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<p>Between publication of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) in November
2015 and 31 March 2017, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) awarded nearly 150 contracts
with a value of more than £10 million. Around 20 of these are worth more than £100
million, with none over £1 billion. These figures do not include extensions to existing
contracts, for example the Type 26 manufacture contract or the revised UK Military
Flying Training System agreements. Information about contracts awarded during the
2017-18 financial year is still being validated, so a full picture of new contracts
awarded since 1 April 2017 is not yet available.</p><p> </p><p>Records are not held
centrally for all of these contracts and therefore comprehensive information could
be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, available records show that none
of the contracts over £100 million awarded during that period included specific criteria
relating to National Security Objective 3. For some contracts, the issues outlined
in the objective had been considered but not explicitly rendered into the award criteria.
Others were awarded on a single-source basis and, for some, contract award criteria
had been set prior to publication of the SDSR.</p><p> </p><p>National Security Objective
3 covers an extensive range of subjects in relation to promoting UK prosperity: strengthening
relationships with international partners, creating a more open, innovative defence
sector, enhancing support to exports, and investing in skills and capabilities. The
wide-ranging nature of the objective therefore means it is difficult to condense into
a set of contract award criteria with relevant weightings. Instead, officials responsible
for procuring defence capabilities are expected to consider these issues throughout
the procurement process, from setting requirements through to awarding a contract
and beyond.</p><p> </p><p>The steps we are taking to help further promote UK prosperity
will be outlined in more detail in our forthcoming refreshed defence industrial policy.
This will include information on how our approach to defence procurement is designed
to help the UK's defence and security industries grow and compete successfully.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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