Published date: 19 November 2025

Last edited date: 19 November 2025

Open early engagement - This means that a procurement idea is currently active, it is in the early stage of development and judging interest from potential suppliers.


Closing date: 15 December 2025

Contract summary

Industry

  • Military research and technology - 73410000

Location of contract

BS34 8JH

Procurement reference

tender_512494/1533156

Published date

19 November 2025

Closing date

15 December 2025

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

UK government is acting on the Strategic Defence Review's recommendations by investing in an 'always on' pipeline for munitions including building at least six new energetics and munitions factories in the UK.

The User requires the manufacture of the following Energetic Materials:

· RDX (Bachman or Woolwich)

· HMX

· Trinitrotoluene (TNT)

· Nitrocellulose (NC)

· Nitroglycerine (NG)

· Nitroguanidine (NQ)

· Hexanitrostilbene (HNS)

· Ammonium Perchlorate (AP)

· Boron Potassium Nitrate (BKNO3)

Other materials in the following classes: High explosives, Propellants, Ignitors, Detonators, Pyrotechnics, may be considered on an exceptional basis. Proposals will be sought which demonstrate economic and technical viability with capital available for investment.

Additionally, the Authority welcomes expressions of interest from consumers who wish to establish a supply of these materials for current facilities (domestic or exports) or aim to establish a capability in the UK which will rely on them.

Overview:

The Strategic Defence Review sets out the ambition of moving to warfighting readiness through a whole-of-society approach ensuring an engine for growth through a new partnership with industry, radical procurement reforms, and backing businesses to establish and grow in the UK.

The MoD aims to achieve this through a coherent set of significant multi-year investments in onshore energetic materials synthesis through UK-based or overseas-based suppliers. These investments will typically form part, but not all, of the funding required for the establishment of a facility.

During the formal tender documentation process, suppliers should consider how they will generate UK growth. Companies with established order books/markets will be prioritised. Proposals must demonstrate that they are economically and technically viable to progress.

Consideration should also be given to:

1. The scale of the proposed facility and the market demand required to support it:

1.1 Proposals should assume a range of scenarios such as surge demand and reduced or minimal UK MoD demand.

1.2 Other offtakes, such as exports and civilian markets, should be considered and are expected to form the majority of the demand signal. UK government, via the MoD's Defence Exports team, will actively support export campaigns.

2 Economic viability including fluctuating demand and market prices.

2.1 Proposals should be economically viable as further support funding for facilities is not envisioned.

3 The level of investment required (VROM) and how this will be raised:

3.1 Including internal company investment and external venture capital

3.2 It is expected that MoD funding will not form the majority of funding for proposals.

4 Wider requirements to establish a facility including:

4.1 Regulatory

4.2 Skills

4.3 Export support (including UKEF)

4.4 Technology

4.5 Sites

More information

Previous notice about this procurement

Strategic Defence Review - Energetics Information Notice

  • Early engagement
  • Published 19 November 2025, last edited 19 November 2025

Additional text

Next steps are for suppliers to register their interest in one-to-one engagements with MOD in Q1 2026 via the email address shown below. Companies should provide a 15 minute pitch covering proposed materials, scale and approach to manufacture, as well as economic viability.

Formal tender process is targeted to commence in Q1 2026.

Proposals which can demonstrate economic and technical viability with available capital for investment will be prioritised. For viable proposals, further support in the following areas may be available: identifying sites, engagement with regulators, export support, energy relief under the Energy Intensive Industries (EII) Compensation Scheme, and access to R&D funding sources.

Suitable proposals will be invited to complete a funded feasibility study (subject to commercial and affordability requirements). Details of what is involved in this feasibility study will be provided in the initial meeting.

Companies that continue to demonstrate technical and financial credibility and a commercially viable proposition will be invited to complete a funded Front End Engineering Design (FEED) -again subject to commercial and affordability requirements.

Following successful competition of a FEED and on final agreement of wider commercial terms required for investment a contract may be placed for MoD investment into the production facility (factory).

Timelines will be dependent on the complexity of the proposals. MOD anticipates that construction will begin in 2026.

How to apply

Follow the instructions given in the description or the more information section.

About the buyer

Address

MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
England

Email

des-wpnscwp-fcap-energetics@mod.gov.uk