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Selling to government: what it means for defence and dual-use start-ups
How can a dual-use start-up sell to the Ministry of Defence?
Updated 6 November 2026 from public records. 12 items below.
At a glance
- 12 records from the last 120 days, 8 naming defence and dual-use directly
- No consultation on this open right now
- Latest record: 5 November 2026
Since February 2025 the Procurement Act 2023 has governed how most public bodies buy. It is meant to make bidding easier for small firms, and government has set targets for how much it spends with them. For a start-up selling to the public sector, the rules, the frameworks and the pipeline of contracts are all moving at once. The Act on legislation.gov.uk.
What it means for your start-up
Defence and security contracts have their own rules within the Procurement Act, and the Ministry of Defence has set up UK Defence Innovation and new routes to buy from smaller and newer suppliers. For a dual-use start-up, the hard parts are finding the right route in and meeting security requirements such as Cyber Essentials before a contract arrives.
What to do now
- Register on the government's Central Digital Platform, which suppliers need in order to bid under the Procurement Act.
- Get Cyber Essentials in place early, which most defence contracts require, and Cyber Essentials Plus if your contracts carry higher cyber risk.
- Follow UK Defence Innovation's calls and the defence pipeline notices to see what is coming.
Latest from government
Marked: mentions defence and dual-use directly.
- Innovative Defence Financing Taskforce – Terms of Reference
The new taskforce is charged with maximising the contribution of private and international finance to UK defence, and to further procurement reforms that support innovative financing. - SME/VCSE public procurement bid pack
Explains what to expect, how to prepare, where to find opportunities, how to decide whether to bid, and how to present your strengths. - Event Management Framework 1
Guidance for contracting authorities on how to access and use the Event Management Framework 1 (EMF1). - Public procurement and competition: supporting growth and innovation
Two papers by the CMA on achieving more effective public procurement.
In Parliament
Marked: mentions defence and dual-use directly.
- What assessment she has made of the potential merits of a referral to the National Security Unit for Procurement in respect of manufacturers designated by the…
Asked by Dame Chi Onwurah (Lab). Public Sector: Procurement — The national security provisions in the Procurement Act 2023 are not targeted at any individual country, and the threat is assessed on a case-by-case… - Whether he plans to issue an update on the MOD Acquisition Pipeline.
Asked by James MacCleary (LD). Ministry of Defence: Procurement — The previous MOD Acquisition Pipeline publication on GOV.UK has been withdrawn. Information on planned Defence procurement activity is published… - What steps he is taking to reduce the public spend in offshore companies.
Asked by Jim Shannon (DUP). Government Departments: Procurement — The government is ensuring that public procurement delivers the best value for taxpayers by protecting national security, enhancing supply chain… - What reforms are being made to procurement pathways to accelerate the delivery of sovereign capabilities.
Asked by Stuart Anderson (Con). Defence: Procurement — The Department is using the flexibilities of the Procurement Act 2023 to support trusted supply chains, including British-based suppliers, where necessary to… - What steps they are taking to (1) incorporate domestic content requirements, and (2) support UK textile manufacturers, with regard to public procurement…
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick. Armed Forces: Uniforms — The Ministry of Defence is considering how it can best take advantage of the greater flexibility under the Procurement Act 2023 for Defence and Security… - What procurement activity has been undertaken in relation to the potential operation of asylum accommodation at Site A at MoD Bicester.
Asked by Calum Miller (LD). MOD Bicester — No final decision has been made as to whether to use MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation and no contractual agreements have been awarded to run or use the site for asylum… - What work is being undertaken to reduce levels of regulatory requirements to support the warfighter.
Asked by Stuart Anderson (Con). Armed Forces: Regulation — This Government is reducing regulatory burdens on procurement through the implementation of procurement reforms that simplify the procurement framework,… - What discussions her Department has had with the Cabinet Office about buying British-manufactured goods in local government procurement.
Asked by Phil Brickell (Lab). Local Government: Procurement — Local authorities are responsible for their own procurement decisions, within the framework set by the Procurement Act 2023 and the National Procurement…
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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0. General information, not legal advice.