Scope
Reference
715611454
Description
The DDS requirement is to deliver a quantity of radios and ancillaries to be connected to provide the DDS system. The design to be used to deliver is owned by the MOD and was delivered as part of the Dismounted Situational Awareness (DSA) project by Rowden Technologies. The DSA project has been delayed but the design has been used by other MOD teams. Rowden continuation of support is required to deliver DDS capability, building on work they have already completed as the Design and Integration Partner for DSA project.
Contract 1. Provision of Support Services to the TacSys Dismounted Data System (DDS)
Supplier
Contract value
- £4,000,000 excluding VAT
- £4,800,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Date signed
17 September 2025
Contract dates
- 17 September 2025 to 31 March 2026
- Possible extension to 31 August 2026
- 11 months, 14 days
Description of possible extension:
Two extension periods to extend the service until replaced.
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
2x extenson options: 1x to cover period Apr-Jun'26 and 1x to cover period Jul-Aug'26
CPV classifications
- 71320000 - Engineering design services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Key performance indicators
| Name | Description | Reporting frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Provision of cellular service | Provision of a monthly report on use of the remaining SIM card and Data provision. These should be provided as an electronic version in an editable format such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint etc. |
1 months |
| Service desk response time | The speed at which the service desk responds to calls during any exercise or deployment. This must be measured by Rowden Technologies and evidence provided to the Authority on a monthly basis as an... |
1 months |
| Post Exercise observation report | Provision of a summary of lessons learnt during the user trials and test activities identifying what worked well, what could be improved, and any necessary adjustments for future use. This shall... |
10 days |
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Special regime
Defence and security
Direct award justification
Switching to direct award
The TacSys Service Executive (SE) within Defence Digital (DD), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), have placed with Rowden Technologies a 7-month contract for the Provision of Support Services to the TacSys Dismounted Data System (DDS).
It was considered that this contract can be placed using a Direct Award Procedure pursuant to Schedule 5, Paras 6 & 7, of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23) due to technical reasons and the supply of repeat services.
Following the competitive procedure through the Digital Outcomes and Specialists 5 (DOS 5) framework, the MOD awarded initial Design and Integration Partner (DIP) 2-year contract to Rowden Technologies in July 2021. The scope of the contract was to deliver a DSA system design, which would be used by the MOD to carry out an Assessment Phase competition and to supply the Dismounted Situational Awareness (DSA) system at scale. This design was delivered and has been extensively used and further developed by the MOD and will be used to deliver DDS requirement. As such a new short-term support contract is required prior to planned competition for a longer term contract. Rowden were responsible for the development and delivery of the DSA system design and are currently the only company who have the requisite technical knowhow, expertise and experience to carry out the activities required for the DDS.
A change of supplier at this time would introduce disproportionate technical difficulties in both the operation and maintenance of the DDS system, resulting in a loss of capability. Due to the above reasons the requirement will continue as a single source requirement.
Supplier
Rowden Technologies
- Companies House: 09981110
Unit G3c Bolingbroke Way
Bristol
BS34 6FE
United Kingdom
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Supported employment provider: No
Public service mutual: No
Contract 1. Provision of Support Services to the TacSys Dismounted Data System (DDS)
Contracting authority
Ministry of Defence
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ
Abbey Wood South
Bristol
BS34 8JH
United Kingdom
Contact name: Kate Pelechata
Telephone: 0303 384 3636
Email: example.example@mod.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Region: UKK12 - Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government