Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Portsmouth
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
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
Remote Aircraft Mover (RAM) - 10 Handler Chest Packs & 8 Battery Pack Units and Chargers
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 34741200 - Aircraft catapult systems
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
This is a Voluntary Transparency Notices to advise of the MoD's intention to award the contract Remote Aircraft Mover (RAM) - 10 Handler Chest Packs & 8 Battery Pack Units and Chargers.
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: £220,373.10
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 31158100 - Battery chargers
- 31422000 - Battery packs
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 1 year contract with a value of £220,373.10 (Excluding VAT) to Curtiss Wright INDAL for the purchase of 10 Handler Chest Packs & 8 Battery Pack Units and Charger for the Royal Navy to support the current in-service Remote Aircraft Movers (RAM) Handlers.
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 without a prior call for competition
- 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 1 year contract with a value of £220,373.10 (Excluding VAT) to Curtiss Wright INDAL for the purchase of 10 Handler Chest Packs & 8 Battery Pack Units and Charger for the Royal Navy to support the current in-service Remote Aircraft Movers (RAM) Handlers.
In accordance with the provisions of The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI No. 2020/1319, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) as amended (in particular by SI 2020/1319). 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 (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the PCR 2015 because competition is absent for technical reasons.
The in-Service RAM Handlers are used to support embarked Merlin Mk2/Mk4 and Wildcat HMA aircraft. The Royal Navy needs to purchase this equipment as spares to be able to support the availability of the RAM Handler fleet out to the equipment out of service date of 31 March 2026. The requirement for these spares can only be met by Curtiss Wright INDAL as they are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and no alternative or substitutes can be used as the Chest Pack controls the RAM Handler and compatible battery packs.
The units are only available through the OEM, and no Fit Form Function replacement can be used to ensure safety requirements are met. The OEM is only company that has the design drawings, patent and intellectual property of the system that is required to meet the safety requirements. As the system is safety-critical, it is imperative that the system is designed correctly as it is used to move aircraft at sea; if incorrectly designed, it could cause an aircraft to be pulled overboard and cause the loss of a multimillion-pound asset and/or endanger lives.
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
711510451
Title
Remote Aircraft Mover (RAM) - 10 Handler Chest Packs & 8 Battery Pack Units and Chargers
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
14 May 2024
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
Curtiss Wright INDAL
Mississauga
Country
Canada
NUTS code
- CA - Canada
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: £220,373.10
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
Navy Commercial
Portsmouth
Country
United Kingdom