Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence, Mine Hunting Capability Team
MoD Abbey Wood, Ash 0B I #3016, Filton, Bristol, BS34 8JH
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Contact
Mr Garry Ogborne
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK1 - Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area
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
MHC Procurement of IVER 4 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)
Reference number
704391450
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 35512400 - Unmanned underwater vehicles
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Procurement of IVER4 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles for the MHC Team. The AUVs are to be deployed as part of the Wilton operational capability.
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: £2,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKJ31 - Portsmouth
Main site or place of performance
L3Harris ASV Ltd, Portchester, Fareham
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Procurement of 3 x IVER4 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles for the MHC Team. The AUVs are to be deployed as part of the Wilton operational capability.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The proposed contract will contain contractual options for both the procurement of one further IVER4 AUV system and associated ancillary equipment, and for training courses related to the operation and maintenance of the IVER4 systems.
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 procedure without publication of a contract notice
- The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment, study or development
- Additional deliveries by the original supplier
Explanation:
Ship Acquisition, which is part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), proposes to place a contract with L3Harris Autonomous Surface Vehicles Ltd (Company Registration Number: 03689515) (“the Company”) for the provision of three (3) IVER4 580 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) (“the Systems”) to be integrated into an element of the Royal Navy’s underwater mine countermeasures capability (Wilton). The Systems are to be procured as a replacement for existing equipment, procured under a previous MOD contract.
The Systems each comprise the following: IVER4 580 EP AUV and IVER4 Swappable Battery 8 Section with Spare Tail, along with technical information (“the Goods”). The Contract will also include options for the UK MOD to procure Operator and Maintainer Training for the Systems and an additional IVER4 580 System and supporting ancillary equipment from the Company if exercised during the term of the contract.
The contract has an estimated value of £2M (two million pounds) at the time of contract placement and an estimated duration of seven (7) months.
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 (DSPCR) 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450).
It is considered that this contract can be placed using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(b)(i) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. Procuring the Systems from a manufacturer other than the Company would mean the MOD would be obligated to acquire equipment that would have substantively different technical characteristics to existing equipment that is in operational use within the Wilton capability. Introducing Systems with different technical characteristics into the Wilton capability would result in incompatibility with, and cause disproportionate technical difficulties in the maintenance of, the existing equipment. The incompatibilities and technical difficulties which would arise are related to the physical and software-related modifications that have been made by the Authority to the Wilton Unmanned Surface Vessels and its subsystems, in addition to Wilton supporting equipment. In accordance with Regulation 16(3) the proposed contract term between the UK MOD with the Company does not exceed five (5) years in duration.
[END]
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
704391450
Title
MHC Procurement of IVER Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
2 September 2022
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
L3Harris ASV
12 Murrills Estate, Portchester, Fareham
Portchester
PO16 9RD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ31 - Portsmouth
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £2,000,000
Lowest offer: £2,000,000 / Highest offer: £2,000,000 taken into consideration
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
Ministry of Defence, DE&S, Mine Hunting Capability Team
Abbey Wood, Filton
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Ministry of Defence, DE&S, Mine Hunting Capability Team
Ash 0B I #3016, MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom