Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
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
531533.75
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72261000 - Software support services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Provision of BOSS Software and In-Service Support
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: £531,533.75
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 35711000 - Command, control, communication systems
- 72253000 - Helpdesk and support services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This procurement is for the in-service software support for 3x BOSS licences held by SACC DT, plus an additional licence
two.2.5) Award criteria
Criterion: Tactical Communications Group NAPNOC
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Additional years support, plus training package.
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
- New works/services, constituting a repetition of existing works/services
Explanation:
The Situational Awareness Command and Control Delivery Team (SACC DT), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the Authority), intends to award a contract to Tactical Communications Group, LLC based in the USA for the provision of Battlefield Operations Support System (BOSS) software and in-service support under the Link 16 Terminal Support Project and Maritime Tactical Data Link Support Unit (MTDLSU). The Contract is for the purchase of 1x Tactical Communications Group (TCG) BOSS software licence including in-service software support, and in-service software support for the 3x BOSS software licences currently in-service. The contract will be awarded for 3 years duration, and the estimated value is £531,533.75 ex VAT.
In accordance with Regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provision of The Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (DSPCR) 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). It is considered that the award of the Contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 for technical reasons.
Simulation support and logic tools provide MTDLSU, part of SACC, the ability to produce data input to and from a nominated Tactical Data Link (TDL) domain, this can either be from a live environment or within a stimulated environment. BOSS a TCG product is considered the only viable solution as this is the only software variant that has the technical breadth and scope to meet MTDSLU demands in one tool to minimise training and future support costs. The required capability that BOSS provides is not available from other tools, specifically the multi capability with VMF (Variable Message Format) radio control (being an important requirement of the Authority) being unique to the BOSS tool which is a key user requirement. This multi-Tactical Data Link capability is present and used by MOD in relation to existing Platforms. The BOSS software is required as it is the only sufficiently stable software available that replicates this functionality and allows MOD to conduct training on this type of data link.
Tactical Communications Group, LLC. is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and is the sole owner of the Intellectual Property Rights of the BOSS software. The software support required by TDLSU can only be performed by Tactical Communications Group, LLC as only they hold the technical information, tools and technical expertise required to provide the in-service software support. The support cannot be performed without access to this technical expertise.
The Cyber Risk profile is N/A. The reference for the Risk Assessment is: RAR-843352599
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
SACC/00101
Title
Provision of BOSS Software and In-Service Support
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
16 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
Tactical Communications Group, LLC.
Tewksbury
Country
United States
NUTS code
- US - United States
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Lowest offer: £531,533.75 / Highest offer: £531,533.75 taken into consideration
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
Situational Awareness Command and Control Delivery Team
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom