the draft Contract Schedules will be communicated to interested parties via the AWARD® portal. These draft Contract documents are being shared at the PSQ Stage for information purposes only and in order to provide Suppliers with an early understanding of certain potential contractual terms. These documents are subject to amendment, and updated drafts will be made available with the ITT to Tenderers. Suppliers should note that access to the Data Room and the contract documents contained in it is subject to certain conditions as set out in the PSQ Guidance Document.
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender