Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Bristol
Contact
Rodney Gardiner
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned 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
VIRTUS Re-Compete
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 18143000 - Protective gear
two.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
two.1.4) Short description
The VIRTUS soldier system is a comprehensive system of integrated combat and protective gear developed by Source to cope with the challenges and needs of the modern infantry soldier in today's battlefield. It is the world's first integrated load carriage and protection system.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 2
The contracting authority reserves the right to award contracts combining the following lots or groups of lots:
Torso Sub System
Head Sub System
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Torso Sub System
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 18143000 - Protective gear
- 18931100 - Rucksacks
- 18934000 - Kitbags
- 18936000 - Textile bags
- 33735100 - Protective goggles
- 35113400 - Protective and safety clothing
- 35811300 - Military uniforms
- 35812200 - Combat suits
- 35812300 - Combat gear
- 35813100 - Helmet covers
- 35815100 - Bullet-proof vests
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Virtus Torso Sub System - This will be a Build To Print solution with Technical Data Packs provided by the Authority.
two.2.14) Additional information
Contract will be for 5 years + 5 x 1 Year Options
Estimated Value is between £62,000,000 and £210,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Head Sub System
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 18143000 - Protective gear
- 18444110 - Helmets
- 33735100 - Protective goggles
- 35812200 - Combat suits
- 35812300 - Combat gear
- 35813100 - Helmet covers
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Head Sub System - This will be a requirements based specification provided by the Authority.
two.2.14) Additional information
Contract will be for 5 years + 5 x 1 Year Options
Estimated Value is between £41,600,000 and £140,000,000
two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice
28 April 2023
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
On the 18th January 2023 the Authority issued information regarding the Torso Sub-System (TSS) and Head Sub-System (HSS) lots for the VIRTUS Re-Compete project.
Since this date, and the subsequent industry engagement, the Authority has been developing both the project and competitions and we are now happy to be able to provide a short update.
As noted previously, the VIRTUS Re-Compete project will deliver the system through two separate contracts, the Torso Sub-System (TSS) being Specification based i.e. built to print, and the Head Sub-System (HSS) based on a Requirements set.
However, the Authority has replanned its approach to the delivery of the project in response to changes in the approval pathway and other pressures. Our new intent is to stagger the competitions of the TSS and HSS instead of running the competitions in parallel. This approach will enable us to bring the TSS to market earlier and will allow us to develop the requirement set for the HSS more effectively. Also, due to the changes in the approval pathway, the DPQQ and ITN stages of each competition will now occur in quick succession.
The Authority estimates that the Contract Notice for the TSS will be published in Q3 2024, launching a competition with an initial DPQQ followed by an ITN issue estimated in Q4 2024.
Note. Dates are subject to change as the project continues to develop and as the team manage the wider portfolio workload and departmental priorities.
The Authority estimates that the Contract Notice for the HSS will be published in Q1 2025, launching a competition with an initial DPQQ followed by an ITN issue estimated in Q2 2025.
Note. Dates are subject to change as the project continues to develop and as the team manage the wider portfolio workload and departmental priorities.
The Authority plans to hold industry engagement events prior to the release of both the TSS and HSS Contract Notices though will not publish specific timings for those at this time.
Thank you for your continued interest in the Virtus Re-Compete