Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
BRISTOL
Contact
Anna Childs
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
FSTA/00009/VOSE - Voyager Operating System Evolution (VOSE)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 50650000 - Repair and maintenance services of military aircrafts, missiles and spacecrafts
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
FSTA/00009/VOSE - Voyager Operating System Evolution (VOSE)
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: £170,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 35611700 - Tanker aircrafts
- 50211000 - Repair and maintenance services of aircraft
- 63733000 - Aircraft refuelling services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- ES - Spain
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
AirTanker Hub, Brize Norton, Carterton, Oxon
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Single Source Procurement for the Design, Development, Certification, Qualification, Embodiment and Through-Life Support of the Voyager Operating System Evolution from AirTanker Ltd for the Voyager fleet
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Variable number of FSTA VOSE Embodiments from 10 to 14
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 works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
Voluntary Transparency Notice (VTN) Voyager FSTA Military Obsolescence
The Voyager Delivery Team (VDT), part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to amend Contract FSTA/00009 (Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft Concession Contract) with AirTanker Ltd. The Contract Amendment(s) will enable the design, development, procurement, certification, embodiment and through-life support of the Voyager Operating System Evolution (VOSE) on the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA). This in turn will resolve the Military Mission System obsolescence by embodying the Multifunction Information Distribution System and the Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS/JTRS).
In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement is 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).
It is considered that this Contract Amendment may be made pursuant to 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 reasons.
It is a regulatory requirement that any Contractor selected to execute VOSE and embody the MIDS/JTRS on the FSTA must be an FSTA/Multi Role Transport Tanker (MRTT) Manufacturer Approved Organization Scheme (MAOS) organisation. The Contractor would also need to be approved by Airbus SAS (the Aircraft OEM), Airbus DS (the Aircraft Design Authority) and AirTanker Ltd (the owner of the Aircraft) to perform the upgrade. AirTanker Ltd UK is the only Contractor who meets these criteria because of the specific know-how and licensing it holds.
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
FSTA/00009 - VOSE
Title
The Concession Contract - VOSE Amendment
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
24 June 2025
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
AirTanker Ltd
AirTanker Hub, RAF Brize Norton
Carterton
OX18 3LX
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
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: £170,000,000
Lowest offer: £170,000,000 / Highest offer: £170,000,000 taken into consideration
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Short description of the part of the contract to be subcontracted
Design, development certification and qualification
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Ministry of Defence
Abbeywood
BRISTOL
BS348JH
Country
United Kingdom