Award

Project Vampire Phase 1

  • Ministry of Defence

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-026232

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-048bd8

Published 16 August 2024, 8:37pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence

Portsmouth

Email

lee.culshaw100@mod.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

www.contracts.mod.uk

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

Project Vampire Phase 1

Reference number

702664450

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

This is an intended modification to an existing contract for purchase and integration of payloads and spares onto existing equipment (A separate modification notice has also been published)

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: £150,000

two.2) Description

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 (MOD), intends to modify an existing contract with QinetiQ Ltd, under Contract Reference 702664450 for Project Vampire Phase 1 (the purchase of a number of air vehicles, launchers and control stations together with supporting services relating to safety and airworthiness) to include the purchase and integration of Radalt payloads and spares. There is no increase to the overall contract value, but these specific items are estimated at £150,000 to be purchased within the existing contract maximum value. In accordance with the provisions of The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI No. 2020/1319), this contract amendment falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended (in particular by SI 2020/1319).

It is considered that the amendment 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 32(b)(ii) because competition is absent for technical reasons and 72(1)(b) of the PCR 2015 because it constitutes a permitted modification under that regulation. This is because these additional goods and services have become necessary and to introduce a change of contractor at this stage cannot be made for economic and technical reasons, as only QinetiQ has the necessary technical knowledge and design information in order to purchase compatible payloads and subsequently integrate those payloads with the existing equipment. There are specific interoperability requirements which require the payloads to work with this existing equipment to ensure that the safety and airworthiness requirements detailed in the original requirements can be met. To introduce a change in Contractor at this stage would also cause significant inconvenience, delays and substantial duplication of cost for the MOD.

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 (MOD), intends to modify an existing contract with QinetiQ Ltd, under Contract Reference 702664450 for Project Vampire Phase 1 (the purchase of a number of air vehicles, launchers and control stations together with supporting services relating to safety and airworthiness) to include the purchase and integration of Radalt payloads and spares. There is no increase to the overall contract value, but these specific items are estimated at £150,000 to be purchased within the existing contract maximum value. In accordance with the provisions of The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI No. 2020/1319), this contract amendment falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as amended (in particular by SI 2020/1319).

It is considered that the amendment 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 32(b)(ii) because competition is absent for technical reasons and 72(1)(b) of the PCR 2015 because it constitutes a permitted modification under that regulation. This is because these additional goods and services have become necessary and to introduce a change of contractor at this stage cannot be made for economic and technical reasons, as only QinetiQ has the necessary technical knowledge and design information in order to purchase compatible payloads and subsequently integrate those payloads with the existing equipment. There are specific interoperability requirements which require the payloads to work with this existing equipment to ensure that the safety and airworthiness requirements detailed in the original requirements can be met. To introduce a change in Contractor at this stage would also cause significant inconvenience, delays and substantial duplication of cost for the MOD.

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

702664450

Title

Project Vampire Phase 1

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

16 August 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

QinetiQ Ltd

Farnborough

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
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: £150,000

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

Portsmouth

Country

United Kingdom