Official UK procurement notice
Surface Assets Storage and Maintenance
Authority: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Authority has awarded a follow-on contract to L3 Harris, to provide storage, maintenance and repair services for a number of Authority owned surface vessels.
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedProcedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Direct award
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- 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
- 25 Jun 2025, 10:37 BST
- Last source update
- 30 Dec 2025, 15:13 GMT
- Authority reference
RQ0000071886- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-086473- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-055320Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
- Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
- Published justification
Continuation of technically specialist services, IP issues and timescales.
This is a follow-on contract for the Storage, Maintenance, Operation and Repair of the Maritime Autonomy Surface Testbed (MAST) assets. Service provision is required immediately.
MAST assets are complex system-of-systems that provide an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) system capability. L3 Harris has unique SQEP specific to the Dstl-owned systems (which incorporate L3Harris and Dstl owned IP). They have a detailed knowledge of the system and can fulfil the role of 'Design Authority' to safely design vessel modifications for trial requirements (including integration of Third Party software, sensors and payloads), can safely operate the USV and ensure compliance with legislation, primarily the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Workboat Code, and the Ministry of Defence Certification requirements.
The MAST is a complex system of systems, which is software intensive. The software architecture includes software elements, with IP owned by Dstl and by L3Harris ASV distributed inextricably throughout. The expertise required to develop and integrate systems is the USP of L3 Harris and no other 3rd party would be able to get access to this due to the systems proprietary nature. The Dstl owned software cannot function without the OEM software.
Given the complex technical nature of the MAST systems and the IPR issues, any alternative supplier would introduce an unacceptable level of technical and project management risk to this procurement.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- —
Timeline
12 Dec 2025 → 30 Dec 2025 · 2 dates- Standstill ends318 days ago12 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Notice published300 days ago30 Dec 2025, 15:13 GMT
Notice history
5 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 25 Jun 2025- Transparency notice published25 Jun 2025, 10:37 BSTUK5
- Transparency notice published15 Jul 2025, 10:34 BSTUK5
- Contract award notice published3 Dec 2025, 11:19 GMTUK6
- Contract signature expected15 Dec 2025, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published30 Dec 2025, 15:13 GMTUK7
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-06: 1 release · 25 Jun 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| L3HARRIS MAPPS LIMITED, L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES UK LIMITED, L3Harris Autonomous Surface Vehicles Limitedjoint award16 Dec 2025 – 31 Mar 2026 · up to 31 Mar 2029Extensions: Additional storage and maintenance years: FY26/27, 27/28, 28/29 · Options: Additional storage and maintenance years: FY26/27, 27/28, 28/29 | £968,625 | 2 Dec 2025 | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 1 · L3HARRIS MAPPS LIMITED, L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES UK LIMITED, L3Harris Autonomous Surface Vehicles Limited
- Signed
- 17 Dec 2025
- Value
- £968,625
- Period
- 17 Dec 2025 – 31 Mar 2026 · up to 31 Mar 2029 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- 3 options for additional years of storage and maintenance FY26/27, FY27/28, FY28/29
- Options
- 3 options for additional years of storage and maintenance FY26/27, FY27/28, FY28/29
No agreed KPIs: Due to the scope and nature of this contract KPIs were assessed as offering no proportionate or practical benefit. Contract performance will instead be managed through contractual terms and ongoing operational oversight. As this contract is below the £5m threshold, KPIs are not mandatory.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
4 commercial parties on the notice- L3 Harris ASVAwarded supplier
- L3HARRIS MAPPS LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES UK LIMITEDAwarded supplier
- L3Harris Autonomous Surface Vehicles LimitedAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender
- Transparency notice Transparency notice on Find a Tender