Explosive Material Identification Procurement Project Preliminary Market Engagement Notice

The Protect Delivery Team (DT) are considering initiating two Projects to procure and support x126 Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) explosive material identification equipment, consisting of the following: a. Project 1: is planning for the procurement and support of 63 x handheld FTIR direct Sample Spectrum analysers. b. Project 2: is planning for the procurement and support of 63 x handheld RAMAN spectrum analysers. The DT is planning to run a competition via the Competitive Flexible Procedure (Procurement Act 2023) with two separate Lots for suitable suppliers to bid for both, or one of the specified capabilities mentioned in points "a and b". The DT are looking for two explosive material identification systems, Project 1 (FTIR) and Project 2 (RAMAN) technologies, which are deployable (handheld) and ruggedised, to identify the presence of Substances of Interest (SOI's) such as explosive material, narcotics and other threat chemicals during an infrastructure search. The capabilities will need to allow direct sample and through barrier identification respectively, to give as close to immediate indication of the presence or lack of SOI's including explosive material for common and bespoke threat substances, or components thereof, permitting subsequent activity. It is the Authority's intent to invite participation from suppliers who can demonstrate they are commercially compliant and can meet the technical requirements of being able to support Project 1 and / or Project 2. Which includes through life technical support, including software and maintenance updates. The Authority intends to release a Project Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) associated with this opportunity, currently scheduled for August 2025. Please note this is an estimated date and subject to change. It is the Authority's intention to award a Contract for each lot for the delivery of equipment and 10 years of In-Service Support including options for a supplier to deliver this requirement and provide maintenance, training and supportability (through life support) for each capability. The project has a forecasted through-life value of ~£8m (ex VAT). Project 1 (Lot 1) forecasted through life value of £3.800M (ex VAT). Project 2 (Lot 2) forecasted through life value of £4.200M (ex VAT). The Authority will be conducting all applicable advertising and potential procurement exercises via the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). Interested parties are strongly encouraged to review the information published by DSP. Interested parties will need to gain access to DSP to ensure they acquire the most up to date information. Please note the Authority has conducted historic engagement in the form of a request of supplier briefs and meetings at DSEI 2023 under Reference '708941450 Procurement and In-Service Support for a Person-Portable Identification Capability for Particles, Vapours and Bulk Explosive Material' - FTS Ref: 2023/S 000-025471 - Contracts Finder Ref: f45580e9-cd4a-4a3f-bd8a-236bb3382a2d A Preliminary Market Engagement Notice Reference 2025-042630 was also published 9th May 2025 requesting Supplier Briefs.