BiP Solutions was established in 1984 to facilitate business between the public and private sectors.

Defence Contracts Online

Through a 16-year partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) as official publishers of their contract information, BiP provides a range of defence-specific products and services to assist private sector businesses to successfully compete in the defence marketplace.

MOD Defence Contract Information Services

MOD Defence Contracts Online (DCO - www.contracts.mod.uk) is the official online source of UK Ministry of Defence contract opportunities, giving private sector suppliers access to all UK MOD contracts of all values, in one place. Access to MOD DCO is completely FREE and registered suppliers can search for contracts 24/7.

By registering for free and entering keywords/phrases into their unique supplier profile, registrants will also receive tailored daily email alerts directly to their inbox containing the latest UK MOD contracts that match their defence product and service offering.

The aim of the MOD Defence Contracts Online service is to guide organisations through some of the steps they will need to follow to sell to the UK Ministry of Defence, while providing a gateway to new contract opportunities for both large and small organisations wishing to compete for defence business, either directly as a prime contractor or indirectly as a sub-contractor.

To register your business today, visit www.contracts.mod.uk and follow the simple supplier registration process.

Defence Contracts Bulletin

Published in association with two key UK Ministry of Defence procurement agencies – Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) – MOD Defence Contracts Bulletin (MOD DCB) is read by organisations that are serious about engaging effectively with the UK MOD as a supplier, as well as by the UK MOD’s own buying community.

Through this fortnightly publication, readers gain access to a wealth of UK MOD contract opportunities and key defence market intelligence, including:

• All UK MOD contracts valued above £10,000;
• A unique insight into the UK MOD’s spending plans;
• The UK MOD’s ongoing and upcoming equipment projects;
• Future UK MOD requirements;
• UK MOD procurement policies;
• Key defence industry analysis and features;
• Exclusive interviews and commentary from key UK MOD and defence personnel.

Defence Contracts International

Defence Contracts International (DCI) is the premium source of information on defence contract opportunities and a world leader in providing key defence and security contracts in the UK, Europe and worldwide.

Our dedicated business intelligence research department search over 400 independent sources every day, and we receive direct feeds from the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and Fedcon to provide unrivalled defence contract information that keeps your business on top of what’s happening in global defence markets.

Defence is one of the world’s most lucrative industry sectors, with thousands of defence and security contracts published each year. With a DCI subscription, you can also enjoy direct access to contracts from other related sectors, such as:

• Homeland Security
• Humanitarian Aid
• Counter Terrorism
• Emergency Services
• Aerospace
• Aviation

Access to these further defence-related contract opportunities will undoubtedly allow you to further expand your business within existing and new defence marketplaces.

Other key benefits from having a DCI subscription include:

• Your own interactive dashboard, allowing you to flag contracts of interest and track opportunities for tendering;
• A unique supplier profile, tailored to your exact needs to ensure you receive only the most relevant opportunities;
• Daily email alerts containing the latest contracts published, along with live alerts for new contracts published throughout the day – keeping you at the forefront of new opportunities;
• Dedicated Account Management throughout your subscription year*, providing the best service possible and ensuring you receive maximum return from your investment;
• A gateway to further contract opportunities of a similar nature, from non-defence buyers.

DCI is ideal for organisations of all sizes, from SMEs seeking defence business opportunities in their own regional areas to major multinational players looking to capture as large a share as possible of the global defence market.

Annual subscriptions start from as little as £280 per year.

To find out more about how Defence Contracts International can help your business grow, simply visit www.dcicontracts.com today, or to speak with a Defence Business Growth Advisor call 0845 270 7092. We’re open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

*Our Account Management Team fully support subscriptions over the value of £500 only.

Defence Procurement Events and Exhibitions

BiP Solutions also delivers a range of defence-focused exhibitions and training events throughout the UK each year.

The Defence Procurement Research, Technology and Exportability 2013 exhibition is a one-day event that will showcase innovative defence procurement for buyers and suppliers.

Taking place on Wednesday 20 November 2013 at the University of the West of England Exhibition and Conference Centre, DPRTE 2013 will provide the buyer and supplier communities with a unique opportunity to interact across a single platform in order to enhance effective collaboration and competition in all areas of defence research and technology.

Delegates will discuss the future shape of the defence sector, as represented by:

• Defence Agencies
• Central Government
• Academic Institutions
• UK MOD Project Teams
• European Partners
• Prime Contractors
• 1st and 2nd Tier Sub-Contractors
• SMEs and Micro SMEs

Exhibiting suppliers will enjoy:

• Promoting their capabilities to over 1000 buyers as well as end users;
• Identifying opportunities to transfer technology into new markets;
• Exploring international markets;
• Identifying potential partners and funding opportunities;
• Engaging with academia to understand the latest technology concepts.

For more information on this unique and innovative showcase event, visit www.dprte.co.uk

Our Procurement Advice and Support Service (PASS) is the training arm of the business and delivers a Selling To Defence workshop in various UK locations.

The one-day workshop aims to inform delegates of the vision for the future of UK defence and the implications of the ongoing changes within UK MOD procurement, including the recently announced ten-year equipment spending plan, with the ultimate goal being to assist delegates in developing their strategy and defining processes to win business within the defence sector.

Topics covered include:

• Understanding the UK Procurement Regulations;
• Selling to Defence – the UK MOD’s Perspective;
• Defence and Security Exporting – Support for Small Businesses:
• The Do’s and Don’ts of Tendering

The event is fully supported by the UK MOD, with dedicated speakers from Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) as well as the UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO).

To find out more about the Selling To Defence workshop, as well as dates and venues, visit www.passprocurement.com/events

Spray Applied Force Protection

PAXCON [PX-3350], developed by LINE-X is an advanced spray applied polymer coating formulated to mitigate the effects of a bomb blast.

The Effects of Blast Mitigation

PAXCON is sprayed on the exterior and interior of the supporting walls and is touch dry in seconds. During a bomb blast PAXCON mitigates the effects of the explosion by providing a flexible liner that absorbs the force of the blast and holds the fragmented wall together.

PAXCON has been put through extreme testing by the Air Force Research Laboratory. Testing involved 9’x9’ panels, one uncoated and the other coated with PAXCON which were exposed to bomb blasts at a distance of 35ft. The PAXCON coated panel survived this test whilst the non coated panel disintegrated as a result of the blast.

Futher tests constructed by the Air Force research lab provided evidence that walls coated in the PAXCON material can reduce the stand off distance by over 50%.

The tests also indicated that PAXCON was the only coating that passed all bomb blast testing out of the 27 coatings that were tested.

After the 9/11 attacks in America LINE-X developed PAXCON to help protect current and future assets from attack.

The US Pentagon was one of the first major Government buildings to specify PAXCON “to protect the Pentagon against potential impacts and bomb blasts.”

Blast Resistant Coatings Protecting Military, Civilian and
Government Buildings

PAXCON coatings are currently protecting military, civilian and government building across the globe. Applications can include underground car parks, banks, large postal offices, airport baggage handling centres and new architectural projects.

PAXCON can also be specified  for new builds and applied during the construction of the site. Once the structural walls have been built, PAXCON applicators go on site to spray the polymer coating onto the prepared wall. With rapid touch drying time of only a few seconds PAXCON does not hold up the construction process of the site. Once the coating has been sprayed, the carpenters, builders and plasterers can carry on with their duties almost immediately.

LINE-X Protective Coatings Ltd also have a structural and masonry retro fit program where existing buildings/structures can have PAXCON applied to the substrate of the supporting walls, making them resistant to particular forms of bomb blast.

The retro fit program includes PAXCON being applied to lightweight structures such as plywood panelling and timber stud walls as well as heavyweight masonry structures made from brick or blockwork.

PAXCON polymer coatings will adhere to most well prepared substrates including wood, steel, fiberglass and dyneema.

PAXCON Provides Anti-Terror Protection

PAXCON Blast Mitigation is an integral part of security planning. When security fails to prevent acts of terrorism PAXCON is there to save and protect targeted assets from terrorist attempts. PAXCON should be integrated into your anti-terrorism package to protect your assets when other preventative measures have not succeeded.

Enhanced Polymer Coatings for Ballistic Protection

Blast Mitigation is one of many coating solutions provided by LINE-X Protective Coatings Ltd. LINE-X Spall Liner [PX-2100] is a spray applied coating that absorbs the impact from projectiles preventing both the projectile and the armoured plating from creating spall.

Spall is the name given to fractured elements from a projectile or armoured plating that occur when that projectile impacts at high speed with the armoured plating. These fractured elements when dispersing are the cause of a large volume of injuries to many of our soldiers.

