Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Bristol
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK11 - Bristol, City of
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
707513450 - PEDT/0036 - Hydrogen In-Air Monitoring System (HIAMS) Support
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 71356300 - Technical support services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Hydrogen In Air Monitoring System (HIAMS) is an Atmosphere Monitoring system that monitors the air in the battery ventilation trunking for hazardous concentration levels of Hydrogen.
The requirement is to provide Storage, Testing, Calibration, Repairs and Post Design Services of the Hydrogen In-Air Monitoring System Equipment.
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: £675,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKK11 - Bristol, City of
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Hydrogen In Air Monitoring System (HIAMS) is an Atmosphere Monitoring system that monitors the air in the battery ventilation trunking for hazardous concentration levels of Hydrogen.
The requirement is to provide Storage, Testing, Calibration and Post Design Services of the Hydrogen In-Air Monitoring System Equipment.
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
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
The Secretary of State for Defence (the “Authority”) intends to enter into a services contract (the “Contract”) with KeTech LTD (the Contractor) to take effect on and from 31st April 2023 for a period of 5 years for the provision of in-service support (Test, Calibration, Repair and Storage) of the Hydrogen In-Air Monitor System (HIAMS) currently fitted to the Vanguard and Trafalgar Class Submarines. The Contract has an estimated value of £675,000 (inc VAT). It intended that the Contract is let for 5 years. The value above is inclusive of those option years.
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) of the DSPCR 2011 for technical reasons. It is believed that the services to be provided under the contract can only be supplied by the Contractor, and that therefore, competition is absent.
KeTech LTD are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for HIAMS, that are fitted to Vanguard and Trafalgar Class Submarines. The HIAMS is a reliable sensitive system that continuously monitors the air in the battery ventilation trunking for potentially hazardous concentrations of Hydrogen. Hydrogen becomes potentially explosive at concentrations as low as 4% and the HIAMS detects hydrogen at concentrations much lower than this explosive limit and will give an active alarm to its submariners. With the equipment being obsolete only KeTech LTD have the technical information, tooling and suitably qualified & experienced personnel, to perform the calibration, testing, repairs and provide a Certificate of Conformity and Warranty on this equipment. Without this documentation the MoD cannot provide assurances to its end users that the monitors are fit for purpose.
Furthermore, KeTech LTD hold a purpose-built test rig which has the sole purpose of testing the HIAMS units to the required standards. The testing rig is essential in order to complete the required testing and repairs on this equipment. There is no other testing rig on the market that meets the technical requirements, and the test rig is located on the KeTech site and is not available for use by other Contractors.
There are no other identified companies that could conduct the required work on the equipment, without increasing the risk of the probability of single failure and impacting whole boat safety as defined above. In order to maintain the safety of the platform and personnel the Contract with KeTech LTD is essential.
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
707513450 - PEDT/0036
Title
Hydrogen In-Air Monitoring System (HIAMS) Support VTN
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
2 June 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
KETECH DEFENCE LTD
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKF1 - Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £675,000
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
Opportunity Listing: https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=56365
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Platform Equipment Delivery Team (PEDT)
Bristol
Country
United Kingdom