Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name, addresses and contact point(s)
Ministry of Defence
MOD Abbey Wood, Cedar 2B
Bristol
BS34 8JH
For the attention of
Gardiner Rodney
Email(s)
Country
United Kingdom
Further information
Further information can be obtained from the above mentioned contact point(s)
Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained from
The above-mentioned contact point(s)
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to
The above-mentioned contact point(s)
Section two: Object of the contract
two.1) Description
two.1.1) Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority
The Procurement and In-Service Support for the Virtus Re-Compete Torso Sub System
two.1.2) Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance
Supplies
Purchase
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
two.1.5) Short description of the contract or purchase(s)
1. Introduction and Scope
The Authority has a requirement for the ongoing supply, support and development of the VIRTUS integrated Soft body armour and load carriage system.
The VIRTUS system focuses on 3 of the NATO soldier domains: survivability, mobility and sustainability. VIRTUS is the UK Armed Forces integrated Soft Body Armour, Helmet and Load Carriage system based on the soldier. VIRTUS comprises of a head and torso sub-system with integrated load carriage and a Quick Release (QR) mechanism, to allow escape from water, confined space or to allow rapid access to the body in an emergency.
This notice is NOT for the procurement of the Head Sub System.
The DE&S DCC Survivability Team intends to competitively assess, select and award a contract to deliver and support the Virtus Torso Sub System capability to all tri-service users including Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
The Torso Sub System requirement is for all body armour and load carriage equipment within the current VIRTUS system including but not limited to scalable tactical vests, soft armour filler, extremity protection, bergens and pouches.
The Contract shall also include the ability for the Authority to utilise Post Design Services (PDS) for the ongoing development of the system to ensure that it continues to provide optimal performance as technology develops and matures. There may also be a requirement within the Contract for the provision of training in the use of the VIRTUS system and for the refurbishment and disposal of VIRTUS items.
The System needs to comply with MOD standards and policies for quality, safety and cyber amongst others. Full details shall be provided at the Invitation To Negotiate (ITN) stage of the competition.
The Competitive procedure will be managed in accordance with the Competitive Negotiated Procedure under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011.
You may express your interest in this requirement by completing the Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) found at
https://contracts.mod.uk/go/9113732701908259B595
The full requirement will be issued in the ITN and suppliers will be given appropriate time to respond with their tenders.
2. Contract Options
The contract will be for Five years
The contract will have an additional 4 x 1 Year options taking the maximum length of the contract up to 9 years.
The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option years. Further information on the option will be provided in the Invitation to Tender.
3. Post Design Services (PDS) during Competition
During the Torso Sub System competition, there will be pieces of Post Design Services on the TSS that will continue on the current In-Service contract. There will be a full list of any ongoing PDS along with expected completion dates and any further aspirational PDS tasks provided at ITN release.
4. Estimated Timescales
The table below details the anticipated time frames of this procurement. These dates are provided for information only.
Activity Date
Final date for DPQQ Clarification Questions: 5th August 2024
DPQQs returned to MOD: 16th August 2024
Invitation to Tender Issued: November 2024
Tenders Returned to MOD: May 2025
Authority Evaluation of ITN Completed: June 2025
Anticipated Date of Contract Award: August 2025
Contract Expiry: August 2034 (including options)
two.1.6) Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)
- 18143000 - Protective gear
Additional CPV code(s)
- 18931100 - Rucksacks
- 18934000 - Kitbags
- 18936000 - Textile bags
- 35113400 - Protective and safety clothing
- 35811300 - Military uniforms
- 35812200 - Combat suits
- 35812300 - Combat gear
- 35813100 - Helmet covers
- 35815100 - Bullet-proof vests
two.1.7) Information about subcontracting
The tenderer has to indicate in the tender any share of the contract it may intend to subcontract to third parties and any proposed subcontractor, as well as the subject-matter of the subcontracts for which they are proposed
The tenderer has to indicate any change occurring at the level of subcontractors during the execution of the contract
two.1.8) Lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.9) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2) Quantity or scope of the contract
two.2.1) Total quantity or scope
Options to extend the contract duration by an additional Four (4) years up to a maximum duration of Nine (9) Years
Estimated value excluding VAT:
Range: between £33,000,000 and £135,000,000
two.3) Duration of the contract or time limit for completion
Duration in months: 108 (from the award of the contract)
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.2) Conditions for participation
three.2.1) Personal situation
Criteria regarding the personal situation of economic operators (that may lead to their exclusion) including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender:
1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once)
- Browse to the eSourcing Portal
- Click the “Click here to register” link
- Accept the terms and conditions and click “continue”
- Enter your correct business and user details
- Note the username you chose and click “Save” when complete
- You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure)
2. Express an Interest in the tender
- Login to the portal with the username/password
- Click the "PQQs Open to All Suppliers" link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires open to any registered supplier)
- Click on the relevant PQQ to access the content.
