Award

Viking Combined Support Contract

  • Ministry of Defence

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2022/S 000-001386

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-030c03

Published 17 January 2022, 10:44pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence

Defence Equipment & Support, MOD Abbey Wood South, LEOC-STSP-DCC, NH3 Cedar 2A #3260, Stoke Gifford

Bristol

BS34 8JH

Contact

Lisa Sinfield

Email

Lisa.Sinfield100@mod.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 3001666082

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://des.mod.uk/

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

Defence


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Viking Combined Support Contract

Reference number

701499375

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 50620000 - Repair and maintenance services of firearms and ammunition

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Authority intends to amend an enabling framework contract with Viking Arms Ltd for the provision of support services in respect of the in-service fleet of Glock weapons to include the in-service fleet of PVS-15 with the UK Armed Forces. The contract, as amended, will be for a 5-year period and will include the provision of a technical support service and the procurement of additional in-service equipment if required.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Value excluding VAT: £4,000,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 35321100 - Hand guns

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This enabling framework contract will provide a combination of support, supply and repair services for the in-service fleet of Glock weapons and in-service PVS-15 that will ensure the UK Armed Forces Commands can meet their enduring and future capability needs. This contract will include the provision of a technical support service and enable the procurement of additional in-service equipment, if required.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

Options will be available on the contract to procure additional in-service equipment included under the contract. There will not be an option available to extend the term of the contract.

two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated procedure without publication of a contract notice

  • The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
  • The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • absence of competition for technical reasons

Explanation:

The Dismounted Close Combat programme team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to amend a 5-year enabling framework contract with Viking Arms Ltd for the Combined Support, Supply and Repair of the in-service fleet of Glock weapons to include the in-service fleet of PVS-15; the contract will include the provision to procure additional systems if required.

In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for Technical Reasons.

This is because Viking Arms Ltd are the exclusive UK agent for the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) for the Glock family of weapons and PVS-15, and are the only economic entity with access to the necessary knowledge, expertise, and technical information for the equipment comprised in this contract. Viking Arms Ltd are the only economic entity with the capability and access necessary to provide the required technical support to ensure it complies with the Authority’s specification and maintains operational performance and effectiveness of the equipment.

As part of the enabling framework contract, should the Authority wish to procure additional equipment during the term of the contract, Viking Arms Ltd are the only supplier able to supply the current in-service equipment comprised in this contract. A change of supplier would oblige the Authority to acquire equipment with different technical characteristics that would affect the interoperability of the equipment. Having users that were trained and operating similar equipment with different characteristics would lead to an unacceptable level of safety risk, especially with the operational performance of the weapons, even if additional configuration control measures, training measures, supplementary technical documentation and user manuals were in place.

four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement

The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

701499375

Title

Viking Combined Support Contract

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

8 March 2021

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Viking Arms Limited

Summerbridge

Harrogate, North Yorkshire

HG3 4BW

Email

dan@vikingarms.com

Telephone

+44 1423780810

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKE2 - North Yorkshire
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £4,000,000

five.2.5) Information about subcontracting

The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Ministry of Defence

Defence Equipment & Support, MOD Abbey Wood South, LEOC-STSP-DCC, NH3 Cedar 2A #3260, Stoke Gifford

Bristol

BS34 8JH

Email

Lisa.Sinfield100@mod.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 3001666082

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://des.mod.uk/

six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures

Ministry of Defence

Defence Equipment & Support, MOD Abbey Wood South, LEOC-STSP-DCC, NH3 Cedar 2A #3260, Stoke Gifford

Bristol

BS34 8JH

Email

Lisa.Sinfield100@mod.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 3001666082

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://des.mod.uk/

six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained

Ministry of Defence

Defence Equipment & Support, MOD Abbey Wood South, LEOC-STSP-DCC, NH3 Cedar 2A #3260, Stoke Gifford

Bristol

BS34 8JH

Email

Lisa.Sinfield100@mod.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 3001666082

Country

United Kingdom

Internet address

https://des.mod.uk/