Official UK procurement notice
Passenger Short Term Air Supply System (PSTASS)
Authority: Defence Equipment and Support (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionProvision of spares and Post Design Services including ad hoc tasking, repairs and modifications for Passenger Short Term Air Supply System, to provide on going support to the current in-service capability.
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
- 9 Feb 2026, 14:27 GMT
- Last source update
- 14 Sept 2026, 15:06 BST
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-086968- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-064b4cFind a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Intellectual Property Exclusive Rights; Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
The Air Enablers Delivery Team, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to award a contract to Apeks Marine Equipment Ltd for the provision of spare parts and post design services for the Passenger Short Term Air Supply (PSTASS - 'the System') which is carried by passengers on rotary wing helicopters (Wildcat, Chinook, Merlin and Dauphin NS) and provides air in th event of an emergency where the helicopter sinks under water. The contract will be for a term of 2.5yrs and has an estimated value for £455,000 including VAT.
It is consdered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in para. 6 of Sch. 5 (single supplier - technical reasons) applies.
This is because Apeks Marine Equipment Ltd. is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the System and has supported it since was introduced into service in 2007. Only the OEM has the technical expertise, including designs, drawings and data packs, to maintain a vital piece of safety equipment and meet Military Aviation Authority (MAA) airworthiness requirements. There are no reasonable alternatives.
Notice history
6 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 9 Feb 2026- Transparency notice published9 Feb 2026, 14:27 GMTUK5
- Transparency notice published10 Feb 2026, 09:12 GMTUK5
- Transparency notice published14 Jul 2026, 14:44 BSTUK5
- Transparency notice published14 Jul 2026, 14:50 BSTUK5
- Contract signature expected14 Aug 2026, 23:59 BSTscheduled
- Contract details notice published14 Sept 2026, 15:06 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2026-02: 2 releases · 9 Feb 2026, 10 Feb 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| APEKS MARINE EQUIPMENT LIMITEDSME1 Sept 2026 – 1 Mar 2029 · up to 30 Sept 2028Extensions: One 6 month Option · Options: The contract is for 2 years but includes an option to extend for a further 6 months at the Authority's discretion. · Amended: Incorrect Procurement title, Changed the Procurement title of this notice. Changed the Direct Award Justification text to: The contract will be for a term of 2 years plus one 6 month option and have an estimated value of £233,000 including VAT. · Amended: Incorrect Procurement title, Changed the Procurement title of this notice. Changed the Direct Award Justification text to: The contract will be for a term of 2 years plus one 6 month option and have an estimated value of £233,000 including VAT. · Amended: Missing Changes to Notice information: Value adjusted to £455,000 inclusive of recoverable VAT. Estimated date contract will be signed changed to 14/08/26, contract start date to 01/09/26, end date to 01/03/29, option to extend and option removed. Direct Award Justification text changed to: The contract will be for a term of 2.5 years and has an estimated value of £455,000 including VAT. | £379,167 | — | Standstill |
| APEKS MARINE EQUIPMENT LIMITEDSME | — | — | Awarded |
Contracts
The provision of spares and Post Design Services (PDS) for the Passenger Short Term Air Supply System (PSTASS) · APEKS MARINE EQUIPMENT LIMITEDSME
- Signed
- 1 Sept 2026
- Value
- £378,333
- Period
- 1 Sept 2026 – 28 Feb 2029
- Status
- active
4 agreed KPIs: KPI 1 – On Time Delivery · KPI 2 – Planned Post Design Services · KPI 3 – Tasking Responses and Completion …
- KPI 1 – On Time Delivery, Deliver goods in full and on or before the agreed delivery date as per Purchase Orders, in accordance with WP1 and Schedule 14 (PSTASS Spares’ List).
- KPI 2 – Planned Post Design Services, Arrange, hold, and provide minutes of all scheduled meetings within agreed timeframes as per WP2 and paragraph 11 of the SOR.
- KPI 3 – Tasking Responses and Completion, Timely response to Tasking Proforma Part 1 and completion of tasks within agreed timescales, as per WP3 and the Tasking Authorisation Form (Sch 11).
- KPI 4 – Annual Core Deliverables, Timely submission of: Statement of Good Standing Cyber Risk Assessment ISO 9001:2015 Quality Plan (within 3 months of Contract Award) Cyber Improvement Plan implementation
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Apeks Marine Equipment LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (5)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender