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Published 16 Oct 2025, 09:30 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Contractor Flying Approved Organization Scheme (Basic Remotely Piloted Air Systems) Commercial Framework

Official notice

Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)

Framework agreementServicesAbove thresholdDefence & securitySME suitable
Sectors: Transport Equipment & Vehicles (34)Architecture & Engineering (71)Research & Development (R&D) (73) Delivery: UK
Planned pipeline value£0pipeline notice, not a live tender
Tender notice expected 1 Apr 2026from the planned procurement notice
Framework period 3 yrsends 31 Mar 2030 · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensions · starts 1 Apr 2027

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) are a vital capability for Defence, requiring defence to rapidly assess, develop and use new capabilities. The aim of this PMEN is to understand the current capability of industry to be part of a commercial framework of competent and approved civilian organisations to support MOD UAS Test and Evaluation (T&E) in a more efficient way. UK MOD is seeking companies to submit proposals for the following:

-The capability to conduct UAS T&E in accordance with Regulatory Article (RA) 1031: Contractor flying approved organization scheme (basic remotely piloted air systems) (CFAOS (BR).

-The ability to gain MAA CFAOS (BR) approval within 6 months of a T&E commercial framework being established.

-Equivalence of civilian T&E qualifications to MAA qualifications required for CFAOS (BR) approval.

  • To conduct relatively short notice UAS T&E on Open - S1 platforms or system of systems.

CPV: Non-piloted aircraft · Research and experimental development services · Technical inspection services · Technical services · Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services

How this framework works

From the published notice
Framework period
3 yrs · up to 5 yrs from 1 Apr 2027

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1PlannedRenewal 3 yrsSME
Contract period: 1 Apr 2027 – 31 Mar 2030 (3 yrs) · up to 31 Mar 2032 with extensions
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligible
Extensions: Extension options published
34711200 Non-piloted aircraft71356000 Technical services71600000 Technical testing, analysis and consultancy services71631000 Technical inspection services73100000 Research and experimental development services

What it takes to win
i

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 more
What this means for your bid
  • “Contractor Flying Approved Organization Scheme (Basic Remotely Piloted…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Past planning notice
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Defence & security
Commercial structure
Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
16 Oct 2025, 09:30 BST
Last source update
16 Oct 2025, 09:30 BST
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-065784
Latest notice
Preliminary market engagement notice (UK2)
Classification (CPV)
Non-piloted aircraftResearch and experimental development servicesTechnical inspection servicesTechnical servicesTechnical testing, analysis and consultancy services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05cdb7 Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Appointment period ends
—

Timeline

16 Oct 2025 → 1 Apr 2027 · 4 dates
  1. Planning notice published375 days ago
    16 Oct 2025, 09:30 BST
  2. Market engagement346 days ago
    14 Nov 2025, 23:59 GMT

    This notice is for the Defence Uncrewed Systems Design Authority (DUxDA) to understand the current state of the market of civilian UAS T&E organisations that may operate military UAS under MAA CFAOS (BR) Regulations to undertake T&E activity. The description is deliberately high level so as not to unduly limit the scope of discussions with the market. The Authority wishes to understand the current civilian T&E UAS organisations, T&E SQEP/qualifications and supporting T&E facilities.

    The DUxDA intends to hold a industry day with interested suppliers between 19/11/2025 - 26/11/2025.

    Contact email: UKStratCom-Cap-SP-DUxDA-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk

    This notice is solely for the purpose of engaging the market to gather information. It does not constitute a call for competition or form part of any formal procurement process. Participation in this engagement will not confer any advantage or disadvantage in any future procurement, nor will it bind the Authority to proceed with any specific course or action.

  3. Tender notice expected208 days ago
    1 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
  4. Today
    27 Oct 2026
  5. Contract startsin 155 days
    1 Apr 2027, 00:00 BST

Notice history

1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    16 Oct 2025, 09:30 BST
    UK2

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Pipeline notice
Awards (0)
No award published
Contracts (0)
No contract published
Bid statistics
No aggregate bid statistics published

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Ministry of Defence

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ Whitehall, London, London, London, SW1A 2HBContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure