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
705947451-M3_BSIA-VTN
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 50630000 - Repair and maintenance services of military vehicles
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
In-Service Support to Bridge Set Infantry Assault and M3 Amphibious Rigs for UK Army.
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: £38,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
provision of in-service support for the M3 Amphibious Bridging System (a Wide Wet Gap Crossing Capability (WWGCC)), provision of Quantity 8 (eight) Bridge Infantry Assault (BSIA) Sets and continued in-service support to BSIA. The contract will be placed with General Dynamics European Land Systems – Bridging Systems (GDELS - BS). The M3 and BSIA in-service support includes provision of spares, Maintenance and Repair Organisation (MRO) repairs, and Post Design Services (PDS)). The procurement of BSIA will include provision of Capital Spares and PDS.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
5 year initial period, 5 additional option 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
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 is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011.
The relevant technical reasons for placement of a single source contract with GDELS-BS are detailed below for each requirement.
M3 In-Service Support
GDELS-BS are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) for the M3 system and are the only operator that have the required system-specific technical knowledge, information and tools to provide in-service support and ensure the safety of the system. GDELS-BS ensures the support to the M3 system for both the German (DE) and British (GBR) Army in a Joint Amphibious Engineer Battalion. This is a joint battalion as one Nation alone cannot provide the required number of rigs/systems to fulfil the required operating capability. It is therefore essential that the same supplier maintains both systems to ensure interoperability of the two systems and safe operating procedures. Furthermore, the requirement to obtain the necessary tools, jigs and fixtures, test equipment, specialist knowledge and design information to undertake Post Design Service activities, manufacture spares and to undertake repairs within the equipment’s life is not possible for an alternative supplier to undertake.
Procurement of BSIA
Qty 8 BSIA are required to ensure continuity of system design across the fleet. The BSIA can only be sourced from GDELS-BS as they are the OEM, DA and sole manufacturer of BSIA and it is the only bridge that has the required technical characteristics to ensure effective continued training and operations. If an alternative solution to BSIA were to be sourced from an alternative supplier, the system would have different technical characteristics to BSIA and could not be used with the existing bridge sets.
BSIA In-Service Support
GDELS-BS ensures the support to the BSIA in the form of maintenance and repairs, component reports and provision of Capital Spares. GDELS-BS are the OEM and DA of BSIA and are the only operator that have the BSIA specific technical expertise and knowledge to maintain the equipment and to ensure interoperability and safety of the equipment. Furthermore, in relation to the supply of spares, any components sourced from an alternative supplier creates a risk of those components being incompatible with the existing BSIA. The requirement to obtain the necessary licenses, tools, jigs and fixtures, test equipment and specialist knowledge to undertake Post Design Service activities, manufacture spares and to undertake repairs within the equipment’s life of the proposed contract is not possible for an alternative supplier to undertake.
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
705947451
Title
M3 & BSIA In-Service Support
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
15 February 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
General Dynamics European Land Systems
Kaiserslauten
Country
Germany
NUTS code
- DEB3F - Kaiserslautern, Landkreis
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: £38,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £38,000,000
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
Defence, Equipment and Support
Bristol
Country
United Kingdom