Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Abbey Wood, Filton
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Contact
Mr Garry Ogborne
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
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
Royal Navy Diving Threat Exploitation Group - Integration & Support of Neptune Autonomy Software
Reference number
701558388-1
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Provision of Neptune software and subsequent integration into RN Diving Threat Exploitation Group equipment, including associated software 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: £2,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Main site or place of performance
SeeByte Ltd
Orchard Brae House
30 Queensferry Road
Edinburgh
EH4 2HS
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of Neptune software and subsequent integration into RN Diving Threat Exploitation Group equipment, including associated software support
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
Negotiated procedure without 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 Mine Hunting Capability (MHC) Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), intends to place an amendment to the current Autonomy Software Integration and Support Contract (Contract Reference: 701558388) with SeeByte Limited (SeeByte) for the integration of a common autonomy software solution into the equipment of the Royal Navy (RN) Diving Threat Exploitation Group (DTXG). The integration of this common autonomy software solution will involve the provision of software, its installation into the DTXG equipment and any low-level software development required over the contract term. The term of the proposed contract amendment will be for 15 months but this period will fall within the original term of the MHC Autonomy Software Integration and Support Contract. The maximum total value of the proposed amendment will not exceed £2m for the entire 15-month period. This will increase the total value of the MHC Autonomy Software Integration and Support contract to £4m.
Currently, this DTXG equipment does not utilise a common protocol of technology and software, and subsequently cannot be integrated into the system architecture that is being developed as part of the wider MHC programme. This software solution is namely Neptune, which has been solely developed by and is only available via SeeByte. Neptune enables autonomy behaviours for Unmanned Vehicles and equipment to work collaboratively and effectively for the purpose of Maritime Mine Countermeasures and underwater intelligent surveillance and reconnaissance. The software also enables features such as: Low-Level mission planning, Autonomous missions and Mine Threat Identification and classification.
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 provisions of the Defence and 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 Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate.
It is considered that the award of the contract amendment 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 (as amended) for Technical Reasons. This is because only SeeByte’s Neptune software can meet the MoD’s requirements and only SeeByte, as the original software developer, can install it into the DTXG equipment and carry out any necessary low level software development activities. To ensure the appropriate level of commonality, compatibility and supportability, it is deemed that the DTXG requirement for integration of a common autonomy software solution must be delivered via the Neptune suite of software available from SeeByte. The Neptune software is the current solution already being integrated into existing MHC platforms, and is also in use by a number of UK Allies. The requirement for inter-operability with these other platforms is a critical factor in the successful integration into, and future functionality of, the DTXG equipment.
As the developer of the Neptune suite of software, only SeeByte Ltd possess the requisite access to the applicable software source code to be integrated into the DTXG equipment, and the requisite tools and technical ability to modify the software as may become necessary during the course of that integration.
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
701558388
Title
MHC Autonomy Software Integration & Support (To be amended to include Royal Navy DTXG requirement)
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
6 December 2022
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
SeeByte Ltd
Orchard Brae House, 30 Queensferry Road
Edinburgh
EH4 2HS
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
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: £2,000,000
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
Ministry of Defence, DE&S, Mine Hunting Capability Team
MHC Project Team, Ash 0B, NH3, MoD Abbey Wood, Filton
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom