The Ministry of Defence has awarded a £4 million contract to Colt Canada Corporation for the supply of spares supporting the British military’s C8 rifle system.
The contract was issued without prior publication under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations, citing technical exclusivity.
The two-year deal, with options for three additional years, was awarded via Babcock Land Defence Ltd acting as procurement agent for the MOD. It covers supply of components for the C8 carbine, a platform in wide use by UK Special Forces and other specialist units.
According to the award notice, Colt Canada is the sole authorised distributor of C8 spares in the UK, with proprietary access to the technical specifications necessary for manufacture, testing and delivery. The MOD states that no other party possesses the design rights or capability to fulfil the requirement.
“The contract can only be awarded to Colt Canada Corporation,” the MOD justified, referencing Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011. Colt Canada has been granted exclusive rights by the original manufacturer, Colt Manufacturing, and does not share critical technical data with third parties.
This arrangement effectively prevents competition for the supply of C8 components. The award notes that the decision is legally compliant under post-Brexit procurement rules, which no longer require prior publication in the EU Official Journal.
The notice does not specify delivery schedules or volumes but confirms that pricing was the sole evaluation criterion. The contract is managed through the MOD’s Telford-based acquisition unit.
Colt Canada previously supplied the British Army’s Special Forces with the original C8 rifles and remains closely associated with ongoing support for the platform.
Excellent quality rifles, the fit between upper and lower is perfect, unlike a lot of cheaper AR’s that ‘battle rattle’!