Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
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
Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services Contract
Reference number
FsASTC/00107
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 80650000 - Training and simulation in aircrafts, missiles and spacecrafts
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place an extension to contract FsASTC/00107 - a Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK), for continued system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment.
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: £25,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Defence Equipment and Support, Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place - by way of extension to contract FsASTC/00107 - a Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK), for continued system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment, while Air Command & Control, Fast Air and Joint Fires platforms are integrated. Expiry of FsASTC/00107 before this, on 1 January 2026, presents an intolerable risk that the system is not suitably mature from an operate and maintain perspective to ensure optimal capability on future competition.
The contract extension will be for a period of 2 years 3 months, with an Option to extend by 6 months, and have an estimated value of £25m.
In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract 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 contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons.
BDUK is the Gladiator system designer. It is the only economic actor with the familiarity with the capability, the software and Application Process Interfaces, and with the technical expertise and relationships, with sub-contractors and platform original equipment manufacturers, to be able to meet the requirement while essential platforms continue to be integrated.
A Planned Procurement Notice providing outline details of the future competition is anticipated to be published in Q1 2026 with potential providers invited to attend an Early Market Engagement event communicated through the publication of a Preliminary market Engagement Notice.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Option to extend by an additional six months.
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:
Defence Equipment and Support, Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place - by way of extension to contract FsASTC/00107 - a Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK), for continued system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment, while Air Command & Control, Fast Air and Joint Fires platforms are integrated. Expiry of FsASTC/00107 before this, on 1 January 2026, presents an intolerable risk that the system is not suitably mature from an operate and maintain perspective to ensure optimal capability on future competition.
The contract extension will be for a period of 2 years 3 months, with an Option to extend by 6 months, and have an estimated value of £25m.
In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract 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 contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons.
BDUK is the Gladiator system designer. It is the only economic actor with the familiarity with the capability, the software and Application Process Interfaces, and with the technical expertise and relationships, with sub-contractors and platform original equipment manufacturers, to be able to meet the requirement while essential platforms continue to be integrated.
A Planned Procurement Notice providing outline details of the future competition is anticipated to be published in Q1 2026 with potential providers invited to attend an Early Market Engagement event communicated through the publication of a Preliminary market Engagement Notice.
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
FsASTC/00107
Title
Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services Contract Extension
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
3 April 2025
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
Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited
100c Bristol Business Park
Bristol
BS16 1EJ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £25,000,000
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 & Support
MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom