Royal Navy Procurement

The Royal Navy’s procurement activities are conducted by the commercial function, which seek to harness expertise and innovation to deliver a vast range of equipment, services and technology to facilitate in protecting our nation's interests.

Commercial Function

The Royal Navy primarily procures its requirements through a combination of two main channels: the Navy Command Commercial (NCC) team and through a number of MOD Defence Commercial Delivery Agents.

The internal NCC team places and manages a diverse portfolio of contracts with a primary focus on technical support services. However, this portfolio is expanding with more diverse technical requirements such as developing technology and innovation. This includes the development of artificial intelligence software, as well as a range of services from autonomous under water vehicles, to virtual reality systems and Naval staff training solutions.

For complex or specialist procurements, the Royal Navy works closely with its MOD commercial delivery agents which include: Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), The Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Defence Digital and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

Both routes are committed to sourcing innovative, versatile and flexible solutions, maximising the expertise of the supply market, and delivering best value for money.

Vision

The Royal Navy will improve its engagement with industry, developing a closer and more transparent working relationship, providing clarity of future requirements and priorities. This will deliver best in class capabilities, military superiority and value for money through compliant and accelerated processes.

Commercial Engagement Strategy

The Royal Navy’s ambition for its commercial activity is to inject pace and flexibility, balancing risk and opportunity, and shaping strong relationships with industry and the wider MOD delivery agents.

There is recognition of the importance of early market engagement, welcoming competition, continuous improvement and encouraging innovation to deliver best value for money in order to achieve the requirements of today, tomorrow and the future.

The pace of technological change is such that the Royal Navy must change the way it engages with industry to accelerate and improve the acquisition process. This will require stronger and more structured links with industry. We are determined to improve the clarity of our requirements and are looking forward to a new chapter of improved engagement and transparency.

To this end we have introduced a number of new ways of engaging with industry since late 2020 including problem set workshops, open days, concept demonstrations and trials.

Contract Opportunities

Ministry of Defence contract opportunities can be viewed on the Defence Sourcing Portal. In addition to current contract opportunities, the Royal Navy also uses the DSP platform to publish early market engagement activities with industry such as requests for information (RFIs), prior information notices (PINs) and calling notices for industry events.

Additional information regarding DSP available here.

Future Capability Development

The Develop Directorate is responsible for designing the ‘Navy after Next’. Our collaborative relationship with industry is critical to ensure that we meet future challenges at a pace that matches the evolving threat. We run a series of events to provide clarity, certainty and most importantly opportunity, for industry to engage with Maritime Capability development at an earlier stage than has previously been the case. Maritime capability includes everything from complex platforms to our business software, and everything in between.

Industry Workshops

Royal Navy led events focussing on a particular Problem Set or Capability. A new way for industry to engage with the Royal Navy to discuss future solutions. These workshops build on the prior Maritime Enterprise Planning Group initiative.

Industry Open Days

Opportunities for industry to demonstrate to the Royal Navy new technology and innovative solutions to our problems.

Industry Event Schedule

The Navy Command Commercial team facilitate a number of industry engagement events throughout the year, typically about one a month; they are advertised widely including on the Defence Sourcing Portal.

These events, some of which run virtually and some face-to-face, often look at emerging technologies and are usually themed around key business problem areas. They not only give an opportunity for Royal Navy to understand trends in the marketplace, they also give us the opportunity to provide the market place with an insight into current strategic challenges.

One of the key objectives of these events is to increase our reach to small and medium sized enterprises. We have achieved significant success with almost 800 companies having already attended these events.

As the programme can change regularly we recommend you look for announcements on the DSP or contact Navy Commercial for more details or to be added to our mailing list.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

The Royal Navy supports the government’s plans to encourage SMEs to have the opportunity to bid for contracts, which help drive local growth and promote innovation. SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy and are a vital part of the UK defence and security supply chain. They lead the way in developing world beating technologies and services that are essential to maintaining the UK Armed Forces’ advantage in an increasingly uncertain world. Royal Navy contract opportunities, our commercial engagement strategy, and industry workshops are all being developed to reflect the important role SMEs can and do play.

More information of these plans can be found at: Government efficiency, transparency and accountability with further detailed information for SMEs including the Defence SME Action Plan available in the links below.

Contact

For queries on industry events and how to do business with us: NAVYCOMRCL-MEPG@mod.gov.uk

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