Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Tactical Systems Service Executive (TacSys SE), Defence Digital Commercial, Strategic Command, Mail Point 3008, Ash 0a, MoD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Contact
Samantha Temblett
samantha.temblett100@mod.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3001677789
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://modgovuk.sharepoint.com/sites/intranet
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
Production and Installation of Integrated UHF SATCOM & EFMTE 4.2 Baseline Equipment (which consist of bespoke integrated satellite communications equipment) for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 Ships 2 & 3
Reference number
706217450-A
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 32530000 - Satellite-related communications equipment
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
Production and Installation of Integrated UHF SATCOM & EFMTE 4.2 Baseline Equipment (which consist of bespoke integrated satellite communications equipment) for the Royal Navy’s T26 fleet Ships 2 & 3
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: £4,282,229.74
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Production and Installation of Integrated UHF SATCOM & EFMTE 4.2 Baseline Equipment (which consist of bespoke integrated satellite communications equipment) for the Royal Navy’s T26 fleet Ships 2 & 3
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
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
MoD has awarded a 4-year Contract to STS Defence Limited for production & installation of Integrated UHF SATCOM & EFMTE 4.2 baseline equipment (which consist of bespoke integrated satellite communications equipment) for the Royal Navy’s T26 fleet Ships 2 & 3. This equipment meets the Fleet User Requirement Document, such that the user shall be able to provide a communications service to support Information Exchange Requirements for simultaneous voice and data. Capable of supporting DAMA, FM, High Performance Waveform and Integrated Waveform data services within 25KHz channel. It has the ability for one antenna to access two different satellites operating on different waveforms and frequencies simultaneously; and to interface the modems used by the Royal Navy Fleet and radios used by embarked forces through the same antennae.
As per regulation 4 of The Defence & Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls under the provisions of the Defence & Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the OJEU is not appropriate.
This Contract was placed using the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication of a Contract Notice (in accordance with the relevant legislation) pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 (as amended) for Technical Reasons.
STS previously designed a bespoke UHF SATCOM 4.2 Design capability in partnership with SNXP Limited which is accredited for use by MoD on T26 Fleet. Installation of this capability in Ship 1 was carried out by STS under a task on an existing MoD Contract, which was competed and awarded to STS. Due to an exclusivity agreement, SNXP will only supply STS with the required hardware design and technical expertise to enable them to complete installation.
Contractual timelines for the delivery of this equipment capability into T26 Ships 2 and 3 are already embedded within the existing T26 Ship Building Contract (Ref. SHIPACQ036) as a requirement to enable repeat supply and fit.
Only STS/SNXP have the technical ability and experience necessary to produce and install this equipment capability into T26 Ships 2 and 3 in a manner that is accredited for use by the MoD and meets the required timescales.
It was not viable for another supplier to deliver an alternative design meeting MoD’s technical requirement within the necessary timescales. The STS/SNXP design is approved by Naval Command Headquarters & Director Special Forces to ensure it is fit for use. This design & accreditation process took several years to complete. Bringing in a third-party supplier to design new equipment, obtaining MoD approval & accreditation for the new design and building and installing it on T26 Ships 2 & 3 would incur significant and disproportionate additional time and cost consequences to the MoD, and also result in significant delays to Vessel Acceptance Date (by which MoD are required to have agreed that the T26 Ship has been delivered to an acceptable level in accordance with the T26 Ship Building Contract (Ref. SHIPACQ036)), thereby causing an unacceptable capability gap.
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
Contract No
706217450-A
Lot No
Not Applicable
Title
Production and Installation of Integrated UHF SATCOM & EFMTE 4.2 Baseline Equipment (which consist of bespoke integrated satellite communications equipment) for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 Ships 2 & 3
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
9 October 2023
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
STS Defence Limited
Mumby Road, Gosport
Hampshire
PO12 1AF
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £4,282,229.74
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Ministry of Defence - Defence Digital Commercial
Ash 0a, MoD Abbey Wood,
Bristol,
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Ministry of Defence – Central Legal Services
Poplar 2, MoD Abbey Wood,
Bristol,
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Ministry of Defence - Defence Digital Commercial
Ash 0a, MoD Abbey Wood,
Bristol,
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom