Scope
Reference
713335450
Description
DE&S Deca, on behalf of the Air Commodities Delivery Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence ("MOD"), intends to enter into a 5 year plus 3 option years contract with ETher NDE Ltd for the provision of In-Service Support (ISS) services, including the repair and maintenance of the equipment, the calibration of the equipment and the provision of software updates, in relation to the Eddy Current Flaw Detector Non-Destructive Test Equipment held at various locations within the MOD, which equipment supports the MOD's Air Defence capabilities. The proposed contract is expected to commence on 8th September 2025 (subject to change) and to have a total Value of £0.879M (Ex Vat).
Contract 1. Supply of In-Service Support for Eddy Current Flaw Detector Equipment
Supplier
Contract value
- £879,000 excluding VAT
- £1,054,800 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
8 September 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 8 September 2025 to 7 September 2030
- Possible extension to 7 September 2033
- 8 years
Description of possible extension:
3 option years after the contract period to be considered providing the requirement is still valid
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 71632200 - Non-destructive testing services
- 50210000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft and other equipment
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Particular suitability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
- Single supplier - intellectual property or exclusive rights
- Single supplier - technical reasons
This procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a planned procurement notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the Act) is lawful in accordance with paragraph 5 of Schedule 5 to the Act due to the proposed supplier having exclusive rights and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 due to an absence of competition for technical reasons.
This is because ETher NDE Ltd is the original equipment manufacturer of the equipment, the design authority for the equipment and the exclusive owner and holder of all intellectual property rights and proprietary technical information (including drawings, specifications and software) relating to the Eddy Current Flaw Detector Non-Destructive Test Equipment and the TE Test Software required to calibrate the equipment and the only supplier with access to the intellectual property rights and the proprietary technical information necessary to enable the ISS services to be performed. In addition, the ISS services, in particular the required software updates for the equipment, are necessary in order to maintain the interoperability of the equipment with other Non-Destructive Test Equipment operated by the MOD in support of the MOD's Air Defence capabilities.
There are no reasonable alternatives to these ISS services, therefore Ether NDE is the only supplier able to perform the required ISS services.
Supplier
Ether NDE Limited
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PMMW-6925-YVYV
18 Brick Knoll Park
St Albans
AL1 5UG
United Kingdom
Email: sales@ethernde.com
Website: https://ethernde.com/
Region: UKH23 - Hertfordshire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Supply of In-Service Support for Eddy Current Flaw Detector Equipment
Contracting authority
Defence Equipment and Support
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVRL-5831-GLMM
DE&S Deca MOD Sealand, Welsh Road
Deeside
CH5 2LS
United Kingdom
Email: DES-DECA-MST-Procurement@mod.gov.uk
Website: http://www.contracts.mod.uk
Region: UKL23 - Flintshire and Wrexham
Organisation type: Public authority - central government