Award

Project Mojave

  • Ministry of Defence

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-014402

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03ce0c

Published 19 May 2023, 4:08pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence

Portsmouth

Email

Lauren.Terry103@mod.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.gov.uk

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

Project Mojave

Reference number

707965453

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73435000 - Test and evaluation of military aircrafts, missiles and spacecrafts

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Royal Navy, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract valued at up to £1,500,000 (ex VAT) with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Limited ("the Contractor") for a period of [7] months for the delivery of work to undertake trials/experiments in order to demonstrate a threshold capability for a Short Take off and Landing Uncrewed Air Vehicle (UAV).

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 (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) because the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Limited as competition is absent for technical grounds. The contract will enable work to be undertaken as a proof of concept utilising existing technology/services provided by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Limited in order to carry out experiments that will determine the future scope to address a number of capability problem sets and will support future investment decisions. In addition and in the alternative, the contract is for research and development services within regulation 16(1)(c).

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: £1,250,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Royal Navy, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract valued at up to £1,500,000 (ex VAT) with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Limited ("the Contractor") for a period of [7] months for the delivery of work to undertake trials/experiments in order to demonstrate a threshold capability for a Short Take off and Landing Uncrewed Air Vehicle (UAV).

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 (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) because the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Limited as competition is absent for technical grounds. The contract will enable work to be undertaken as a proof of concept utilising existing technology/services provided by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Limited in order to carry out experiments that will determine the future scope to address a number of capability problem sets and will support future investment decisions. In addition and in the alternative, the contract is for research and development services within regulation 16(1)(c).

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 Royal Navy, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract valued at up to £1,500,000 (ex VAT) with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Limited ("the Contractor") for a period of [7] months for the delivery of work to undertake trials/experiments in order to demonstrate a threshold capability for a Short Take off and Landing Uncrewed Air Vehicle (UAV).

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 (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) because the works, supplies or services can be supplied only by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Limited as competition is absent for technical grounds. The contract will enable work to be undertaken as a proof of concept utilising existing technology/services provided by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Limited in order to carry out experiments that will determine the future scope to address a number of capability problem sets and will support future investment decisions. In addition and in the alternative, the contract is for research and development services within regulation 16(1)(c).

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

707965453

Title

Project Mojave

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

19 May 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 Atomics Aeronautical Systems Limited

Poway

CA 92064

Country

United States

NUTS code
  • US - United States
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: £1,250,000

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

Ministry of Defence, Navy Command Commercial

4 Deck, Navy Command Headquarters, Leach Building, Whale Island

Portsmouth

PO2 8BY

Country

United Kingdom