How to sell to or work with Dstl
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-25)

As a supplier, find out how to work with us. There are various routes you can follow.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) work with a range of suppliers to provide customers with the best science and technology, research and capabilities to protect the UK’s security and advance the UK’s defence interests.

Our work (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dstls-areas-of-work-programmes-and-project-portfolios) covers everything from space to artificial intelligence.

View recent rules shaping how public bodies buy goods and services (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/information-and-guidance-for-suppliers) (in place from 24 February 2025) and additional guidance for defence and security contracts (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-act-2023-guidance-documents-plan-phase/guidance-defence-and-security-contracts-html)

Check out our 18-month forward pipeline (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-acquisition-pipeline) of future potential procurement activity by Dstl and the MOD

Understand the government’s vision for UK defence in the Strategic Defence Review 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-strategic-defence-review-2025-making-britain-safer-secure-at-home-strong-abroad)

Who we work with

We work with external suppliers unless there’s a clear reason not to: see our criteria for science and technology procurement decision process (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criteria-for-science-and-technology-procurement-decision-process)

Suppliers can be small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and they don’t have to have worked with Dstl, the MOD or in the defence sector before.

SMEs: A guide to working with government (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/smes-a-guide-to-working-with-government) provides advice for small and medium sized enterprises on how to bid for and win government contracts.

The Dstl SME action plan 2020 to 2025 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dstl-sme-action-plan-2020-to-2025) tells you more about what we are doing to make it easier for SMEs to work with us, including:
- providing clearer guidance
- making sure our framework supply partners advertise sub-contracting opportunities
- simplifying our contracting process
- ensuring that SMEs are paid promptly (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/prompt-payment-policy)
Benefits of working with us

Suppliers will have the opportunity to:
- work with top scientists and technologists at the cutting edge of innovation
- benefit from increased funding for defence
- test and improve concepts with input from members of the armed forces
- benefit from the experience and expertise of our framework supply partners
- gain access to state-of-the-art facilities for development and testing
- retain intellectual property rights, boosting longer-term prosperity
- have a real impact on improving the UK’s security and defence
Work with Dstl (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzrPZJRm5OI)

Before you work with us

We expect suppliers to do all of the following:
- adhere to all applicable laws (including UK data protection legislation (https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/accountability-and-governance/guide-to-accountability-and-governance/accountability-and-governance/contracts/))
- maintain the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in their business dealings
- comply with the Government Commercial Function codes of conduct (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supplier-code-of-conduct)
- comply with Dstl’s quality requirements (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dstl-quality-policy)
- comply with security requirements (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/security-requirements-for-selling-to-or-working-with-dstl) for selling to or working with Dstl
Suppliers should also be aware of guidance on trading with the EU (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/webinars-and-videos-for-organisations-that-trade-with-the-eu), and that UK procurement rules are set to change (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/transforming-public-procurement) with the removal of 350 EU laws (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/350-eu-rules-to-be-ditched-creating-simpler-more-flexible-and-transparent-procurement).

Dstl reserves the right to exclude a supplier who has been convicted of any of the offences or misconduct listed in either the MOD or Dstl ‘statement relating to good standing.

How to sell to or work with us

You can either sell directly to Dstl, or be part of the wider Dstl supply chain, working with our existing framework supply partners.

Sell directly to Dstl

By default we buy all goods and services through open competition, as set out in UK law for public sector procurement (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-sector-procurement), and follow MOD’s procurement process (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence/about/procurement) (we do not currently use MOD’s contracting, purchasing and finance (CP and F) system).

We do not operate ‘preferred’ supplier lists.

How open competition works

The following will usually happen in a typical competition:
- We advertise our requirements.
- Suppliers complete a pre-qualification questionnaire (the pre-qualification stage can be skipped for certain requirements).
- If suppliers meet the pre-qualification selection criteria, we invite them to tender.
- We evaluate tenders using pre-agreed, objective assessment criteria, and also take account of social value (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0620-taking-account-of-social-value-in-the-award-of-central-government-contracts) in our evaluations.
- We choose a supplier or suppliers based on this assessment.
- We award the contract to the successful bidder and give feedback to all suppliers who want it.
Find opportunities to sell to or work with us

Our contract notices make it clear when opportunities are suitable for consortia to tender. For example, smaller companies can collaborate with other SMEs to meet the requirements.

