Award

Platform Data Management Systems 4 (PDM4) Obsolescence Recovery

  • Ministry of Defence

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-035568

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-055492

Published 27 June 2025, 7:30am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence

Bristol

Email

jordan.jones685@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

Platform Data Management Systems 4 (PDM4) Obsolescence Recovery

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 32352100 - Parts of radio and radar equipment

two.1.3) Type of contract

Supplies

two.1.4) Short description

There is a requirement for the Maritime Command & Control, Targeting, Navigation, and Communications Team (C2TNC) within Sense, Decide and Communicate (SDC) to provide obsolescence recovery for the Platform Data Management System 4 (PDM 4) fitted to Vanguard Class Submarines. PDM In-Service Support is currently provided through contract CSA/3049. PDM4 has been in operation since the early 1990s with an expected in-service period until 2015. The original Out of Service Dates (OSD) has been extended by up to 100%, and no provision of additional stores was made when the OSDs were extended. As a result, work is now required to address the high-risk obsolescence issues, where there are low stores and items which require regular Survey and Repair. Failure to do this will adversely impact the operational capability of the CASD Vanguard Class Submarines. Currently the two main areas of concern are (1) Power Supply Units (PSUs) of which there are three variants and (2) PEC SIOs. Both items are critical to the safe operation of PDM4

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: £3,000,000

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

There is a requirement for the Maritime Command & Control, Targeting, Navigation, and Communications Team (C2TNC) within Sense, Decide and Communicate (SDC) to provide obsolescence recovery for the Platform Data Management System 4 (PDM 4) fitted to Vanguard Class Submarines. PDM In-Service Support is currently provided through contract CSA/3049. PDM4 has been in operation since the early 1990s with an expected in-service period until 2015. The original Out of Service Dates (OSD) has been extended by up to 100%, and no provision of additional stores was made when the OSDs were extended. As a result, work is now required to address the high-risk obsolescence issues, where there are low stores and items which require regular Survey and Repair. Failure to do this will adversely impact the operational capability of the CASD Vanguard Class Submarines. Currently the two main areas of concern are (1) Power Supply Units (PSUs) of which there are three variants and (2) PEC SIOs. Both items are critical to the safe operation of PDM4

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:

The C2TNC team recommends a new direct award PDM4 Obsolescence Recovery contract to be placed with Ultra Maritime (UM) justified under Section 41 and Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 which permits direct awards when the supplier’s technical capabilities are essential to the project’s success. The justification for this takes into consideration the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Technical and Safety aspects of the equipment, interfaces and interoperable systems contained within the vessels.

The intention is for the new contract to be negotiated with UM and notified to the market through the issue of a Transparency Notice (TN) to ensure compliance with the Act’s requirements to maintain transparency in the direct award procurement process

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

Title

Platform Data Management Systems 4 (PDM4) Obsolescence Recovery

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

31 December 2024

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

Ultra Maritime

Loudwater

HP10 9SD

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UK - United Kingdom
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

Yes

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £3,000,000

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

Bristol

Country

United Kingdom