Frequently Asked Questions
What is MOD Defence Contracts Online (MOD DCO)?
Where can I learn more about the DCO application?
What is the MOD DCO Daily Email Alert?
What value of contract opportunities are advertised on the MOD DCO website?
MOD acquisition teams are required to advertise through MOD DCO their ‘warlike’ and ‘non-warlike’ requirements for goods, services or works valued at above £10,000 except where exemptions apply.
What is the cost of an annual subscription to MOD DCO?
How can I carry out additional searches on MOD DCO?
What information is required to build my MOD DCO Daily Email Alert profile?
What are CPV codes and how do I use them?
Can I use exact keywords, abbreviations, acronyms, company names, etc?
NB: Please ensure your selection is as specific as possible. It is not advisable to use words such as ‘service’, ‘information’, ‘journal’, ‘maintenance’, etc. These words are generic and will provide you with irrelevant information. Exact keywords which are contained within your profile will be highlighted in your results.
Can I monitor my competition?
Can I set my profile so that some types of contract are not supplied?
Can I set my profile so that I receive all notices from specific organisations?
How do I update/amend my MOD DCO Daily Email Alert profile?
What if I lose my password?
What statistics are provided by MOD DCO?
Does MOD DCO search both contract notices and awards?
How often is MOD DCO updated?
Is support available to answer my questions regarding MOD DCO?
What are the different types of notice I can search for?
Contract opportunities that are typically worth under £101,323 will be categorised as Competitive Contract Notices and will be classified by the ‘Nature of the Contract’ of which there are four categories: Works, Services, Supplies or Research (scientific).
Competitive Contract Notice will state the requirements of the opportunity.
ompetitive Contract Addendum will highlight any changes or amendments or provide notification of cancellation of a published Competitive Contract Notice.
Competitive Contract Notice Award will publish details of the company or companies which have been awarded the contract opportunity.
Possible Future Purchase
Possible Future Purchase notices provide companies with advance warning of forthcoming MOD tenders or contracts.
Should a purchase be decided, full documentation for the requirement will be available in due course and an announcement will appear in the usual way. Companies are invited to note the summaries of the requirements given and to register their interest, if appropriate, with the specified MOD issuing branch, quoting the project requirement title before the deadline for ‘Expressions of Interest’.
The announcement of a future requirement is not to be construed as confirmation that a tender or contract will subsequently be issued. Announcements are for information only.
Tenders Invited
This section identifies those organisations which have been invited to tender for Possible Future Purchases. The purpose of this section is to enable prospective sub-contractors and peripheral or sub-suppliers to contact tenderers directly in order to offer their services or products.
Addendum
Amendments to contracts made after their original publication are included in this section.
Contracts Awarded
The Contracts Awarded section provides notification of the award of a contract. The purpose is both to inform interested parties of the successful tenderer and to again enable prospective sub-contractors and peripheral or sub-suppliers who may have missed the Tenders Invited notice to contact the successful tenderer directly to offer their services or products.
Sub-Contract Opportunities
Sub-Contract Opportunities notices provide details of the MOD’s prime contractors’ requirements for possible sub-contract opportunities. The sub-contract opportunity will have arisen as part of an MOD prime contract. The purpose is to alert possible sub-contractors to potential opportunities to bid for MOD work as a second tier defence supplier. Prospective suppliers should contact the relevant prime contractor issuing branch/point of contact to register their interest in bidding for the requirement. If the Sub-Contract Opportunity notice provides details of companies that have been issued tenders as possible second tier suppliers, third tier suppliers should contact those companies invited to tender directly.
Existing Contracts
Existing Contracts for Specialist Term Commissions, Prime Contracts and Infrastructure Support Provider (ISP). Provides details of existing Enabling Arrangements for the defence estate, which gives specialist contractors the opportunity to offer their services direct to the contractors listed within this section.
What are the different procedure types?
Open procedure: A procedure where suppliers can apply without prior selection. The EU Directives lay down the type of criteria which can be used to eliminate unqualified or unsuitable suppliers.
Restricted procedure: A procedure where suppliers are selected by an open first-round invitation. All prospective suppliers can apply to be included in the restricted list for the contract. Those suppliers who meet the required criteria will then be invited to tender.
Negotiated procedure: A procedure where only chosen suppliers are invited to negotiate contracts. May be used in limited circumstances only – eg extreme urgency, failure of open or restricted procedures to yield valid tenders, or repetition of similar work.
Accelerated restricted or negotiated procedure: A procedure where the length of time of the procurement response process may be shortened to accommodate unforeseen circumstances and/or emergency situations.