Search portals

Search the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) (https://www.contracts.mod.uk/web/login.html) for tender and contract opportunities valued over £10,000 (access and registration is free).

Search the Contracts Finder portal (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder) for contracts valued over £12,000. This portal includes opportunities from other government departments and public bodies (access is free of charge).

Sign up to R-Cloud

Sign up to R-Cloud (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/r-cloud) a system that matches suppliers’ capabilities and skills to our requirements. If matched to a requirement, we invite suppliers to express their interest in the opportunity and take part in a competitive tender process.

Explore other options

The Defence and Security Accelerator (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-and-security-accelerator) occasionally runs funding opportunities on our behalf.

We also operate a number of PhD programmes (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/phd-research-funding-from-dstl). We welcome applications to PhD level research calls from UK institutions with leading academics, research groups or research centres, including public sector research establishments (PSREs).

Below £10,000

Requirements below £10,000 are often one-off projects. These are procured or bought in accordance with Dstl’s policy for low value purchasing.

Be part of the government supply chain

Suppliers can join one of our framework agreements to become part of the government supply chain.

The frameworks are:
- Analysis for science and technology research in defence (ASTRID) framework
- Serapis framework, covering C4ISR (command, control, computers, communication, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), space systems, synthetic environments and simulation technology
- Weapons sector research framework (WSRF)
For further details including when frameworks start and finish and which supplier to contact, go to our procurement framework page (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dstl-science-and-technology-procurement-frameworks).

View our science and technology portfolio (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-science-and-technology-programmes-and-projects), details of purchasing agreements (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-framework-library-list-of-purchasing-agreements) (frameworks) and wider MOD opportunities for suppliers.

View our capability framework guide.

Framework supply partners

Please advertise sub-contracting opportunities on the Defence Sourcing Portal (https://www.contracts.mod.uk/web/login.html).

Supply our infrastructure

Our capital works and construction projects range from £1 million to £300 million. We also use existing public sector frameworks wherever possible.

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) frameworks
- RM6088 - Construction Works and Services (https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6088)
- RM6165 Construction Professional Services (https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6165)
- RM6184 Offsite Construction Solutions (https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6184)
You can search for existing suppliers on relevant frameworks and lots.

To become a supplier through CCS you have to respond to a contract notice and succeed in the tender process - the contract notice will explain how to register your interest in a tender.

Southern Construction Framework (SCF)

Join their framework or sign up to their portal (https://southernconstructionframework.gov.uk) for access to access available opportunities.

SCAPE

Frameworks include Civil Engineering, National Construction and Consultancy frameworks. Find out about their live procurements and supply chain opportunities (https://scape.co.uk/live-procurement).

Pagabo

Construction, professional services and civil engineering frameworks. Find out how to become a Pagabo framework supplier (https://pagabo.co.uk/upcoming-pagabo-frameworks/).

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-infrastructure-organisation) (DIO) delivers our hard and soft facilities management. Their procurement pipeline (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dio-procurement-pipeline) sets out what they plan to buy.

If you are successful

If you are awarded a public sector contract (including any we advertise), the details of your contract might be published under transparency regulations (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-and-contracting-transparency-requirements-guidance). The criteria for redactions will be in line with the exemptions set out by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). We will assess applications with suppliers.

Intellectual property

We protect our partners’ intellectual property (IP), but we reserve the right for UK government to use the results of research and development.

Licence our technologies

You can also licence some of our technologies through the Easy Access IP (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/easy-access-intellectual-property) scheme, or via Ploughshare Innovations (https://www.ploughshareinnovations.com/) which was formed in 2005 to commercialise and exploit Dstl’s intellectual property generated from its research.

Be aware of risks connected to working internationally

For academics (https://www.npsa.gov.uk/specialised-guidance/trusted-research/trusted-research-academia), the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) have produced some guidance aimed at raising awareness of risks associated with working internationally. They also have guidance for industry (https://www.cpni.gov.uk/secure-business).

Contact us

Find out more about who we are and what we do (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-science-and-technology-laboratory/about), or:

email us: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

subscribe to our regular supplier email (http://eepurl.com/pFZ69) for the latest science and technology news, events, development in our work, information about new and existing contracts and case studies

sign up for webinars (https://dstlsearchlight.eventbrite.co.uk/) which highlight exciting new opportunities and explain how to bid for work (email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) for more information)

Register your interest in working with us

Register your interest in working with Dstl (https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PPFNGD5)