Official UK procurement notice
714597452 - Handheld Metal, Low Metal Detector
Authority: Defence Equipment and Support (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe requirement is for the procurement and in service support of approximately 800 Handheld Metal, Low Metal Detectors.
The in-service support shall include, but not limited to provision of spares, repairs, servicing and maintenance, training, obsolescence management.
The detectors have the following requirements:
The handheld Metal, Low Meatal detector capability shall be a single handheld sweep detector, to provide a crush wire, metal, low metal, detect capability.
The capability shall be Man-portable, deployable and robust for deployment in all environmental climates and at all scales to detect and locate the presence or absence of Explosive Ordnance (EO) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
The equipment shall be supportable over a 10-year period from Initial Operation Capability (anticipated 1 years post contract award) with the ability to procure additional systems if required during this time. The contract shall be a total of 11 years (7 years + 4, 1 year options)
The highest classification of the requirements and data managed through the In-Service Support of Handheld Metal, Low Metal Detector contract is OFFICIAL SENSITIVE.
The Cyber Risk level for this procurement is VERY LOW. The Risk Assessment Reference (RAR) is RAR-287051598. A full description of the Cyber Risk levels is available at DEFSTAN 05-138. Potential Providers should make themselves familiar with the requirements against the profile assessment for this risk level.
- How the procedure runs: The Handheld Metal, Low Metal Detector is currently being procured through the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 ('The Act'). The following steps to arrive at contract award decision are as follow; Project Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) –The top 6 compliant suppliers with the highest technical scores shall be invited to Invitation to Tender (ITT). PSQ reference - https://contracts.mod.uk/go/884863250196AA31CA05 Invitation to Tender, the evaluation shall have two stages; Paper Based evaluation – the top 3 compliant suppliers with the highest technical scores will progress to confirmation trials. Confirmation Trials – the proposed solution shall be tested against specific system requirements as set out in the ITT. Full information on how the procurement procedure, including evaluation criteria, strategy and stages of evaluation shall be provided within the ITT and Tender Notice. The Authority reserves the right under the Procurement Act 2023 to: To cancel the procurement procedure at any stage. Not to 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))
CPV: Bomb detectors · Metal detectors
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1CancelledRenewalPublished value£36,347,259
- Economic & financial standing
The legal and financial capacity conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and PSQ supporting documentation.
Suppliers, associated persons and tier one suppliers are required registered 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 section 1.11.1 on the PSQ for full information on financial requirements.
Stage 1 - Qualification (Pass / Fail)
Part 1 –Confirmation of core supplier information
Documentation
Preliminary SI Basic Information
Confirmation of CDP SI Basic Information
Part 2 – additional exclusion information
Associated Persons
List of all Intended Sub-Contractors
Subcontractors CDP Information
Part 3 – conditions of participation
Electronic Trading
Financial Assessment
- Technical & professional ability
The technical condition of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and PSQ supporting documentation.
Stage 2 – Technical (Pass / Fail and Scored)
Part 3 – conditions of participation
Sustainable Procurement
Russian / Belarusian Entities
Insurance
Data Protection
Technical Ability and Project Experience
Experience of Sub-contractor Management
Health and Safety
Tackling Modern Slavery in Supply Chains
Questions where a ‘fail’ or a score of 0 will result in exclusion from the competition have been clearly identified within the evaluation criteria against each question in PSQ and PSQ supporting 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).
Published sub-criteria (1)
- Conditions of Participation - PSQ: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
- Conditions of Participation - PSQ: Suppliers will be evaluated in two stages, Stage 1 - Qualification and Stage 2 - Technical, only suppliers that pass Stage 1 - Qualification shall be deemed compliant and progress to Stage 2 - Technical evaluation. Stage 1 - Qualification (Pass / Fail) Part 1 –Confirmation of core supplier information Documentation Preliminary SI Basic Information Confirmation of CDP SI Basic Information Part 2 – additional exclusion information Associated Persons List of all Intended Sub-Contractors Subcontractors CDP Information Part 3 – conditions of participation Electronic Trading Financial Assessment Stage 2 – Technical (Pass / Fail and Scored) Part 3 – conditions of participation Sustainable Procurement Russian / Belarusian Entities Insurance Data Protection Technical Ability and Project Experience Q1 – Equipment Delivery – Scored – 20% Q2 – Quality – Scored – 20% Q3 – Project Management – Scored - 20% Q4 – Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) – Scored – 20% Q5 – Safety – Scored – 20% Experience of Sub-contractor Management Health and Safety Tackling Modern Slavery in Supply Chains Questions where a ‘fail’ or a score of 0 will result in exclusion from the competition have been clearly identified within the evaluation criteria against each question in PSQ and PSQ supporting document.
