Scope
Reference
SHIPACQ/216
Description
Procurement of 3 IFF systems for Fleet Solid Support (FSS) with technical support and spares for both Type 31 and FSS
Contract 1. Type 31 Identification Friend of Foe
Supplier
Contract value
- £12,500,000 excluding VAT
- £15,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
31 August 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 31 August 2025 to 1 June 2030
- 4 years, 9 months, 2 days
Main procurement category
Goods
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
extended warranty and mode interlace package
CPV classifications
- 32531000 - Satellite communications equipment
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
None
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
The Fleet Solid Support ("FSS") Delivery Team and the Type 31 Delivery Team, which are part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the "Authority"), propose to place a contract with Leonardo UK Ltd (Company Registration Number 02426132) (the "Company") for the provision of three (3) Mode 5 Identification Friend-or-Foe Systems (the "Systems") to be integrated onto the Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels (the "RFA Vessels") along with technical information and equipment spares (the "Goods").
The proposed contract will also include an ability for the Authority to obtain technical support from the Company (the "Services").
The proposed contract has an estimated value of £12,500,000 (twelve million five hundred thousand pounds) ex VAT and a duration of five (5) years.
This procurement falls to be governed by the Procurement Act 2023 (the "PA23") Chapter 3, Section 41: Direct Award in Special Cases. It is considered that direct award of the proposed contract is lawful in accordance with PA23 Schedule 5(6)(a)(b) which relates to an absence of competition for technical reasons for the following reasons.
It is considered that direct award is lawful in accordance with paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 PA 2023 due to an absence of competition for technical reasons. There is an absence of competition for technical reasons as no other supplier (other than the Company) is able to supply the Systems and Goods or provide the Services that meet MoD's requirements and there are no reasonable alternatives to the Systems, Goods and/or Services.
Further, the Systems and Goods are required to have the same technical characteristics as existing systems and goods that are already in operation across wider UK MoD platforms. Operating systems and goods with different technical characteristics simultaneously across multiple RFA Vessels and UK MOD platforms would cause disproportionate technical difficulties in the operation and maintenance of the existing systems, goods and services. In particular, it would cause safety and operational user risk to arise, particularly with regards to the Cryptographic elements of the Systems, the Goods and the Services.
Supplier
Leonardo UK Ltd
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTZR-4468-QGLG
1 Eagle Place, St James
London
SW1Y 6AF
United Kingdom
Email: enquiries@Leonardo.co.uk
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. Type 31 Identification Friend of Foe
Contracting authority
Defence Equipment and Support
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVRL-5831-GLMM
MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
United Kingdom
Contact name: FSS Commercial
Email: petros.piere294@mod.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-equipment-and-support
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government