How to win: Spearfish Development Contract (SHDC)

A services contract from Defence Equipment and Support, worth £30,000,000. Below: what it involves and how to write a winning bid for it.

Buyer

Defence Equipment and Support

Value

£30,000,000

About this contract

The Ministry of Defence is considering placing a Single Source contract (the “Spearfish Development Contract” (SFDC)) with BAE Systems Limited for development work in support of the Spearfish torpedo. The contract would be awarded via Direct Award to BAE Systems, based on their being the Design Authority for the Spearfish system. The justification for Direct Award is based on Procurement Act 2023, Schedule 5 paragraphs 6a and 6b. This will be a Qualifying Defence Contract (QDC) under the Defence Reform Act 2014 and the Single Source Contract Regulations 2014 The proposed contract would commence April 2027 with a five year duration (i.e. to end March 2032), and an estimated value of £30M during that period. The contract would contain three one year options to extend, giving a maximum duration of eight years (5+1+1+1)(i.e. to March 2035).

How to win contracts like this

✓Answer against the marking scheme, not the question text — Defence Equipment and Support scores each response, so map your evidence to the published criteria and weightings.
✓At £30,000,000, expect quality and social value to carry a large share of the score — price alone rarely wins services work.
✓Show recent, comparable delivery: name similar services contracts you've delivered for public bodies, with measurable outcomes.
✓Start early: deadlines are tight and a strong bid takes iteration.

Draft a winning bid for this — with AI

BidWriter drafts your responses from your company profile, scores them against the marking scheme, and tracks your whole pipeline. Free to start — no card needed.

Start free →

Related resources

AI bid writing software →How to win government contracts →How to write a winning bid →