Award

The Provision of In Barrack Engineering Support (IBES) to Watchkeeper-UK5

  • Ministry of Defence

UK5: Transparency notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-017930

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-050a0b

Published 30 April 2025, 12:03pm



Scope

Reference

714736451

Description

The requirement is for the Provision of In Barrack Engineering Support (IBES) to Watchkeeper Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS). It will cover the deployment of technicians to provide maintenance services on Watchkeeper RPAS.


Contract 1. The Provision of In Barrack Engineering Support (IBES) to Watchkeeper

Supplier

Contract value

  • £1,917,000 excluding VAT
  • £2,300,400 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Earliest date the contract will be signed

18 June 2025

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 1 July 2025 to 31 March 2026
  • Possible extension to 31 March 2027
  • 1 year, 9 months

Description of possible extension:

1 x 1 year (or part thereof) if continuation of service is required.

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 71336000 - Engineering support services

Contract locations

  • UK - United Kingdom

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

The Authority intends to award a contract to MPI Limited for the Provision of In Barrack Engineering Support (IBES) to Watchkeeper Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS). The contract will cover the deployment at specific working locations of technicians as workforce enhancement, to provide maintenance services on Watchkeeper RPAS. The Contract is intended to be for a duration of 9 months commencing on 1 July 2025, with 1 x 1 year option period (or part thereof). The duration of the Contract aligns with the estimated out of service date of Watchkeeper, 31 March 2026. The Watchkeeper capability is required to remain at readiness level until a suitable replacement reaches its initial operating capability. The value of the Contract (including option year) is estimated to be £2,300,400 million inclusive of VAT.

It is considered that this contract can be awarded in accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 to the Procurement Act 2023, where competition is absent for technical reasons.

MPI Limited is the only supplier with the requisite skills, knowledge and experience to provide the requisite engineering support to the Watchkeeper platform. The time taken to recruit and train technicians to the requisite standard would cause an unacceptable capability gap in the provision of the services resulting in an unacceptable risk to readiness levels of the platform and, therefore, operations.


Supplier

MPI Limited

  • Companies House: 02746209

The Chase, Foxholes Business Park

Hertford

SG13 7NN

United Kingdom

Region: UKH23 - Hertfordshire

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Contract 1. The Provision of In Barrack Engineering Support (IBES) to Watchkeeper


Contracting authority

Ministry of Defence

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ

Army HQ

Andover

SP11 8HT

United Kingdom

Region: UKJ36 - Central Hampshire

Organisation type: Public authority - central government