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Published 9 Sept 2026, 14:53 BST

Official UK procurement notice

UK05 - Validation and Review of the Army’s Physical Employment Test

Official notice

Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)

Direct awardSME suitable
Sectors: Education & Training (80) Delivery: Delivery location not published
Awarded value£300,000published award · exc. VAT
Award in standstill Not publishedno call for competition
Award (standstill) to UNIVERSITY OF CHICHESTER

What is being bought

Published requirement description

This requirement is to conduct a validation and review of the Army’s Physical Employment Test, formally known as the Role Fitness Test (Soldier), to ensure it remains fit for purpose, evidence-based, and legally defensible.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1AwardedSME
Eligibility: SME eligible
80320000 Medical education services

Procedure 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
Standard
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
9 Sept 2026, 14:53 BST
Last source update
9 Sept 2026, 14:53 BST
Authority reference
715916474
FTS notice number
2026/S 000-085460
Latest notice
Transparency notice (UK5)
Delivery area
Not published
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f5cf Find a Tender
Why no open competition
Single Suppliers Technical Reasons
Published justification

The Ministry of Defence are seeking to place a direct award contract under PA23 with the University of Chichester. The purpose of the contract will be to re-validate the findings produced by University of Chichester under previous Army contracts to determine whether the Army's Physical Employment Test and Role Fitness Test (Soldier) remain operationally relevant, scientifically valid, legally defensible, proportionate, and practicable against contemporary military tasks and employment demands.

The University possesses the required background and technical knowledge/experience to undertake the work required and have conducted similar work for the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and NATO. They also conducted the original testing which underpins the current PES and RFT(S) and hold the existing research, methodology, technical reports, assumptions and development history for the requirement. As such the MOD have opted to utilise Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023: Abscence of competition for technical reasons for this procurement.

Notice history

2 events · 1 release on Find a Tender · since 9 Sept 2026
  1. Transparency notice published
    9 Sept 2026, 14:53 BST
    UK5
  2. Contract signature expected
    30 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
    scheduled

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1some still in standstill
Awarded value £300,0001 award exc. VAT
Awarded toValueDateStatus
UNIVERSITY OF CHICHESTERValidation and Review of the Army’s Physical Employment Test30 Sept 2026 – 1 Apr 2028£300,000—Standstill

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Ministry of Defence

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ Monxton Road, Andover, South East, SP11 8HJContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice
  • University of ChichesterAwarded supplierGB-COH: 04740553 Bishop Otter Campus, College Lane, Chichester, South East, PO19 6PEContact email

Official documents & specifications (1)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure

  • Transparency notice awardTransparency noticeUK5Transparency notice on Find a Tender