Scope
Reference
714445451
Description
Procurement of up to 6 militarised lithium battery storage solution that satisfys the Authority's safety assurance requirements for safe operation and use in-service. The containers must be accredited for UK and global transportation regulatory requirements.
Contract 1. Battery Storage Management System
Supplier
Contract value
- £650,000 excluding VAT
- £780,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
28 April 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 May 2025 to 30 September 2025
- 5 months
Main procurement category
Goods
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
Initial procurement of up to 3 storage systems with an option to procure up to an additional 3 systems subject to affordability
CPV classifications
- 31158100 - Battery chargers
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
As a covered procurement, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that the direct award of the contract is lawful in accordance with section 41(1) and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 (the "PA 2023").
The Secretary of State for Defence, acting through DE&S (the "Authority") intends to procure up to 6 (six) lithium battery storage containers in support of Project Asgard for experimentation and operational purposes. The estimated value of this contract is up to £650,000.00 (six hundred and fifty thousand pounds) and the proposed term is 5 (five) months.
In accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the PA 2023, the Authority wishes to directly award a contract for these containers to Zero Alpha Solutions Ltd ("ZASL") for technical reasons. ZASL is the Original Equipment Manufacturer of a militarised lithium battery storage container solution, which has previously been procured by the Authority. Only ZASL produces the containers that satisfy the Authority's safety assurance requirements for safe operation and use in-service, as well as accreditation for UK and global transportation regulatory requirements. Therefore, there is an absence of competition for technical reasons as no other supplier is able to supply containers that meet the Authority's requirements and there are no reasonable alternatives to these goods.
The Authority has identified strict technical impracticality for a supplier other than ZASL to achieve the Authority's technical requirements as it is necessary to use specific knowledge and tools which only ZASL currently has at its disposal. More specifically this relates to the safety and deployment of the requirement.
Due to the timescales for this requirement, only ZASL can achieve the Authority's strict and necessary deadlines for production and delivery of the storage containers to ensure there is no detrimental effect on the management of the batteries. Obtaining goods from any other supplier would result in unacceptable technical, capability and safety risks to users when conducting operational and experimentation activities.
Supplier
Zero Alpha Solutions Ltd
- Companies House: 10427096
Building 543 Dragon Way
St Athan
CF62 4AF
United Kingdom
Email: jr@zeroalphasolutions.com
Website: http://www.zeroalphasolutions.com
Region: UKL22 - Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Battery Storage Management System
Contracting authority
Ministry of Defence
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ
Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
United Kingdom
Contact name: Amanda Fry
Telephone: 07815039859
Email: DefComrcl-SystemsGuidance@mod.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government