Palantir secures UK firearms licensing contract following competitive public sector tender process

US-based data analytics company Palantir Technologies has been selected as the single supplier for a new National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS) for police forces across England and Wales, following a competitive flexible procedure under the UK's Procurement Act 2023.

Industry publication UKAuthority reported that the contract, issued by BlueLight Commercial on behalf of Police Digital Services, is valued at £7.5 million (approximately €8.68 million) excluding VAT, rising to £9 million (approximately €10.41 million) including VAT, and will run for an initial five-year term from September 2026, with options to extend for up to ten years.

The procurement exercise attracted 18 tenders, with three bids reaching the final assessment stage. Accenture and NEC Software were identified as the two unsuccessful final-stage suppliers. Notably, none of the final-stage submissions came from small or medium-sized enterprises or voluntary and community organisations.

The new platform will enable all 43 police forces in England and Wales to manage the granting, renewal, and revocation of firearms licences, and will also store Home Office licensing data relating to explosives, explosive precursors, and poisons. Provision has been made within the contract terms for potential future extension to Police Scotland and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

The award decision was finalised on 21 May 2026, with an eight-working-day standstill period concluding on 10 June 2026, making 11 June 2026 the earliest date the contract can be formally signed.

The contract follows a broader pattern of Palantir winning significant UK public sector mandates. In January 2026, the Ministry of Defence extended its data analytics partnership with the firm, while a separate £50.1 million proposed agreement with the Metropolitan Police was blocked by the Mayor of London in May 2026.

A report by a UK parliamentary committee warned that government reliance on Palantir represents an unacceptable concentration risk in public sector digital procurement, raising questions about supplier diversity and long-term strategic dependency.

Access the full procurement documentation and analysis for detailed findings on the tender process.