Award

Troposcatter system

  • Ministry of Defence

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2021/S 000-004086

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-02975c

Published 1 March 2021, 10:56pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence

Salisbury

SP40JQ

Email

mveale@dstl.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - UNITED KINGDOM

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-science-and-technology-laboratory

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

Troposcatter system

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 31711423 - Microwave radio equipment

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

The Dstl Resilient Deployed Communications (RDC) project is investigating technologies and capabilities that could offer UK Defence an advantage over potential adversaries in a contested electromagnetic environment. Modern troposcatter systems offer a potential capability to address a key capability gap. Specifically, Dstl’s acquisition of a state-of-the-art COTS Small-Form Factor Troposcatter System (SFFTS) will enable independent experimentation and trials in support of ongoing research.

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: £496,991.03

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - UNITED KINGDOM

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Dstl Resilient Deployed Communications (RDC) project is investigating technologies and capabilities that could offer UK Defence an advantage over potential adversaries in a contested electromagnetic environment. Modern troposcatter systems offer a potential capability to address a key capability gap. Specifically, Dstl’s acquisition of a state-of-the-art COTS Small-Form Factor Troposcatter System (SFFTS) will enable independent experimentation and trials in support of ongoing research.

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

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:

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) CIS Commercial Team which is part of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (UK MOD) is intending to place a Contract with Spectra Group Ltd for the purchase of a Comtech Systems Compact Over-the-horizon Manpack Expeditionary Terminal (COMET) Troposcatter system with built-in Quick Tool for Dstl trials and experimentation.

This is justified on the basis of technical grounds pursuant to Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015). The UK MOD requirement is for a troposcatter

system which:

- Meets a dismounted expeditionary forces use case

- Is one-person portable

- Is transportable via commercial flights

- Is capable of battery operation

- Operates in C-band

- Has a minimum bandwidth of 100Mbps

The COMET system is the only system available on the market which meets these specifications

(both individually and in totality).

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

1 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

Spectra Group Ltd

Hereford

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - UNITED KINGDOM
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: £496,991.03

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, DSTL, Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)

Salisbury

Country

United Kingdom