Spearfish Development Contract (SHDC)

Published Today

28 Oct 2026

Defence Equipment and Support

Primary CPV: 73300000 *
Design and execution of research and development
Location: 🇬🇧 Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, South West
Value: £30,000,000
Contract: 5 years Duration
01/06/2027 31/05/2032
Contract Types: 73 *Research & development services
Full CPV Breakdown
SME suitable: Not stated

Publisher Address

MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH, United Kingdom · UKK12

Contact

Michael Couch

michael.couch101@mod.gov.uk

Award Criteria

Not specified

FULL DOCUMENTATION

Related tenders

Defence Equipment and Support

All notices from this publisher

Same CPV code

73300000 *

All notices with this CPV code

Reference: 715985499

The Ministry of Defence is considering placing a Single Source contract (the “Spearfish Development Contract” (SFDC)) with BAE Systems Limited for development work in support of the Spearfish torpedo. The contract would be awarded via Direct Award to BAE Systems, based on their being the Design Authority for the Spearfish system. The justification for Direct Award is based on Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 5 paragraphs 6a and 6b. This will be a Qualifying Defence Contract (QDC) under the Defence Reform Act 2014 and the Single Source Contract Regulations 2014 The proposed contract would commence April 2027 with a five year duration (i.e. to end March 2032), and an estimated value of £30M during that period. The contract would contain three one year options to extend, giving a maximum duration of eight years (5+1+1+1)(i.e. to March 2035).

Full CPV breakdown

73300000 — Design and execution of research and development (primary)

Notice details

Buyer type: Central government
Competition: Direct award (no competition)
Contract type: Services
Procurement method: Direct award
Main category: Services
Above threshold: Yes
Legal basis: UKPGA 2023/54
Notice status: Planned
Reserved / special regime: Defence Security
Language: EN
Published: 28 Oct 2026 11:24
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-079232
Notice ID: 715985499

Full notice record

37 details

Everything the publisher included in this notice, organised by section.

Planning

Document › Document type	Planned procurement notice
Document › Description	Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
Document › Link	https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101971-2026
Document › Published	28 Oct 2026

Organisations

Name	Defence Equipment and Support
Address › Street	MOD Abbey Wood
Address › Town / city	Bristol
Address › Postcode	BS34 8JH
Address › Country	GB
Address › Country	United Kingdom
Address › Region (NUTS)	UKK12
Contact › Name	Michael Couch
Contact › Email	michael.couch101@mod.gov.uk
Role	buyer
Link	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-equipment-and-supp...
Classification › Description	Public authority - central government

Buyer

Name	Defence Equipment and Support

Tender

Title	Spearfish Development Contract (SHDC)
Item › CPV › Description	Design and execution of research and development
Item › Delivery › Region (NUTS)	UK
Item › Delivery › Country	GB
Item › Delivery › Country	United Kingdom
Value › Value incl. VAT	£36,000,000
Value › Value	£30,000,000
Value › Currency	GBP
Procedure type	direct
Procedure	Direct award
Category	services
Special regime	Defence security
Above threshold	Yes
Lot › Contract period › Start	1 Jun 2027
Lot › Contract period › End	31 May 2032
Lot › Contract period › Can be extended to	31 May 2035
Lot › Can be renewed	Yes
Lot › Status	planned
Communication › Expected publication	30 Nov 2026
Status	planned

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