Official UK procurement notice
Spectroil Maintenance · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Defence Equipment and Support
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Authority would like to formally engage with industry via this UK4 Notice. The Lightning Delivery Team requires the Supplier to provide diagnostic and repair services in support of the Spectroil M machines. The Spectroil M machines are utilised to perform analysis of oil samples from the F-35 engine and lift fan. The proposed requirement will cover the annual servicing, calibration and repair of the equipment. The Supplier will be responsible for:
- One annual preventative maintenance & service visit per year, per unit for the four Spectroil M machines, inclusive of all required parts and spares.
- Repair activities for the four Spectroil M machines throughout the duration of the contract, as required. The contractor shall provide all personnel, repeat attendances, labour, replacement parts, spares, consumables, tools (including any specialist equipment) and any other resources required to rectify identified faults.
- Call out activities will be completed at UK mainland sites only.
- Provision for the ad-hoc supply of consumables (The Authority may utilise this as an option).
Expressions of interest to participate in this requirement are to be submitted on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) by completing the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). The PSQ shall be assessed on DSP using the selection criteria within the PSQ guidance document and within each question. Suppliers are expected to provide all mandatory information and to not be subject to a mandatory exclusion, it is the intention of the Authority to down select, and only fully compliant suppliers will be invited to tender. The deadline for completion of the PSQ and expressing an interest in this requirement is 23:59 on 28/08/2026.
Contract Reference: 715871491
Risk Assessment Ref: RAR-QPCQ5LK
Cyber Risk Profile: Level 0 (Basic)
The anticipated Spectroil M Contract shall be one (1) year from 2027 to 2028, plus options (1 year + 1 year) - subject to approvals from Contract Award (CA). The final confirmed duration including any Contractual Option(s), will be provided in the ITT documentation.
- How the procedure runs: The Authority intends to conduct the Spectroil Maintenance Project through the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The Authority intends to conduct the procurement in up to three stages. Stage 1 is the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). The PSQ will be assessed based on the selection criteria within the PSQ and Spectroil Maintenance – PSQ Guidance document. Down selection of Suppliers will be based on PASS/FAIL evaluation for the questions within the questionnaire, to determine if the supplier meets the required conditions of participation. Only the complaint suppliers shall be invited to the next stage - Invitation to Tender (ITT). Stage 2 is the issue of the initial ITT. Shortlisted suppliers who meet the conditions of participation are invited to submit their full tender. Stage 3 (if used) would involve issue of a modified ITT in accordance with Section 31 (2) (a). However, the Authority reserves the right to make an award following evaluation of the initial tender submissions (Stage 2) where it considers that the award criteria have been satisfactorily met, without proceeding to any further stages. The Authority reserves the right under the Procurement Act 2023 to: To cancel the procurement procedure at any stage. Not award a contract as a result of the procurement process. Make any modifications during a competitive flexible procedure, provided that the deadline to participate or submit a first or only tender has not passed (section 31(1)(b)). Make non substantial modifications, during a competitive flexible procedure, up to the deadline of the final tendering stage (section 31(2)(a)). Refine or supplement the award criteria during a competitive flexible procedure (section 24(1)). The issue of the PSQ is not a commitment by the Authority to subsequently issue an invitation to tender, invitation to negotiate or place a contract. Neither does the issue of this or subsequent documents create any implied contract between the Authority and any participant, and any such implied contract is expressly excluded.
CPV: Calibration services · Repair and maintenance services of testing apparatus
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£210,000
- Economic & financial standing
The financial capacity conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and Spectroil Maintenance PSQ guidance documentation.
Suppliers and associated persons are required to register on the Central Digital Platform and share up-to-date information.
The Authority shall assess suppliers (or where relevant, a connected person), an associated person or a sub-contractor to determine whether mandatory or discretionary grounds for exclusion apply, in accordance with The Procurement Act 2023.
Please see the PSQ for full information on financial requirements.
- Technical & professional ability
The technical ability conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and Spectroil Maintenance PSQ guidance documentation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
The Spectroil Maintenance PSQ guidance document provides the details of the criteria required for suppliers to progress to ITT.
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).
Published sub-criteria (1)
- PSQ: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
- PSQ: In order to be successful at this PSQ, the Supplier must satisfy the requirements and criteria that are set out in the PSQ and Spectroil Maintenance PSQ guidance documentation.
- Economic & financial standing
The financial capacity conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and Spectroil Maintenance PSQ guidance documentation.
Suppliers and associated persons are required to register on the Central Digital Platform and share up-to-date information.
The Authority shall assess suppliers (or where relevant, a connected person), an associated person or a sub-contractor to determine whether mandatory or discretionary grounds for exclusion apply, in accordance with The Procurement Act 2023.
Please see the PSQ for full information on financial requirements.
- Technical & professional ability
The technical ability conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and Spectroil Maintenance PSQ guidance documentation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
The Spectroil Maintenance PSQ guidance document provides the details of the criteria required for suppliers to progress to ITT.
- Price carries 100 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 10 points. This one is won on the number: sharpen the price before polishing the prose.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
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
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 8 Jul 2026, 09:36 BST
- Last source update
- 31 Jul 2026, 12:56 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 26 Feb 2027
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-072698- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06c5d9Find a Tender
- How it runs
The Authority intends to conduct the Spectroil Maintenance Project through the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The Authority intends to conduct the procurement in up to three stages.
Stage 1 is the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). The PSQ will be assessed based on the selection criteria within the PSQ and Spectroil Maintenance – PSQ Guidance document. Down selection of Suppliers will be based on PASS/FAIL evaluation for the questions within the questionnaire, to determine if the supplier meets the required conditions of participation. Only the complaint suppliers shall be invited to the next stage - Invitation to Tender (ITT).
Stage 2 is the issue of the initial ITT. Shortlisted suppliers who meet the conditions of participation are invited to submit their full tender.
Stage 3 (if used) would involve issue of a modified ITT in accordance with Section 31 (2) (a). However, the Authority reserves the right to make an award following evaluation of the initial tender submissions (Stage 2) where it considers that the award criteria have been satisfactorily met, without proceeding to any further stages.
The Authority reserves the right under the Procurement Act 2023 to:
To cancel the procurement procedure at any stage.
Not award a contract as a result of the procurement process.
Make any modifications during a competitive flexible procedure, provided that the deadline to participate or submit a first or only tender has not passed (section 31(1)(b)).
Make non substantial modifications, during a competitive flexible procedure, up to the deadline of the final tendering stage (section 31(2)(a)).
Refine or supplement the award criteria during a competitive flexible procedure (section 24(1)).
The issue of the PSQ is not a commitment by the Authority to subsequently issue an invitation to tender, invitation to negotiate or place a contract. Neither does the issue of this or subsequent documents create any implied contract between the Authority and any participant, and any such implied contract is expressly excluded.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 28 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission deadline
- 28 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 24 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
8 Jul 2026 → 26 Feb 2027 · 7 dates- Planning notice published109 days ago8 Jul 2026, 09:36 BST
- Tender notice published86 days ago31 Jul 2026, 12:56 BST
- Market engagement86 days ago31 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST
This Preliminary Market Engagement Notice (PMEN) has been published to assess the current market to assist in the determination of the procurement strategy. No formal procurement has been launched, and this is not a commitment by the UK MoD to place a contract or launch a tender in the future.
Through this PMEN, the MoD seeks expressions of interest from suitably qualified suppliers. Any interested supplier with the capability and experience to deliver this service are asked to register their interest by contacting the buyer at the details provided in this notice.
This is only an expression of interest for the Authority to understand the market, suppliers are asked to only provide indicative costs if it would support the details provided, this ensures fair and open competition.
Suppliers that express an interest but are not yet registered on the Central Digital Platform (CDP) are encouraged to do so. No supplier will be given any competitive advantage through prior engagement.
- Clarification questions by62 days ago24 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Submission deadline58 days ago28 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today25 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 123 days26 Feb 2027
- Award decision expected byin 124 days26 Feb 2027, 23:59 GMT
Notice history
5 events · 2 releases on Find a Tender · since 8 Jul 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published8 Jul 2026, 09:36 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published31 Jul 2026, 12:56 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £210,00031 Jul 2026, 12:56 BST
- Status changed to active31 Jul 2026, 12:56 BST
- Procurement method changed31 Jul 2026, 12:56 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (3)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Subsequent documents shall be issued with the ITT, via DSP.
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