AWARD OUTCOME
What happened
Defence Equipment and Support has announced a pending award to MUSKETEER SOLUTIONS LIMITED for design and production of two BBMF Lancaster aircraft hydraulic flapjack parts. The notice does not confirm that a contract has been signed or started.
Published outcomeAward 1 names MUSKETEER SOLUTIONS LIMITED as supplier for lot 1, with an award value of £650,000 excluding VAT (£780,000 including VAT). The award remains pending and the notice schedules a future signature date.
Market significanceThis is a specialist aircraft sustainment requirement for the BBMF Lancaster, covering core hydraulic flapjack cylinder and end-cap work and an optional full-unit scope.
AWARDED SUPPLIERS AND LOTS
1 supplier record analysed
MUSKETEER SOLUTIONS LIMITED
99% confidenceAward 1 · Lots 1 · 650000 excluding VAT; 780000 including VAT GBP · Pending award
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Award 1 names Musketeer Solutions Ltd as supplier. Supplier verification provides the verified legal name MUSKETEER SOLUTIONS LIMITED (company number 05599287). Award value is £650,000 amount and £780,000 amountGross.
LIFECYCLE
Award or contract stage
Published tender notice
98% confidence27 July 2026
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Release history records tender notice 070972-2026 on 2026-07-27.
Award notice published
99% confidence20 October 2026
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Award notice 099126-2026 was published on 2026-10-20.
Award status
99% confidencePending
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Award 1 status is "pending".
Standstill end
98% confidence29 October 2026, 23:59:59 UTC
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Award 1 standstillPeriod.endDate is 2026-10-29T23:59:59+00:00.
Scheduled future signature date
98% confidence6 November 2026
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Award milestone type futureSignatureDate is scheduled for 2026-11-06T23:59:59+00:00.
Stated contract period
97% confidence30 November 2026 to 30 April 2028
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Award 1 contractPeriod gives startDate 2026-11-30 and endDate 2028-04-30.
VALUES
Published values explained
Award value excluding VAT
99% confidence£650,000
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Award 1 value.amount is 650000 GBP.
Award value including VAT
99% confidence£780,000
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Award 1 value.amountGross is 780000 GBP.
Value allocation
91% confidenceAward-level value for the sole named supplier and lot 1
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Award 1 names one supplier and relates to lot 1; no separate lot value is published.
TIMELINE
Procurement timeline
Submission deadline
98% confidence17 September 2026, 12:00 BST
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Process submission_deadline is 2026-09-17T12:00:00+01:00.
Award decision date
98% confidence20 October 2026
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Award 1 date is 2026-10-20.
First required delivery
91% confidenceBy November 2026
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Requirement description states one hydraulic flapjack must be provided by November 2026.
Second required delivery
91% confidenceBy June 2027
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Requirement description states the second hydraulic flapjack must be provided by June 2027.
SCOPE
What was awarded
Requirement
97% confidenceDesign and production of two BBMF Lancaster aircraft hydraulic flapjack parts
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Tender description specifies design and production of the BBMF Lancaster aircraft hydraulic flapjack part, quantity two.
Core scope
96% confidenceHydraulic flapjack cylinder and end cap (FJC + EC)
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Tender description identifies core work for provision of the hydraulic flapjack cylinder and end cap.
Option
96% confidenceAdditional cost for provision of the entire hydraulic flapjack unit (FJA)
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Tender description states an option for the entire hydraulic flapjack unit, to be decided after contract award.
Classification
99% confidenceCPV 50211200 — Aircraft repair services
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Award item 1 lists CPV 50211200 with description Aircraft repair services.
PROCEDURE
Procedure and competition
Procedure
99% confidenceOpen procedure
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Process procurement_method_details is "Open procedure".
Above-threshold status
99% confidenceYes
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Award 1 aboveThreshold is true.
Competition information
99% confidenceNumber of tenders, bidder identities, scores and evaluation rationale are unknown
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Information not supplied in the published notice data.
CONTRACT TERMS
Published contract terms
Contract status
99% confidenceNot confirmed as signed or active
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The award is pending, and the notice contains a scheduled future signature date rather than a completed signature record.
Proposed period
97% confidence30 November 2026 to 30 April 2028
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Award 1 contractPeriod gives these dates.
Option exercise
96% confidenceAt the Authority's determination after award
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Tender description says the Authority will determine whether the full-unit option is exercised after contract award.
Subcontracting disclosure
90% confidenceRetrotec Limited is disclosed in subcontracting information
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Award 1 subcontracting details identify Retrotec Limited and provide its contact details; the notice does not state the allocated work or subcontract value.
COMMERCIAL VIEW
Commercial observations
Specialist delivery profile
92% confidenceThe requirement combines design and production work for heritage aircraft sustainment with two stated delivery milestones.
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Tender description specifies the BBMF Lancaster requirement and deliveries by November 2026 and June 2027.
Scope uncertainty
95% confidenceThe eventual scope may differ from the core requirement if the Authority exercises the full-unit option after award.
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Tender description expressly reserves the Authority's post-award decision on the FJA option.
Commercial maturity
98% confidenceThe announced value and period should be treated as pending award information until signature and contract start are evidenced.
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Award status is pending and future signature is scheduled for 6 November 2026.
DATA QUALITY
Gaps and source limitations
Award versus contract status
99% confidenceThe notice is an award notice, but the award is pending; it does not evidence a signed or active contract.
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Award 1 status is pending and futureSignatureDate is scheduled.
Value discrepancy across process fields
99% confidenceThe process-level maximum value is £562,500, while the award records £650,000 excluding VAT and £780,000 including VAT. The notice does not explain the difference.
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Process value_max is 562500 GBP; award value.amount is 650000 GBP and amountGross is 780000 GBP.
Lot detail
99% confidenceLot 1 has no published title, description or standalone value.
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Lot 1 title, description and value fields are null.
Unpublished commercial detail
99% confidencePricing breakdown, option price, technical specification, evaluation results and tender volumes are not supplied.
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Information not supplied in the published notice data.
SOURCE DATA LIMITATIONS
Information not supplied in the published notice
- The award is pending; no signed contract, completed signature or active contract status is evidenced.
- The process-level maximum value (£562,500) conflicts with the award-level values (£650,000 excluding VAT; £780,000 including VAT), and no explanation is published.
- The Authority has not confirmed whether the full hydraulic flapjack unit option will be exercised.
- Lot 1 has no published title, description or individual value.
- Information on tender volumes, evaluation scores, award rationale, pricing breakdown, extensions and renewal terms is not supplied.
- The disclosed subcontracting entry identifies Retrotec Limited but does not state its workshare, subcontract value or appointment status.
MARKET THEMES
Relevant award themes
Lancaster Sustainment Flapjack AssemblyMUSKETEER SOLUTIONS LIMITEDDefence Equipment and SupportBBMF Lancasteraircraft repair serviceshydraulic flapjackFind a Tender award
COMMON QUESTIONS
About this award
Who was named in the Lancaster Sustainment: Flapjack Assembly award?
MUSKETEER SOLUTIONS LIMITED was named as the supplier for award 1 and lot 1.
What is the published award value?
The award records £650,000 excluding VAT and £780,000 including VAT.
Is the contract signed?
No signed contract is evidenced. The award is marked pending and a future signature date of 6 November 2026 is scheduled.
What does the work cover?
It covers design and production of two BBMF Lancaster hydraulic flapjack parts, with core cylinder and end-cap work and a possible full-unit option.
ProcuraAxis award analysis supplements, but does not replace, the official award notice, contract data or procurement documents. “Awarded” does not by itself prove that a contract has been signed.