Awarded contract

(FTUAS) Integration into T23 Combat Management System (CMS)

  • Ministry of Defence

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice reference: 2021/S 000-029406

Published 25 November 2021, 10:45pm



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence

Portsmouth

Email

lee.culshaw100@mod.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://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

(FTUAS) Integration into T23 Combat Management System (CMS)

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 35611800 - Reconnaissance aircrafts

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

The Royal Navy, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a contract to BAE Systems for the development of software and procurement of hardware to integrate data streams from the Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (FTUAS) into its host Type-23 frigate (T23) Combat Management System (CMS). The contract will have an initial term of 3 years and 3 months, plus 2 options to extend for a further 1 year each. It is considered that this contract can be awarded using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of The Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. 

This is because the FTUAS hardware and software solution will require integration with ‘legacy’ Combat Management System (CMS) on the host platform. The CMS is a proprietary system owned by BAE Systems, no other supplier has access to it. As well as owning and developing the CMS, BAES also are the sole owners of the source code for the CMS system and as such are the only supplier who are in possession of the expertise and know-how to complete the required upgrades, and to meet the security and integration testing requirements stipulated by the Integrating Authority of the MOD. The development work required to deliver the CMS functionality of the FTUAS programme is such that considerable alterations are required to be made of the CMS software, leaving BAES as the only supplier with the required access and means to the source code needed to fulfil the requirement.  

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: £1,200,000

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, intends to award a contract to BAE Systems for the development of software and procurement of hardware to integrate data streams from the Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (FTUAS) into its host Type-23 frigate (T23) Combat Management System (CMS). The contract will have an initial term of 3 years and 3 months, plus 2 options to extend for a further 1 year each. It is considered that this contract can be awarded using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of The Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. 

This is because the FTUAS hardware and software solution will require integration with ‘legacy’ Combat Management System (CMS) on the host platform. The CMS is a proprietary system owned by BAE Systems, no other supplier has access to it. As well as owning and developing the CMS, BAES also are the sole owners of the source code for the CMS system and as such are the only supplier who are in possession of the expertise and know-how to complete the required upgrades, and to meet the security and integration testing requirements stipulated by the Integrating Authority of the MOD. The development work required to deliver the CMS functionality of the FTUAS programme is such that considerable alterations are required to be made of the CMS software, leaving BAES as the only supplier with the required access and means to the source code needed to fulfil the requirement.  

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, intends to award a contract to BAE Systems for the development of software and procurement of hardware to integrate data streams from the Flexible Tactical Uncrewed Aerial System (FTUAS) into its host Type-23 frigate (T23) Combat Management System (CMS). The contract will have an initial term of 3 years and 3 months, plus 2 options to extend for a further 1 year each. It is considered that this contract can be awarded using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of The Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. 

This is because the FTUAS hardware and software solution will require integration with ‘legacy’ Combat Management System (CMS) on the host platform. The CMS is a proprietary system owned by BAE Systems, no other supplier has access to it. As well as owning and developing the CMS, BAES also are the sole owners of the source code for the CMS system and as such are the only supplier who are in possession of the expertise and know-how to complete the required upgrades, and to meet the security and integration testing requirements stipulated by the Integrating Authority of the MOD. The development work required to deliver the CMS functionality of the FTUAS programme is such that considerable alterations are required to be made of the CMS software, leaving BAES as the only supplier with the required access and means to the source code needed to fulfil the requirement.  

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

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

25 November 2021

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

BAE Systems Surface Ships Ltd

Portsmouth

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: £1,200,000

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