- Click the “Express Interest” button in the “Actions” box on the left-hand side of the page.
- This will move the PQQ into your “My PQQs” page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only)
- Click on the PQQ code, you can now access any attachments by clicking the “Settings and Buyer Attachments” in the “Actions” box
3. Responding to the tender
- You can now choose to “Reply” or “Reject” (please give a reason if rejecting)
- You can now use the ‘Messages’ function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification
- Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ
- There may be a mixture of online & offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available)
If you require any further assistance please consult the online help, or contact the eTendering help desk.
Criteria regarding the personal situation of subcontractors (that may lead to their rejection) including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender:
1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once)
- Browse to the eSourcing Portal
- Click the “Click here to register” link
- Accept the terms and conditions and click “continue”
- Enter your correct business and user details
- Note the username you chose and click “Save” when complete
- You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure)
2. Express an Interest in the tender
- Login to the portal with the username/password
- Click the "PQQs Open to All Suppliers" link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires open to any registered supplier)
- Click on the relevant PQQ to access the content.
- Click the “Express Interest” button in the “Actions” box on the left-hand side of the page.
- This will move the PQQ into your “My PQQs” page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only)
- Click on the PQQ code, you can now access any attachments by clicking the “Settings and Buyer Attachments” in the “Actions” box
3. Responding to the tender
- You can now choose to “Reply” or “Reject” (please give a reason if rejecting)
- You can now use the ‘Messages’ function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification
- Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ
- There may be a mixture of online & offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available)
If you require any further assistance please consult the online help, or contact the eTendering help desk.
three.2.2) Economic and financial ability
Criteria regarding the economic and financial standing of economic operators (that may lead to their exclusion)
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Information on financial ability will be assessed as part of your pre-qualification questionnaire return
three.2.3) Technical and/or professional capacity
Criteria regarding the technical and/or professional ability of economic operators (that may lead to their exclusion)
Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if the requirements are met: Information on technical ability will be assessed as part of your pre-qualification questionnaire return
Section four: Procedure
four.1) Type of procedure
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated
four.1.2) Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate
Envisaged minimum number 3 and maximum number 8
Objective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: A minimum number of 3 and a maximum number of 8 Economic Operators will be Invited to tender.
These will be the top 8 highest scoring responses against the Pre Qualification Questionnaire that are compliant.
Should Economic Operators receive exactly the same weighted score and be tied for 8th place then the Economic Operator who achieves the highest score for the following question:
Section 2.1 - Delivery Capacity
Shall be awarded the eighth and final place in the ITN with the lowest scoring Economic Operator(s) then out of the competition.
In the event of 2 or more Economic Operators having the same weighted score in the Delivery Capacity Section, then the highest score in:
Section 2.2 - Post Design Services Section
Shall be awarded the eighth and final place in the ITN with the lowest scoring Economic Operator(s) then out of the competition.
In the event of 2 or more Economic Operators having the same weighted score in the Post Design Services Section, then the highest score in:
Section 2.3 - Supply Chain
Shall be awarded the eighth and final place in the ITN with the lowest scoring Economic Operator(s) then out of the competition.
If scores are still tied then all Economic Operators who are tied for 8th then all will be issued with the ITN.
The Authority reserves the right to take forward a number of Economic Operators lower than three (3) should it fail to receive at least three (3) compliant DPQQ submissions.
Please refer to the Dynamic Pre Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) for evaluation criteria and further guidance.
four.1.3) Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated: yes
four.2) Award criteria
four.2.1) Award criteria
the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document
four.2.2) Information about electronic auction
An electronic auction has been used: no
four.3) Administrative information
four.3.1) File reference number attributed by the contracting authority
704717450
four.3.2) Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract
Prior information notice
Notice number: 2024/S 000-019677 of 27 June 2024
Other previous publications
Notice number: 2024/S 000-016482 of 24 May 2024
Notice number: 2023/S 000-035221 of 29 November 2023
four.3.4) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
16 August 2024
four.3.6) Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up
English
Section six: Complementary information
six.2) Information about European Union funds
The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
six.3) Additional information
The Contracting Authority intends to use an e-Tendering system in this procurement exercise, please visit www.contracts.mod.uk for full details and to register your interest in this procurement.
six.4) Procedures for appeal
six.4.1) Body responsible for appeal procedures
DCC Survivability Team, Defence Equipment and Support
MOD Abbey Wood, Cedar 2B
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Email(s)
Telephone
+44 3001525302
Country
United Kingdom