Award

ARTIC Upgrade and ARTIC-Lite

  • Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-008236

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03b4e3

Published 21 March 2023, 9:03pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Porton Down

SALISBURY

SP4 0JQ

Email

CTS-Transparency@dstl.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKK15 - Wiltshire CC

Justification for not providing organisation identifier

Not on any register

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

ARTIC Upgrade and ARTIC-Lite

Reference number

RQ0000025233

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73410000 - Military research and technology

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract valued at up to £250,000.00 (ex VAT) with Roke Manor Research Limited ("the Contractor") to carry out additional research and development services on the Argos Receiver Transmitter with Integrated Control (ARTIC), whereby the research requirement seeks to upgrade ARTIC (TUNDRA) and continue conducting research and development services enhancing the capability of ARTIC-Lite. The Contractor has successfully delivered an advanced Argos satellite tracking and locating beacon based on the ARTIC R2 chipset. Subsequently, Dstl have identified further research objectives including upgrade to the R3 chipset and development of ARTIC-Lite with focus on minimising size, weight and power (SWaP).

It is considered that this Contract can be placed using the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication of a contract notice pursuant to Article 28(1)(e) of Directive 2009/81/EC (Regulation 16(1)(c)) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) for the provision of Research and Development services not excluded under the Regulation 7(1)(l) R&D Exclusion.

The original contract with the Contractor has now been successfully completed. This proposed new contract will ensure continued access to research and development services which enable the Authority to fully benefit from the latest capabilities of the Argos Satellite System which provides a commercial, globally-reaching bearer system for transmitting short data messages over-the-horizon (OTH).

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: £250,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKK - South West (England)

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract valued at up to £250,000.00 (ex VAT) with Roke Manor Research Limited ("the Contractor") to carry out additional research and development services on the Argos Receiver Transmitter with Integrated Control (ARTIC), whereby the research requirement seeks to upgrade ARTIC (TUNDRA) and continue conducting research and development services enhancing the capability of ARTIC-Lite. The Contractor has successfully delivered an advanced Argos satellite tracking and locating beacon based on the ARTIC R2 chipset. Subsequently, Dstl have identified further research objectives including upgrade to the R3 chipset and development of ARTIC-Lite with focus on minimising size, weight and power (SWaP).

It is considered that this Contract can be placed using the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication of a contract notice pursuant to Article 28(1)(e) of Directive 2009/81/EC (Regulation 16(1)(c)) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) for the provision of Research and Development services not excluded under the Regulation 7(1)(l) R&D Exclusion.

The original contract with the Contractor has now been successfully completed. This proposed new contract will ensure continued access to research and development services which enable the Authority to fully benefit from the latest capabilities of the Argos Satellite System which provides a commercial, globally-reaching bearer system for transmitting short data messages over-the-horizon (OTH).

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: 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. If you are interested in becoming a sub-contractor for this requirement, you should apply directly to the supplier named above.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Negotiated without a prior call for competition

  • 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 Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract with Roke Manor Research Limited ("the Contractor")

It is considered that this Contract can be placed using the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication of a contract notice pursuant to Article 28(1)(e) of Directive 2009/81/EC (Regulation 16(1)(c)) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) for the provision of Research and Development services not excluded under the Regulation 7(1)(l) R&D Exclusion.

Roke Manor Research Limited has extensive expertise of the Argos Satellite Constellation. The Contractor has previously successfully delivered an advanced Argos satellite tracking and locating beacon based on the ARTIC R2 chipset due to their leading knowledge in the Argos/Kinéis system, certification procedures and chipsets. The Contractor has the tools, knowledge and know-how necessary to provide the required capability. Dstl intend to award a new contract to build upon the previous work to ensure necessary upgrades and further research and development are achieved.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


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

21 March 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

Roke Manor Research Limited

Romsey

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKK - South West (England)
Companies House

00267550

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: £250,000

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £250,000


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract with Roke Manor Research Limited ("the Contractor") to carry out additional research and development services on the Argos Receiver Transmitter with Integrated Control (ARTIC), whereby the research requirement seeks to upgrade ARTIC (TUNDRA) and carry out development on ARTIC-Lite.

The original contract with the Contractor has now been successfully completed. This proposed new contract will ensure continued access to research and development services which enable the Authority to fully benefit from the latest capabilities of the Argos Satellite System which provides a commercial, globally-reaching bearer system for transmitting short data messages over-the-horizon (OTH). The output of this work is up to Official.

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. If you are interested in becoming a sub-contractor for this requirement, you should apply directly to the supplier named above.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

Dstl

Salisbury

Country

United Kingdom