Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Bristol
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK11 - Bristol, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
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
Watchkeeper In-Service Support 2024 - 2027
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The Thales Watchkeeper is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for all weather, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) used by the British Army. Watchkeeper In-Service Support has been provided since the AV came into service in the 2010s.
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: £90,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ11 - Berkshire
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Continued Watchkeeper Air Vehicle In-Service Support. 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2027.
This consists of;
- Provision of service management
- Asset Management
- Obsolescence Management
- Training
- Engineering and Safety
- Management of the Sustainment Fleet
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
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
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
Short description of the contract or purchase(s):
To extend the existing scope of the extant Watchkeeper In-Service Support (ISS) Contract UAS/00096 including delivery of continued Test and Evaluation (T & E) and activities to address known WK system obsolescence.
Reason For Award of Contract:
To enable the Watchkeeper Air Vehicle to operate at numerous Units of Action and Points of Presence in the UK and overseas for a further three-year period until 2027.
Justification for Non-Competitive Decision:
Technical Reasons
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.
Thales UK (ISR) are the platform Design Authority Approved Organisation Scheme (DAOS) and Military Airworthiness Organisation Scheme (MAOS) accredited Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), in conjunction with other equipment OEMs within the supply chain. Therefore, only Thales have the technical documents and proprietary information (including software), equipment, infrastructure, skills, knowledge and authority (via the MAA) required in order to safely carry out this work. No other contractor would be able to safely perform this requirement as no other contractor would have access to the required technical and proprietary information.
Main Place of Performance or Delivery:
Thales Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), Crawley, Manor Royal, Crawley, Sussex RH10 9HA, United Kingdom
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
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
2 February 2024
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
Thales UK
Crawley
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ11 - Berkshire
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £90,000,000
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
Bristol
Country
United Kingdom