The flexibility and absorption that LINE-X Spall Liner offers when applied to armoured panels eradicates the splintering effect by cushioning the impact and entrapping the fractured elements.

Impact Absorbtion Qualities

The LINE-X spall liner has been engineered from specially formulated polymers to allow a certain degree of flexibility and durability to be able to absorb the impact from high speed projectiles when coated onto armored panels.

These advanced polymers have allowed the LINE-X to produce a spray-on Spall Liner for armoured vehicles to be used in conjunction with Dyneema and similar armoured panels which is significantly lighter and more cost effective than armouring with steel plates.
Other Spall Liner applications include the coating of Breastplates and Gun Turrets. LINE-X Spall Liner is currently being used on both the strike side and reverse side of Dyneema, Ceramic and Armour Plated panels.

Advanced Armoured Vehicle Coatings

LINE-X applications are being specified and carried out on several military and ‘blue light’ fleets due to the many advantages LINE-X coatings have to offer.

The ballistic properties are obviously one of the key attractions of the LINE-X Spall Liner material, which is able to provide advanced, lightweight  armoured protection at a lower cost to the usual methods of up-armouring vehicles. This coating also offers plenty of hidden gems including rust and corrosion prevention, resistant to most chemicals; it is easily maintained, and offers a non-skid surface.

Military vehicles operate in harsh and rough terrains, which have a tendency for rocks, stones and debris to be thrown up causing damage to the vehicle. The superior durability of the LINE-X range of coatings have lead to many military fleets adopting LINE-X as their choice of protective coating, in order to prevent exactly this type of damage from occurring.

UK “Blue Light” fleets have started to adopt the LINE-X coating as a Van Liner for the added protection of preventing projectiles such as scaffold poles being forced through the standard metal side panels of the van as well as providing a non-skid surface that is easily jet washed back for cleanliness.

Since decades the Losberger Group has worked on design, development and manufacturing of an extensive and comprehensive range of tents and halls for our customers in the fields of special events, business, civil defense and military operations at the highest levels of quality, service and after-sales. Losberger Rapid Deployment Systems is the result of a merger of the companies TMB, Bachmann and Autoflug Inflatable Structures.
Losberger RDS is the military subsidiary of Losberger France SAS, former Walter SAS and has been successfully supplying products for the civilian emergency, disaster control, humanitarian relief, decontamination and military markets for over 20 years.

Our expertise in these sectors is a result of bespoke patented designs and the highest standards of manufacturing, well-trained and experienced craftsmen and the use of the finest quality of materials.  Most RDS structures are designed for military use and can be rapidly deployed to provide fast and effective protection to people and valuable equipment. In the event of an emergency or where there is a requirement for immediate deployment, Losberger Rapid Deployment Shelters can supply a variety of products that are suited for short or long term use.  Losberger RDS offers global solutions, from an initial design proposal, to supply, installation and maintenance.  Most of our products have a NATO stock number.

Fast Deployable Shelters (AMD)

The ultra-fast deployable AMD shelters are designed primarily to serve as maintenance shops, but perform equally well as meeting rooms or reception and conference areas. The AMD is packed on a trailer, a container platform or semi-trailer with a hydraulic self-erecting system.

The covered floor space is 60m², 120m², 250m² or 340m², depending on the model. Assembling an AMD is ultra-fast: for instance, the AMD 60 is deployed in less than 10 minutes by just one person.

Modular Shelter Systems (P16)

Modular shelters are primarily used as dry air storage, maintenance halls or serve as garages. Permanently or semi-permanently installed, they are anchored to a flat platform. They may also be installed and weighted down by steel/concrete blocks or water tanks.

Complete waterproofness makes it possible to control the interior humidity of the shelter. Access is made possible through 1 or 2 fully opening gable ends or via roll-up doors (4.50 m x 4.50 m).
These shelters can be transported in 20’ containers or on aircraft pallets.

Inflatable Tents (TAG NG 42)

The TAG inflatable NG tent is ready for use in just a few minutes thanks to its inflatable frame. The speed and ease of deployment make the TAG NG ideal as medical posts, command centers and emergency shelters for example. Its weatherproof and robust construction, along with a set of accessories, ensures the TAG NG's efficient use on any type of terrain and climatic condition. All tents can be carried by hand to the place of use. One or two persons using an electric inflator install the inflatable TAG NG tent in less than 5 minutes. Thanks to their modular design, the tents can be connected to each other in any direction (gable doors and side doors). The tent is made of durable fire and UV resistant PVC coated polyester fabric, using HF welding to construct the cover and floor into one enclosure.

