Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Situational Awareness Command and Control, Spruce 1c #1113, MoD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Contact
ian.taylor111@mod.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 7833230375
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
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
Support and Enhancement of TIGER / MLST3 tactical data link test equipment
Reference number
701551750
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 71356300 - Technical support services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Support (hardware and software) for the Authority’s existing TIGER / MLST3 tactical data link test equipment. The services shall be provided for 5 years commencing 2021.
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: £750,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Summary the services: The Authority intends to procure support for its currently deployed TIGER / MLST3 tactical data link test equipment. Services shall be provided for 5 years commencing 2021.
Technology: Tactical data link (TDL) is a communications technology utilizing radio waves or cable used by the U.S. armed forces and NATO nations. Tactical data link technology has various forms (Link 16, etc.)
MOD MML Project: The Maritime Multi-Link (MML) Project will provide Royal Navy warships with the Tactical Data Link System (TDLS), to provide enhanced operational capability to interoperate with NATO and other coalition partners and allies. The Tactical Data Link System will comprise MIDS Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) equipment.
Purpose of current test equipment (MLST3 and TIGER): Tactical Data Links are required to be tested in order to verify their correct operation. The currently used test equipment (MLST3 and TIGER) are TDL test tools that support the development and testing of Data Link Processors (DLP) in the following areas:
• Conformance to Tactical Data Link (TDL) Standards for Link 11, Link 16, Link 22 and Joint Range Extension Application Protocol ‘C’ (JREAP-C);
• Interoperability, in both single and multi-link environments;
• DLP Integration and Testing
The requirement to support the existing test equipment software: In order for the currently used TDL test tools to remain up to date with the latest NATO TDL Messaging Standards Agreements (STANAGs) the software is required to be supported. This support comprises software fixes and updates and some software related training.
The requirement to support the existing test equipment hardware: The main component of the existing equipment is MLST3 (OEM: Northrop Grumman product) which was procured by the Authority via Foreign Military Sale procurement in 2020. The other element is TIGER (again OEM: Northrop Grumman product) which as originally procured by the Authority as part of the Wildcat programme. The existing hardware will have to be supported to ensure its functioning and compatibility with the software during the period of support.
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
- 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 Situational Awareness Command and Control (SACC) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to award a single source contract to Leidos Innovations UK Limited, acting as the agent for the Northrop Grumman Corporation, for a period of 5 years to procure hardware and software support to the MLST3 and TIGER Test Tool.
It is considered that this contract can be awarded using the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication pursuant to Article 28(1) (e) of Directive 2009/81/EC (Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) for technical reasons.
Northrop Grumman are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for both MLST3 and TIGER test equipment and have the design drawings/information, technical specifications, data and knowledge of the equipment which has been provided to Leidos Innovations UK Limited as Northrop Grumman’s exclusive authorised agent for the supply of MLST3 and TIGER hardware and software in Europe and, hence the only source for OEM support for MLST3 and TIGER hardware and software. The MoD has already procured MLST3 through Northrop Grumman via the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route and TIGER through Leidos and is seeking to maintain and support the existing test facility for the next 5 years. The estimated total contract value is £750,000.
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
701551750
Lot No
Not applicable
Title
Support and Enhancement of TIGER / MLST3 tactical data link test equipment
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
4 February 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
Leidos Innovations UK Ltd
Chester House, Farnborough Aerospace Centre
Farnborough
GU14 6TQ
Telephone
+44 1252550000
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ37 - North Hampshire
Internet address
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: £750,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £750,000
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
The Authority reserves the right to amend any condition related to security of information to reflect any changes in national law or government policy. If any contract documents are accompanied by instructions on safeguarding classified information (e.g. a Security Aspects Letter), the Authority reserves the right to amend the terms of these instructions to reflect any changes in national law or government policy, whether in respect of the applicable protective marking scheme, specific protective markings given, the aspects to which any protective marking applies, or otherwise. The link below to the Gov.uk website provides information on the Government Security Classification.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-security-classifications
Advertising Regime OJEU:- This contract opportunity is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), the MoD Defence Contracts Bulletin and www.contracts.mod.uk
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Ministry of Defence
Situational Awareness Command and Control, Spruce 1c #1113, MoD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Telephone
+44 7833230375
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Ministry of Defence
Situational Awareness Command and Control, Spruce 1c #1113, MoD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Telephone
+44 7833230375
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Ministry of Defence
Situational Awareness Command and Control, Spruce 1c # 1113, MoD Abbey
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Telephone
+44 7833230375
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence