Official UK procurement notice
Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) Mid Life Improvement (MLI)
Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Dismounted Close Combat project team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence is placing a 10-year contract with FN UK Ltd for the Mid Life Improvement of the Heavy Machine Gun (HMG).
This is because FN UK Ltd are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) and are the only economic entity with access to the necessary technical information, knowledge and expertise, for the HMG comprised in this contract. FN UK Ltd are also the only economic entity with the capability and access necessary to provide the required technical support to ensure it complies with the Authority’s specification, maintains the operational performance and effectiveness of the weapon system, and ability to underwrite the integrity of the modifications to the weapons systems as a result of a safety investigation.
CPV: Maintenance and repair services · Repair and maintenance services of firearms and ammunition
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1This contract will enable the Authority to undertake the Mid Life improvement…
This contract will enable the Authority to undertake the Mid Life improvement requirements for the Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) that will ensure the UK Armed Forces Commands can meet their enduring and future capability needs.
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).
- Lowest price
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32009L0081 Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (Directive 2009/81/EC)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 24 Jan 2024, 15:40 GMT
- Last source update
- 12 Sept 2025, 14:11 BST
- Authority reference
704656450- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-056222- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-043442Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to negotiated procedure with prior publication of a contract notice; The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons
- Published justification
Explanation:
In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for Technical Reasons.
This is because FN UK Ltd are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) and are the only economic entity with access to the necessary technical information, knowledge and expertise, for the HMG comprised in this contract. FN UK Ltd are also the only economic entity with the capability and access necessary to provide the required technical support to ensure it complies with the Authority’s specification, maintains the operational performance and effectiveness of the weapon system, and ability to underwrite the integrity of the modifications to the weapons systems as a result of a safety investigation.
Notice history
1 event · 2 releases on Find a Tender- Buyer details updated12 Sept 2025, 14:11 BST
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FNH UK LimitedFNHUK Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) Mid Life Improvement (MLI) Project Subcontracting: declared | £40,000,000 † | — | Awarded |
| FN UK Limited | — | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 056222-2025-704656450-1 · FN UK Limited
- Signed
- 1 Aug 2025
- Value
- —
- Status
- active
FNHUK Heavy Machine Gun (HMG) Mid Life Improvement (MLI) Project · FNH UK Limited
- Signed
- 24 Jan 2024
- Value
- £40,000,000
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1bids · 1 electronic | — | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeDispute resolution & review bodies
- DE&SReview body
Bidders & participating suppliers
2 commercial parties on the notice- FN UK LimitedAwarded supplier
- FNH UK LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.