The UK government is launching a competition for military grade communications hardware and software in a tender worth up to £9.6 billion ($12.5 billion) including tax.
A procurement notice called for vendors to come forward with “specialized military grade tactical communication and information systems, including hardware, software and associated design and implementation and support services”.
It said the kit could be “deployed in active battlefield environments for critical real-time operational tactical communications”.
Under a framework agreement — an arrangement under which the public sector commits to an indicative volume in spending while suppliers agree pricing — contracts could be worth up to £9.6 billion including VAT, and £8 billion excluding VAT. The contract is expected to run from 10 June 2026 to 9 June 2034.
In a supplier briefing, officials said the tendering process is being run and managed by Crown Commercial Services, the government procurement unit run within the Cabinet Office. The Ministry of Defence is the design lead and will be the primary user, though the framework will be available to others in the UK public sector, including the police, fire brigades, ambulance services and the coast guard (Blue Light services).
As an aside, this creates a curious question. Keen readers will remember Blue Light services are in the middle of one of the most disastrous tech projects in government history: to build a new secure voice and data network and linked devices.
The 4G-based Emergency Service Network is set to be up to 12 years late and has seen its expected budget more than double to £11 billion ($13.92 billion). Delays have meant some services have sought alternative tech upgrades as a stop-gap, and, potentially, the new deal for "Tactical Communication Systems" could offer another option.
Officials said the new framework agreement would be opened to competition every two years to allow new suppliers on board and renegotiate pricing. They said systems provided would mainly serve land tactical environment, but they must also be capable of being used on air and maritime platforms, and interoperate with systems in those domains, as well as other government departments and coalition allies.
The emphasis is on tactical communications, but the framework is also expected to provide information and data processing and communications, "everything from intercom telephony and half duplex radio voice services to complex information and data processing and distribution and all the infrastructure services and hardware that support user-facing functions," one official said. ®
Source: The register