MOD to award £4.1m contract for gun mount spares

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has published a transparency notice signalling its intention to award a four-year contract to ISTEC Services Limited for the supply of universal gun mount spares and associated items.

The deal, valued at £4.1 million excluding VAT (£4.92 million including VAT), is scheduled to run from 5 November 2025 until 4 November 2029.

The contract will ensure the continued availability of critical components for the C6 platform’s universal gun mount systems, which are used across a variety of UK Armed Forces weapon installations. These mounts provide stability, aiming precision and integration for crew-served weapons, and the supply of high-quality spares is essential to maintain their performance in demanding operational environments.

The MOD notes that ISTEC Services Limited is uniquely positioned to deliver the requirement, stating: “ISTEC Services Limited is the manufacturer and is the sole distributor of spares which support C6 Platform components. ISTEC Services Limited own the rights to the technical specifications required to undertake the manufacture, testing and supply and they do not share this knowledge/expertise with any third party.”

Because of this exclusive technical position, the MOD has opted for a direct award procedure, declaring that it is lawful “for technical reasons in accordance with section 41(6) of the Procurement Act 2023 utilising Schedule 5 paragraph 6.” The notice further states: “ISTEC Services Limited is the only contractor with significant niche expertise, technical ‘know-how’ and acquired specific experience to source quality spares and manage the supply chain/delivery process for this requirement.”

Under the arrangement, ISTEC will be responsible for manufacturing, testing and supplying the required spares, as well as managing the delivery process to ensure timely availability. This support is vital for sustaining weapon mount readiness and reducing downtime for front-line units.

Babcock Land Defence Limited is acting as the MOD’s agent for the procurement, with ISTEC continuing in its role as both the original equipment manufacturer and sole distributor. The transparency notice, issued under the UK5 procedure, is published after the award decision but before contract signature, and is intended to meet the disclosure requirements of the Procurement Act 2023.