- Economic & financial standing
The legal and financial capacity conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and PSQ supporting documentation.
Suppliers, associated persons and tier one suppliers are required registered 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 section 1.11.1 on the PSQ for full information on financial requirements.
Stage 1 - Qualification (Pass / Fail)
Part 1 –Confirmation of core supplier information
Documentation
Preliminary SI Basic Information
Confirmation of CDP SI Basic Information
Part 2 – additional exclusion information
Associated Persons
List of all Intended Sub-Contractors
Subcontractors CDP Information
Part 3 – conditions of participation
Electronic Trading
Financial Assessment
- Technical & professional ability
The technical condition of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and PSQ supporting documentation.
Stage 2 – Technical (Pass / Fail and Scored)
Part 3 – conditions of participation
Sustainable Procurement
Russian / Belarusian Entities
Insurance
Data Protection
Technical Ability and Project Experience
Experience of Sub-contractor Management
Health and Safety
Tackling Modern Slavery in Supply Chains
Questions where a ‘fail’ or a score of 0 will result in exclusion from the competition have been clearly identified within the evaluation criteria against each question in PSQ and PSQ supporting document.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Cancelled
- 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
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 15 Apr 2025, 09:50 BST
- Last source update
- 24 Jun 2026, 13:19 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 20 Apr 2026
- Authority reference
714597452- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-019314- Latest notice
- Procurement termination notice (UK12)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-0502f9Find a Tender
- How it runs
The Handheld Metal, Low Metal Detector is currently being procured through the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 ('The Act').
The following steps to arrive at contract award decision are as follow;
Project Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) –The top 6 compliant suppliers with the highest technical scores shall be invited to Invitation to Tender (ITT). PSQ reference - contracts.mod.uk/go/884863250196AA31CA05 ↗
Invitation to Tender, the evaluation shall have two stages;
Paper Based evaluation – the top 3 compliant suppliers with the highest technical scores will progress to confirmation trials.
Confirmation Trials – the proposed solution shall be tested against specific system requirements as set out in the ITT.
Full information on how the procurement procedure, including evaluation criteria, strategy and stages of evaluation shall be provided within the ITT and Tender Notice.
The Authority reserves the right under the Procurement Act 2023 to:
To cancel the procurement procedure at any stage.
Not to 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))
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 17 Jun 2025, 14:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 17 Jun 2025, 14:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 3 Jun 2025, 14:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
PSQ responses should be submitted by the Authority using the DSP by the deadline. Responses submitted via any other medium will not be accepted or considered. contracts.mod.uk ↗
PSQ reference can be found here - contracts.mod.uk/go/884863250196AA31CA05 ↗
Timeline
15 Apr 2025 → 24 Jun 2026 · 8 dates- Planning notice published15 Apr 2025, 09:50 BST
- Tender notice published7 May 2025, 11:29 BST
- Clarification questions by3 Jun 2025, 14:00 BST
- Submission deadline17 Jun 2025, 14:00 BST
- Next notice expected202 days ago8 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Award decision expected by190 days ago20 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts161 days ago20 May 2026, 00:00 BST
- Latest notice published126 days ago24 Jun 2026, 13:19 BST
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 15 Apr 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published15 Apr 2025, 09:50 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published7 May 2025, 11:29 BSTUK4
- Status changed to active7 May 2025, 11:29 BST
- Procurement method changed7 May 2025, 11:29 BST
- Procurement termination notice published24 Jun 2026, 13:19 BSTUK12
- Status changed to cancelled24 Jun 2026, 13:19 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| supplier not published | — | 14 May 2026 | Cancelled714597452 - Handheld Metal, Low Metal Detector has been terminated. After careful consideration, the decision has been made following changes to the requirements, which have rendered the current procurement unsuitable for continuation. |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: PSQ Supporting documentation - 714597452 - Conditions of Participation Assessment Methodology - Handheld Metal, Low Metal Detector provided in the PSQ.
Notices published for this procedure
- Procurement termination notice Procurement termination 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