Mobile Hospital/Field Hospital (Field Hospital TAG NG)

A first field hospital has been supplied to the Italian Red Cross of Lombardy in 2002. This hospital was configured out of tents ranging in size from 40 to 100 m², in compliance with the requirements of the Italian Ministry of Defense. The advantages were, above all, rapid deployment and modularity. A 42 m² tent can be erected by just 2 people in 3 to 5 minutes. The modularity of the structures allowed a suitable layout of the field wards and operation theatres depending on the circumstances of the location. The hospital has been used since for several missions and emergencies (Larino, Iraq, Sri Lanka). The cooperation with personnel of the Italian Red Cross of Lombardy who lived and worked in the structure was crucial for perfecting the product. Based on the feedback from the various field missions, the R&D and design department has focused all efforts on improving the tents on numerous details. The result of the cooperation with the Red Cross is the New 2007 Field Hospital. The next-generation pneumatic structures are perfect in modularity, durability and ease of maintenance. We supply inflatable field hospitals, whether or not in combination with (expendable) container for the OT, ICU and ablution for example, from a 2-bed medical post to a 150-bed and fully equipped turnkey solution.
Our inflatable field hospitals are in use by armies, emergency response units and humanitarian aid organizations around the world.

Inflatable Military CBRN Tents

Inflatable CBRN tents for collective protection of people against NBC threats.
These tents combine the rapid deployment of a TAG NG inflatable tent with a sealed NBC liner.

The living area inside the tent is over-pressured with filtered air. The entrance is fitted with an over-pressured air lock. The fabric NBC liner protects the persons inside against all toxic chemicals for a minimum of 24 hours.

Military Dome Shelters for Protection

Domes are dedicated to the protection and cover of sensitive equipment such as radars, missiles, vehicles or helicopters under extreme climate conditions. Composed of a galvanized steel frame and a heavy-duty PVC coated fabric caver, the domes are available in standards diameters of 9, 11, 13, 16 and 20 meters. The dome shelters can open extremely fast: operated by an electric gearbox, the opening and closing of the dome takes less than 3 seconds and is fitted with a manual safety system. Our specialized technicians provide worldwide service and support for all the systems we supply.

Portable Aluminium Roadways, Runways and Helipads
for the Defence Industry

FAUN Trackway Limited, based on the Isle of Anglesey, North Wales, is the defence division of Europe’s number one municipal vehicle manufacturer, FAUN KIRCHHOFF GRUPPE.

FAUN Trackway designs and manufactures a range of high-quality portable access systems for use in military and civilian disaster and emergency relief operations at its internationally accredited production facilities in the UK.

Unbeaten in all trials, FAUN Trackway’s products are used in more than 40 different militaries worldwide. FAUN Trackway products were initially designed and developed for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). Now its products are widely used in a variety of humanitarian and disaster relief operations, where rapid access to cut-off areas is essential.

The utility and mining industries use FAUN Trackway products to explore areas where access would otherwise be impossible. FAUN Trackway employs a team of highly skilled engineers dedicated to exploring new product designs and working alongside future and existing customers to create bespoke solutions to their problems.

Portable Military Roadways

Heavy Ground Mobility System (HGMS)
and Medium Ground Mobility System (MGMS)

FAUN Trackway produces two complete portable roadways solutions: Heavy Ground Mobility System (HGMS) and Medium Ground Mobility System (MGMS)

The Trackway® on the HGMS has full capability of carrying loads of up MLC 150 dependent on ground conditions, and has approval for indefinite use with M150 loaded vehicles at ground condition of  3% California Bearing Ratio (CBR).

50m of M150 Trackway® can be deployed in under 10 minutes.

HGMS allows vehicles to move with ease over difficult terrain conditions such as sand, snow, mud, swamp and ice helping to speed mobility and protect assets.

HGMS can also carry an additional 50m TRACKWAY®, towed behind the chassis on a trailer. This enables longer roadways to be laid quickly and connected easily.

