Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name, addresses and contact point(s)
Ministry of Defence
Building B15, MoD Donnington
Telford
TF2 8JT
Contact
Farnham David
For the attention of
Farnham David
Email(s)
david.farnham@babcockinternational.com
Country
United Kingdom
Section two: Object of the contract
two.1) Description
two.1.1) Title attributed to the contract
The Supply of Heavy Armoured Vehicle Track and Associated Items
two.1.2) Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance
Supplies
Purchase
NUTS code
- UKG21 - Telford and Wrekin
two.1.4) Short description of the contract or purchase(s)
The Defence Equipment & Support Land Equipment Vehicle Support Team (VST), part of the UK Ministry of Defence, has awarded a single source framework contract to Cook Defence Systems (CDS) for the provision of track for the VST managed Armoured Fighting Vehicle fleet for a period of 2 years with the option to extend for a further year (one-year option). Please note, Babcock Land Defence Limited (BLDL) is acting as agent on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
two.1.5) Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)
- 35400000 - Military vehicles and associated parts
two.2) Total final value of contract(s)
two.2.1) Total final value of contract(s)
Value: £125,000,000
Section four: Procedure
Type of procedure
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Justification for the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice
1) Justification for the choice of the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice
The works/goods/services can be provided only by a particular tenderer for reasons that are:
technical
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 without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 for technical reasons and regulation 16(1)(b)(i)(bb) relating to operation and maintenance. It is believed that the services to be provided under the contract can only be supplied by the CDS because CDS is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) for these platforms tracks and as such have a detailed understanding of the inherent design of each vehicles track system, understand the implications on the safe operability of the vehicles from any proposed design changes to the parent platform and has developed the necessary relationships with the parent platform's DA's. The Authority is unable to procure a differing track product due to the disproportionate cost and significant logistical and technical burden a mixed configuration of track components would have on the Front Line Command (FLC).
The Authority would need to ensure that FLC are trained in the installation and maintenance of two different types of track and the Authority will need to sufficiently procure two different sets of track under separate contracts to ensure sufficient spares for both types are available. Additionally, there is a significant logistical burden on the FLC whereby they will have to ensure sufficient load carrying capability is available to transit two different types of track to support deployed Operational and Training fleets. Technical risk is created whereby maintainers may inadvertently cross-contaminate track from the differing types, invalidating the Safety Case for that platform. All of this creates an unacceptable operational risk and the Authority does not intend to procure a sufficient number of track components to enact a whole-fleet replacement to eliminate the risk of a mixed configuration.
Section five: Award of contract
Contract No
IRM24/7680
five.1) Date of contract award decision
3 June 2025
five.2) Information about offers
Number of offers received
1
Number of offers received by electronic means
1
five.3) Name and address of economic operator in favour of whom the contract award decision has been taken
Cook Defence Systems Limited
Stanhope
Country
United Kingdom
five.4) Information on value of contract
Total final value of the contract
Value: £125,000,000