Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • SSRO updates non-competitive defence contracts' pricing and reporting guidance

Defence

SSRO updates non-competitive defence contracts' pricing and reporting guidance

The Single Source Regulations Office (SSRO) has published updates to its pricing and reporting guidance, following consultation with stakeholders.

Image courtesy SSRO

In January 2024 the SSRO published new pricing guidance to support the implementation of changes to the single source regulatory framework, which came into force on 1st April 2024. It consulted stakeholders between January and April 2024, seeking feedback on the new guidance. Following consideration of consultation responses it has published updated guidance on:

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT
  • Alternative pricing types
  • Allowable Costs
  • The baseline profit rate (BPR) and its adjustment

These updated guidance documents provide contracting parties with:

  • Support to use alternative pricing methods for contracts which allows non-competitive defence contracts to be priced in new ways. For example, an item can be priced by reference to competitive markets: simplifying and speeding up procurement.
  • More flexibility and transparency through broadening the ability for a contract to be split into different components or parts, each with its own profit rate and price (known as componentisation). This allows contract prices to better reflect the risk-sharing between the MOD and defence contractors.
  • A rationalisation of how the contract profit rate is calculated, removing two steps from the previous six-step process and simplifying the agreement of contract profit rates.

Reporting guidance
Alongside the pricing guidance, SSRO published its response to the consultation on the updated reporting guidance, which helps contractors submit statutory reports following the legislative changes made on 1st April 2024. The consultation also included minor changes to the compliance methodology.

SSRO issued the guidance and the proposed change to the compliance methodology in advance of concluding this consultation to give stakeholders time to familiarise themselves as early as possible and to allow their feedback to be based on initial use. Stakeholders were generally supportive of the changes which the SSRO has made.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Following consideration of consultation responses we have published updated reporting guidance on:

  • Contract reports 
  • Supplier reports
  • DefCARS functionality

To read more about how SSRO have responded to what stakeholders said during the consultation period, see the consultation response. An explanation of the changes made across the three guidance documents are explained in Appendix 1 of the consultation response document.

Application of the guidance
This new and updated pricing and reporting guidance will apply to qualifying defence contracts and qualifying sub-contracts entered into or amended from Thursday 10th October 2024.

To assist stakeholders in understanding the guidance changes, SSRO have included in the consultation response document a table that shows where the previous guidance text has been revised.

Queries relating to the guidance should be addressed to helpdesk@ssro.gov.uk

Advertisement
PTC PTC
Royal Navy establishes autonomous minesweeping capability

Defence

Royal Navy establishes autonomous minesweeping capability

4 July 2025

The Royal Navy has - for the first time - established an autonomous minesweeping capability, after new systems were delivered to help combat the rapidly evolving threat of naval mines.

Serco appoints Keith Williams as Chair

Aerospace Defence Security Space

Serco appoints Keith Williams as Chair

4 July 2025

Serco has appointed Keith Williams to the Board as a Non-Executive Director and Chair designate.

BAE Systems to continue developing AFRL

Defence

BAE Systems to continue developing AFRL's BATDOK

4 July 2025

The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has selected BAE Systems to continue development and support deployment of the Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distributed Operations Kit (BATDOK) via the new Force Optimization through Rapid-prototyping, Gear Enhancements & Innovative Technology (FORGE-IT) programme.

Boeing appoints Stephen Parker as CEO of BDS

Defence Security Space

Boeing appoints Stephen Parker as CEO of BDS

3 July 2025

Boeing has appointed Stephen (Steve) Parker as president and chief executive officer of its Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business, effective immediately.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025
Lancashire aims at advancing cyber-enabled defence and security

Defence Security Events

Lancashire aims at advancing cyber-enabled defence and security

3 July 2025

Over 200 senior business leaders, investors, policymakers and academics from across the UK gathered this week at the Lancashire Cyber Festival to discuss Lancashire’s opportunity to become a global leader in cyber-enabled defence and security.

Airframe Designs aligns with US NCAMP standards

Aerospace Defence Security

Airframe Designs aligns with US NCAMP standards

3 July 2025

Airframe Designs has aligned its material systems with the US National Centre for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP) which works with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry partners to support its existing testing processes.

Advertisement
Gulfstream RT