Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Mine Hunting Capability Team, ASH 0B, NH3, MoD Abbey Wood, Filton
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Contact
Mr Peter Allsop and Mr Garry Ogborne
desshipsacq-ifc-mhc-comrcl@mod.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Internet address(es)
Main address
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
Procurement of software maintenance and development services
Reference number
709378450
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72231000 - Development of software for military applications
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Procurement of software maintenance and development services
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: £50,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Main site or place of performance
SeeByte Ltd, Edinburgh, UK
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Procurement of software development and maintenance services for Autonomy Software.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
There will be 2 contractual options, each facilitating an additional year of services, within a maximum contract term of 5 years.
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
two.2.14) Additional information
This notice is not a request for expressions of interest so please do not apply to be invited to tender. This notice advises that the Authority has decided to negotiate a contract with the named supplier on a single source basis, and is published for reasons of transparency.
Link to DSP Opportunity: https://www.contracts.mod.uk/go/39479209018D219DD6EE
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:
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 (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 (as amended) for Technical Reasons. This requirement is for the continued support and development of SeeByte’s suite of proprietary software which was privately developed by SeeByte. This software is widely used in different applications by the Royal Navy and works collectively and collaboratively to optimise the operation and effectiveness of its autonomous vehicles (both surface and underwater).
This requirement is a direct continuation of the same services previously procured by the MoD, initially under the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s Science & Technology (S&T) programme and more recently by MHC. Ensuring contractual cover to facilitate the continuing support and evolutionary development of this software is critical to maintaining the Royal Navy’s existing capability. Given the history of the development of this software by SeeByte Limited, integrated into Royal Navy autonomous vehicles, there is no other reasonable alternative software available on the market that would meet the MoD’s continuing requirements.
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
709378450
Title
Autonomy Software Development and Maintenance
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
23 November 2023
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
SeeByte Ltd
Orchard Brae House, 30 Queensferry Road
Edinburgh
EH4 2HS
Telephone
+44 1314474200
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £50,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £50,000,000
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
This notice is not a request for expressions of interest so please do not apply to be invited to tender. This notice advises that the Authority has decided to negotiate a contract with the named supplier on a single source basis, and is published for reasons of transparency.
Link to DSP Opportunity: https://www.contracts.mod.uk/go/39479209018D219DD6EE
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Mine Hunting Capability delivery Team
Ash 0B, NH3, MoD Abbey Wood, Filton
Bristol
BS35 8JH
desshipsacq-ifc-mhc-comrcl@mod.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom