Award

Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Interim Support Phase 2

  • Ministry of Defence

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2023/S 000-033420

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0417ad

Published 13 November 2023, 11:39am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence

Bristol

BS34 8JH

Contact

Robert Stevens

Email

robert.stevens121@mod.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

Region code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://des.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

Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Interim Support Phase 2

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 35722000 - Radar

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

QEC IFF is a secondary surveillance radar system fitted to the two ships in the QEC. It forms part of the QEC Mission System and contributes towards situational awareness, identification and Air Traffic Control operations within both vessels.

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: £3,500,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

In Service Support contract allowing for the provision of technical support; training provision; asset repair and procurement. These services are needed to support the Authority to maximise system availability and sustain platform operational capability.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

One year extension period, from 1st April 2027 to 31st March 2028.

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 Secretary of State for Defence (the Authority), through the Surface Ships Combat Systems Group (SSCSG) Project Team within Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) intends to place a 3-year contract, with a 1-year option period for a maximum duration of 4 years, with Leonardo UK Ltd. for the Support of Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Identification Friend or Foe (IFF).

QEC IFF is a secondary surveillance radar system fitted to the two ships in the QEC. It forms part of the QEC Mission System and contributes towards situational awareness, identification and Air Traffic Control operations within both vessels.

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)(a)(ii) of the UK Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical and safety reasons. Leonardo UK Ltd. is the existing service provider and only they possess the necessary expertise, means and know how essential to delivering and supporting the IFF capability as it is a bespoke technical solution fitted to QEC which is a key mitigator of several risks to life. It is not feasible for another supplier to achieve the required technical performance, as they would not have the specific technical knowledge, tools and means which the current supplier has at its disposal. Not achieving the required technical performance would represent a critical safety failure as loss or reduction of the dual island interrogator capability would lead to blind spots in the QEC’s air traffic management (ATM) capabilities, with significant safety risk consequences for both military and civilian aviation as a result. Therefore, only Leonardo UK Ltd. can provide the service from a safety perspective.

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

708289450

Title

Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Identification Friend of Foe (IFF) Interim Support Phase 2

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

13 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

Leonardo UK Ltd.

Southampton

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: £3,500,000

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 and Support (DE&S)

Bristol

Country

United Kingdom