Awarded without open competition
Awarded without open competition. The buyer went directly to one or a few suppliers instead of advertising the contract. Procurement rules allow this only in specific cases, such as extreme urgency, when only one supplier can do the work, or for call-offs from an existing framework.
Key facts
- Buyer
- Ministry of Defence · Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
- Supplier
- FN UK Limited SME
- Value
- £40,000,000
- Procedure
- Negotiated procedure without prior publication (above threshold)
- Sector
- Repair & maintenance · Repair and maintenance services of firearms and ammunition (CPV 50620000)
- Region
- South West
- Official notice
- View on Contracts Finder
- Timeline
-
- Contract date31 Jul 2025
- Published12 Sep 2025Published 43 days after the contract date
Description
The Dismounted Close Combat project team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place 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.
About the supplier
FN UK Limited: every public contract they have won.