Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Defence Equipment & Support, MOD Abbey Wood South, Multi Helicopter Platforms, NH1 Spruce 0b #1027, Stoke Gifford
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Telephone
+44 3001666082
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS 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
Procurement of Jupiter HC Mk2 & Aviation Support to British Armed Forces Brunei & Cyprus
Reference number
708957450
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 34711500 - Helicopters
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The Authority intends to place a contract with Airbus Helicopters UK Limited for the supply of six (6) Jupiter HC Mk2 Helicopters to include three (3) years support services for use by British Forces Cyprus and British Forces Brunei.
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: £140,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 35612300 - Support helicopters
- 50212000 - Repair and maintenance services of helicopters
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- BN - Brunei
Main site or place of performance
Place of Performance of this contract is both British Forces Brunei and British Forces Cyprus
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Procurement of six (6) Jupiter HC Mk2 Helicopters and three (3) years support services.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
An option is available to extend the duration for an additional 6-month period, solely to cover any delay to setting up a follow-on support service. The contract also includes an option to procure ancillary items should this be required.
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
- No tenders or no suitable tenders/requests to participate in response to negotiated procedure with prior 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:
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) intends to award a contract to Airbus Helicopters UK Ltd (Airbus) for the supply of six (6) Jupiter HC Mk2 Helicopters and three (3) years’ technical support. The Jupiter HC Mk2 Helicopters will be used by British Forces Cyprus and British Forces Brunei to deliver capability from 2024.
The total estimated value of the contract is £140m.
In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract is regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate.
It is considered that the award of this 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 Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. This is because the Jupiter HC Mk2 Helicopter is the only rotary wing helicopter which:
i) is currently in service and certified;
ii) is technically suitable to be used for a search and rescue, air transportation and medical evacuation capability; and
iii) can meet the MoD’s timescales.
Firstly, for strategic operational purposes it is imperative that the Jupiter HC Mk2 Helicopter is already in service and certified (it was brought into service relatively recently, in October 2018). Minimising the number of rotary wing platforms maintains maximum operational effectiveness and flexibility across air and ground crews, taking into consideration the existing physical and training infrastructure supporting the fleet as a whole, including utilisation of the skills of existing trained pilots, engineering expertise, in-service support capability and on-going Military Aviation requirements.
Secondly, of the six rotary wing helicopters currently in-service, only the Jupiter HC Mk2 Helicopter is considered to fully meet the MoD’s technical requirements for size, capacity and effectiveness at operating in localised environments and terrain.
Thirdly, only Airbus is able to meet MoD’s timescales, avoiding capability gaps in this critical service.
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
708957450
Title
Procurement of Jupiter HC Mk2 & Aviation Support to British Armed Forces Brunei & Cyprus (MHP/001)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
7 November 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 Helicopters UK Limited
Langford Lane, Kiddlington, Oxfordshire
Oxford
OX5 1QZ
Telephone
+44 1939553009
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
National registration number
01164090
Internet address
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: £140,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £140,000,000
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 Equipment & Support
MOD Abbey Wood South, Multi Helicopter Platforms, NH1 Spruce 0b #1027, Stoke Gifford
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Defence Equipment & Support
MOD Abbey Wood South, Multi Helicopter Platforms, NH1 Spruce 0b #1027, Stoke Gifford
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Defence Equipment & Support
MOD Abbey Wood South, Multi Helicopter Platforms, NH1 Spruce 0b #1027, Stoke Gifford
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom