Scope
Reference
714923453
Description
provision of Post Design Services (PDS) for the Lancaster Aircraft, along with associated supporting activities.
Contract 1. BBMF Lancaster Aircraft PDS
Supplier
Contract value
- £3,000,000 excluding VAT
- £3,600,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
23 March 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2030
- Possible extension to 31 March 2035
- 9 years
Description of possible extension:
Additional 12 month priced extensions are included to align this contract with the new BISAP suite of contracts and OSD.
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Additional 12 month priced extensions are included to align this contract with the new BISAP suite of contracts and OSD.
CPV classifications
- 50211100 - Aircraft maintenance services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
There is a requirement to contract for the Post Design Services (PDS) of the BBMF Lancaster aircraft.
The BBMF Delivery team, part of DE&S in the UK Ministry of Defence (“the Authority”), intends to award a 5-year contract to BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd for the PDS of the BBMF Lancaster aircraft, with further options for extension. The estimated contract value is 3.5M
It is considered that this contract can be awarded under Section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 because the direct award justification specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 (Technical reasons) applies, which reads:-
(6) The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract—
(a)due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and
(b)there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.
The Authority submits that this justification applies because, due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, and there being no alternatives, only BAE Systems are able to provide the services required. The BBMF Lancaster is the sole flying Lancaster aircraft in Europe, and as such BAE Systems has the required technical expertise necessary to fulfil the Authority’s requirement and owns the relevant technical information relating to the Lancaster, without which the PDS activities cannot be conducted. BAE Systems operates as the original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and as the MAA Design Approved Organisation (DAOS) for the Lancaster, which is a critical requirement from the MAA for any Company completing design activities on the Lancaster. There would also be a serious risk to airworthiness of a single legacy platform with significant importance to the history of the RAF and Britain.
Supplier
BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBXB-4886-CXBX
Victory Point, Lyon Way, Camberley
Surrey
GU167EX
United Kingdom
Email: www@baesystems.com
Website: http://www.baesystems.com
Region: UKJ25 - West Surrey
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. BBMF Lancaster Aircraft PDS
Contracting authority
Defence Equipment and Support
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVRL-5831-GLMM
MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
United Kingdom
Contact name: Jess Pellowe
Email: Jess.Pellowe101@mod.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-equipment-and-support
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government