Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Bristol
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
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
Hydraulic Support Equipment
Reference number
712595450
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 35000000 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
In-service support arrangement for the support of a range of the MODs Hydraulic Test Systems. This will include elements of spare provision, repairs of major equipment and sub-components, technical support and modifications.
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: £6,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
In-service support arrangement for the support of a range of the MODs Hydraulic Test Systems. This will include elements of spare provision, repairs of major equipment and sub-components, technical support and modifications.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
2 x 1 year extension options
4 x added equipment to scope options
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
- No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to negotiated procedure with prior 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 Air Commodities team, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to enter into a contract with Test Fuchs GmbH for the Provision of an in-service support arrangement for the support and modification of a range of the MODs Hydraulic Test Systems. This will include elements of spare provision, repairs of major equipment and sub-components, technical support and modifications. The contract will be for three years, plus two one-year options and have a value of approximately £6m (including options).
In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011(the “DSPCR 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 (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence Security Public Procurement Regulations 2011 because competition is absent for technical reasons.
Test Fuchs (TF) are the Original Equipment Manufacturer for a technically complex range of aircraft Hydraulic Servicing Trollies (HST), Static Hydraulic Test Benches (HTB) and Damper Absorbers Test Trolley (DATT). To ensure specific hydraulic circuit parameters are maintained and no damage to complex aircraft systems occurs all of TF HST and HTB’s owned and operated by the MoD are subject to a 24-month calibration test utilising the TF Calibration Transfer Stand (CTS1, CTS2 and CTS3) which automatically interrogates the operating parameters of the equipment ensuring specific safety parameters are maintained. These CTS rigs are themselves subject to an annual Master calibration and are returned to TF HQ in Austria where a Master Calibration Unit is utilised within a controlled environment to ensure a high level of compliance. The above equipment’s proprietary software has been designed and is owned by TF who have previously stated that they do not intend to release it to any third party. This mature software is critical to the functionality of the above equipment and helps underpin the safety argument used by AC DT to provide an important level of Safety assurance via the specific Safety Assessment Report for this equipment. The DT holds neither the rights nor the source code to enable it to confidently go out to the wider market without introducing a certain level of risk which would be unacceptable from an engineering perspective. In Addition, the OEM holds all the IPR for the design and manufacture to the structure and the operating system specifications for the equipment. This specialist technical knowledge underpins each decision they make and enables them to provide the DT with key safety information, configuration control and technical support which underpins the Safety argument contained within the equipment SAR, it also allows for the continued safe running of this ageing equipment whilst providing a high level of safety confidence in the range of equipment they support.
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
712595450
Title
Hydraulic Support Contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
3 February 2025
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
Test Fuchs
Unit 30 King Street Industrial Estate
Peterborough
PE6 9NF
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
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: £6,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £6,000,000
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
DE&S
Bristol
Country
United Kingdom