Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Contact
Lewis Harvey-Samuel
lewis.harvey-samuel100@mod.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
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
PROJECT VENTUS
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73410000 - Military research and technology
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
Research and development services relating to a concept demonstration of alternate and non-radar sensor technologies to support UK Air Surveillance in development of the Recognised Air Picture.
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: £800,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Research and development services relating to a concept demonstration of alternate and non-radar sensor technologies to support UK Air Surveillance in development of the Recognised Air Picture.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
Option 1: Additional tasks as may be required to support the concept demonstration.
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 contract concerns research and development services other than those referred to in the regulations
- 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:
Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract with Leonardo UK Ltd ("the Contractor") to carry out research and development services relating to a concept demonstration of alternate and non-radar sensor technologies to support UK Air Surveillance in development of the Recognised Air Picture.
The Contractor will support a concept demonstration, which is designed and delivered by the RAF. The contractor will provide a report on findings. The concept demonstration will use an existing in-service sensor for which the Contractor is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). As the OEM, only the Contractor possesses the necessary technical information to conduct the concept demonstration.
It is considered that this proposed contract for research & development services can be awarded using the negotiation without prior publication of a contract notice procedure. This is because it falls under The Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations (DSPCR) 2011, Regulation 16(1)(c)(i) (as amended by The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, and The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020).
It meets the DSPCR’s definition of R&D activities, as an R&D services contract other than those covered by the R&D services exclusion at Regulation 7(1)(l). This proposed contract is assessed as falling under the definition of applied research as defined at Regulation 3.
It is considered that this contract is also justified under DSPCR Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii), on grounds of unique technical capability. Only the OEM, Leonardo UK, has the necessary technical information to deliver the requirement. This is because the supplier is required to assess whether the equipment is fit for purpose and if necessary to upgrade / maintain the equipment. The supplier must also oversee deployment at the concept demonstration. The system is a bespoke novel in-service system which has a design specific to the OEM, therefore an alternative supplier would have to reverse engineer the technology, causing unknown time delay and introducing unacceptable risk in the performance of the requirement.
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
709298450
Title
PROJECT VENTUS
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 December 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
Leonardo UK
Luton
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
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: £800,000
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
Air Defence and Electronic Warfare Systems and Windfarms Delivery Team
Defence Equipment & Support
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Country
United Kingdom