Award

Repair and Maintenance Services for Telecommunications and Radio Network (Project FARSIGHT)

  • Ministry of Defence

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-027178

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-03fc9f

Published 14 September 2023, 10:12am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence

Corsham

Contact

Reuben Treasure

Email

reuben.treasure227@mod.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UKK11 - Bristol, City of

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://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

Repair and Maintenance Services for Telecommunications and Radio Network (Project FARSIGHT)

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 50312600 - Maintenance and repair of information technology equipment

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

Repair and Maintenance Services for Telecommunications and Radio Network (Project FARSIGHT)

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: £16,000,000

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 31711423 - Microwave radio equipment
  • 32230000 - Radio transmission apparatus with reception apparatus
  • 32412000 - Communications network

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
  • UKK11 - Bristol, City of
Main site or place of performance

Falkland Island

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

Defence Digital Networks Commercial – Strategic Services (Radios), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), intends to issue an Invitation to Negotiate single source procurement with the aim to award a contract to Airbus Defence & Space Ltd for the duration of 5 years (with annual break points after year 3). This service will maintain and sustain the current assets which are owned by Airbus Defence & Space Ltd. Maintenance and sustainment activities will include spares, repair, obsolescence management, and the ongoing training of MoD personnel for the existing FARSIGHT system. As the Ministry of Defence does not own the solution and assets, it does not have the authority to allow another supplier to maintain and sustain the system.

It is important to note, that delivery in theatre creates, specific, environmental and logistical constraints. Such that to sustain and maintain services on the Falkland island can require a period of 3 years to allow for inspection, design, build, test and commission, within favourable weather windows.

In accordance with the provisions of The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI No. 2020/1319, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. 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 because competition is absent for technical reasons. Equipment and Intellectual Property Rights of the current solution are owned by Airbus Defence and Space.

In addition the Authority would like industry to note the Authority may use Repetition of works or services (Regulation 16(1)(d)(ii)) if further works or provide further services, which are a repeat of the original works or services are required.

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

Negotiated procedure without publication of a contract notice

  • 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:

Defence Digital Networks Commercial – Strategic Services (Radios), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), intends to issue an Invitation to Negotiate single source procurement with the aim to award a contract to Airbus Defence & Space Ltd for the duration of 5 years (with annual break points after year 3). This service will maintain and sustain the current assets which are owned by Airbus Defence & Space Ltd. Maintenance and sustainment activities will include spares, repair, obsolescence management, and the ongoing training of MoD personnel for the existing FARSIGHT system. As the Ministry of Defence does not own the solution and assets, it does not have the authority to allow another supplier to maintain and sustain the system.

It is important to note, that delivery in theatre creates, specific, environmental and logistical constraints. Such that to sustain and maintain services on the Falkland island can require a period of 3 years to allow for inspection, design, build, test and commission, within favourable weather windows.

In accordance with the provisions of The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI No. 2020/1319, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. 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 because competition is absent for technical reasons. Equipment and Intellectual Property Rights of the current solution are owned by Airbus Defence and Space.

In addition the Authority would like industry to note the Authority may use Repetition of works or services (Regulation 16(1)(d)(ii)) if further works or provide further services, which are a repeat of the original works or services are required.

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

709136452

Title

Repair and Maintenance Services for Telecommunications and Radio Network (Project FARSIGHT)

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

13 September 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

Airbus Defence and Space Limited

Quadrant House

Newport

NP10 8FZ

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKK11 - Bristol, City of
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: £16,000,000

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £16,000,000

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

Defence Digital

MOD Corsham

Country

United Kingdom