Working with DE&S
Our defence industrial supply chain is just as critical to keeping our nation safe as our UK armed forces on the front-line. We work with businesses, ranging from large, established international companies to small, specialist niche providers, to help us deliver on our mission.
There are strict procurement rules which govern how we issue contracts which ensure fairness and value for the taxpayer. We work closely with trade associations, including ADS, Make UK and techUK, to ensure businesses are provided with information with any opportunities available. More information can be found below.
Defence Sourcing Portal
The Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) is an e-sourcing platform and one-stop-shop for contract opportunities, tendering and information on doing business with the whole of the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Tender and contract opportunities valued over £10,000 are advertised on the DSP. Access and registration to bid for MOD opportunities on the DSP is free of charge and suppliers are also able to publish their sub-contracting opportunities on the portal. DSP also hosts important announcements for industry. Suppliers will be sent alerts via email with opportunities that are relevant to their industry, as well as emails informing them of market engagement events/webinars and MOD announcements that may be of interest.
Contracts finder portal
The MOD also advertises on the Government’s Contracts finder portal. This is where central government departments and other public bodies advertise tender and contract opportunities valued at £10,000 and above. Access to Contracts Finder is free of charge.
Future Capability Innovation
The Future Capability Innovation (FCI) team is one of the key drivers behind innovation exploitation at Defence Equipment & Support, where a team of over 100 talented minds who develop and test cutting edge concepts and capabilities. From Harnessing the power of robotics autonomous systems to accelerating the use of advanced manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The FCI exists to work collaboratively with Military customer and other teams in the MOD to turn ideas into military operational advantage, working at pace to put battle winning technology into the hands of our Armed Forces so they have the advantage on land, at sea and in the air. It also exists to trial new ways of working which other parts of DE&S can build upon.
Its remit is wide ranging, generally involving helping UK Armed Forces to make informed decisions, technically and commercially de-risk concepts, requirements and technical solutions, usually in the pre-concept phase of acquisition.
Want to work with FCI? Send your enquires to DESFCG-SLT@mod.gov.uk
Have a great idea that you think could solve a Defence challenge?
The ideas marketplace is an online networking collaboration platform for UK-registered innovators and organisations to discuss, collaborate and share ideas to meet defence and security challenges.
The ideas marketplace enables innovators to get their ideas in front of an array of government stakeholders and end-users (including DE&S), other parts of industry and academia.
Through the ideas marketplace businesses can:
- Access over £250 million in specialist government funding
- List your ideas on the ideas marketplace (UK registered companies only)
- Get notifications about updates to available funding opportunities.
Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF)
The Defence Suppliers Forum (DSF) is the primary MOD-Industry engagement mechanism for discussion on strategic topics. It is a key enabler for Industry and Government, working together, to achieve the Government’s Defence Industrial Strategic aims and for developing collaborative responses to new and emergent issues and challenges.
To express interest in the DSF, please complete the Expression of Interest Form (please note clearance is required to attend any meetings within the DSF), you may then have the opportunity to receive an invitation to join the DSF Communications Forum, the primary gateway to access the DSF. The DSF Communications Forum communicates key messaging and priorities from MOD and wider Government to MOD’s strategic, mid-tier and SME suppliers.
Corporate information
DE&S is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. Find out more about DE&S by reading our most recent corporate documents.