FAUN Trackway’s Medium Ground Mobility System (MGMS) consists of the same key elements as HGMS. MGMS comprises 32-metre lengths and can be deployed in under 6 minutes by two people.

Like all FAUN Trackway products, MGMS is unbeaten in all trials and can withstand repeated loads of up to 30 tonnes. It is most appropriate for vehicles with pneumatic tyres and can also be used with JCB and specialist dispenser for beach landings.

Temporary Runways and Helipads

FAUN Trackway has three aluminium panelling designs suitable to create Forward Operating Pads for Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft – the Helicopter Landing Mat.

They are designed to alleviate brown out while marking out a clear landing area.

Aircraft Landing Mat (ALM)

FAUN Trackway’s Aircraft Landing Mat (ALM) is a rapidly deployable expedient runway for longer term temporary installations.

Rapid Runway Repair (RRR)

FAUN Trackway’s Rapid Runway Repair (RRR) mats enable critical sections of an airfield to be repaired in order for flying operations to be resumed following an enemy attack.

Bespoke Engineering Solutions

Trackway® continues to invest heavily into the research and development of new products.
FAUN Trackway’s team of engineers work close with key partners such as the UK’s Ministry of Defence – to which it is a prime contractor – as well as leading military institutions such as the U.S military’s Engineer Research and Development Centre (ERDC), in order to develop bespoke solutions to individual problems.

The EFASS (Expeditionary Forces Aircraft Shelter System)

RUBB Buildings Ltd is an innovating world leader when it comes to the design, manufacture and delivery of relocatable military structures.

With an assortment of military buildings currently deployed in action across the globe, Rubb has the answer to all your military application needs.

Military Hangars

The EFASS (Expeditionary Forces Aircraft Shelter System) is designed to be rapidly deployed and erected anywhere in the world, providing a robust, reliable and field maintainable building to support military requirements in areas of typically difficult terrain and harsh climatic conditions.

It is also fully demountable for repeated erect, strike and store cycles.

Rapid Erect and Demountable Soft-Walled Shelters

Each hangar is constructed using a number of steel fabricated components together with uniquely designed aluminium roof and leg sections, that bolt together to form the span trusses.

When assembled, insulated PVC fabric sheets slide between the aluminium extrusions of adjacent spans to form the shelter.

Fixed Wing Aircraft Hangars

FASS shelters are available in three spans with multiple state-of-the-art door options to accommodate fixed wing aircraft, rotary wing aircraft and land vehicle maintenance.

Spans include 11.1m, 20.4m and 25m with Fast Jet, Heli, Trident and Roller Shutter Door options.

If required hangars can be equipped with a 2000kg gantry crane, facilitating maintenance operations and craft manoeuvrability around the hangar without additional plant.

Military Helicopter Hangars

The 25m option is large enough to accommodate maintainance of a CH-147 Chinook helicopter without removing the rotors.

Shelters are designed to take full wind and snow loads to UK Defence Standards.

Personnel accommodation is available by attaching one of the Rapid Deployment Shelter range, complete with improved insulation, sun screen, ground sheet, polypropylene interlocking floor and electrics, to the universal door port of the EFASS.

Military Storage and Maintenance Buildings

Rubb’s military buildings range also provides the ideal solution to storage and maintenance needs in the field. Ventilation and HVAC options provide the ideal working environment in extreme weather conditions.

The experts at Rubb are always advancing new technology and a new 21.5 x 7m Heli-Door is the latest development.

They are currently working on a wider span and lower door concept for hangars to house Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Design Criteria

• Designed to wind loads of VE41.6m/sec (93mph) and 100kg/m² (20.48lbs/²’) snow load.
• To be packed into 20’ ISO containers to allow for all modes of shipment.
• Selection of the highest quality materials to ensure durability.
• Weight management policy to ensure minimal weight of components for shipment and handling by erect and strike crews.
• Standardisation of parts.
• High UV protection.

Accessories include:

• Ballistic Protection
• Lighting
• Lightning Protection
• Aircraft Warning Beacons
• Power Outlets
• Dividing Curtains
• Ventilation Modules
• HVAC
• Single Skin
• Double Skin/Insulation
• Foundation Bolts
• Ballast Frames

Rubb Buildings Ltd was founded in 1977 and has been successfully meeting Urgent Operation Requirements for military organisations since the Falklands conflict.

The EFASS range of military structures is manufactured at the company’s plant in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear.