CSV/M3-ISS - M3 Amphibious Rig In-Service Support-UK5

CPV: Mobile bridges · Repair and maintenance services of military vehicles

Procedure method

Direct award

Legal basis

UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023

Procurement category

Services

Notice status

Awarded without competition

Procurement threshold

Above threshold (FTS publication)

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

16 May 2025, 13:52 BST

Last source update

16 Apr 2026, 16:07 BST

Authority reference

CSV/M3-ISS

FTS notice number

2026/S 000-034850

Latest notice

Transparency notice (UK5)

Classification (CPV)

Mobile bridgesRepair and maintenance services of military vehicles

Delivery area in notice

Germany (DE)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-0515df Find a Tender

Why no open competition

Single Suppliers Technical Reasons

Published justification

Combat Support Vehicles (CSV), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (“the Authority”), intends to place a new contract to provide Level 4 repairs, Post Design Services (PDS), and technical assistance for the Authority’s existing in-service M3 Amphibious Bridging System (a Wide Wet Gap Crossing Capability (WWGCC)). The proposed contract shall be awarded to General Dynamics European Land Systems – Bridge Systems (GDELS-BS), the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the M3 Bridging System, with a total duration of 6 years and an estimated value of circa £10M.

This award falls to be governed by the Procurement Act 2023 (the “PA 2023”) Chapter 3, Section 41: Direct Award in Special Cases. It is considered that the direct award to GDELS-BS is lawful in accordance with PA 2023 Schedule 5, paragraph 6. This is because of (i) an absence of competition for technical reasons; and (ii) there are no reasonable alternatives to the services being procured, for the following reasons.

The M3 system is currently used by both the British and German Army in a Joint Amphibious Engineer Battalion. As part of a joint battalion, the Authority has an operational requirement for M3 bridges, as it is essential to ensure interoperability of the two systems and safe operating procedures.

The M3 Amphibious Rig is a self-deployable 4x4 wheeled vehicle that operates on land and can be deployed either as a continuous bridge or as separate mobile ferries on water, providing a Wide Wet Gap Crossing Capability (WWGCC).

GDELS-BS are the existing support provider for the M3 system and the OEM and Design Authority (DA). They are the only supplier that has the required system-specific technical knowledge, manufacturing and support information, and tools, to provide the required Level 4 repair support, PDS, and technical assistance, while also ensuring the safety of the system.

Submission deadline

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• General Dynamics European Land Systems-Bridge Systems GmbHAwarded supplierGB-PPON: PPXP-8717-HGML Barbarossa Strasse 30, Kaiserslautern, DE, 67655, DEContact emailShow contact details