Scope
Reference
715692460
Description
Outfit 4KMA is a critical communication system that provides the Royal Navy (RN) with Ship/Shore and Ship/Ship data and voice communication services.
Contract 1. The Provision of Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) to Outfit 4KMA
Supplier
Contract value
- £10,000,000 excluding VAT
- £12,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
31 August 2026
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029
- Possible extension to 31 August 2031
- 5 years
Description of possible extension:
2x 1 year options
Main procurement category
Services
Options
The right to additional purchases while the contract is valid.
2x 1 year options
CPV classifications
- 50600000 - Repair and maintenance services of security and defence materials
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Direct award
Special regime
Defence and security
Direct award justification
Single supplier - technical reasons
1. The Strategic Services Radio-in-Service (RiS) Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence ("MOD"), intends to award a new contract with Thales UK for the through life support of the Outfit 4KMA High Frequency (HF) data communication system fitted on several Royal Navy (RN) platforms.
2. It is considered that this Contract can be placed as a Direct Award (for Technical Reasons) pursuant to s41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023.
3. Through Life Support of the Outfit 4KMA HF data communication system is required to:
- Maintain documentation including safety, technical publications, configuration and obsolescence management.
- Provide fault diagnosis and the development of solutions to systems problems and issues.
- Provide a repair capability to repair damaged or faulty components.
4. Outfit 4KMA is a critical communication system that provides the Royal Navy with High Frequency Ship/Shore and Ship/Ship data and voice communication services. It supports the exchange of ACP127-format formal messaging and enables maritime command and control in contested electromagnetic environments.
5. The required Through Life Support is for equipment originally designed and installed on RN platforms by Thales UK in 2005. Following installation, this equipment has also been maintained under multiple contracts with Thales UK over the last 23 years. During this time, Thales UK have built up significant technical knowledge about the 4KMA system/equipment. This knowledge is critical for the continued through-life support/maintaining the Royal Navy's HF capability and cannot be replicated by other suppliers in the market-place. Based on this (and due to the age of the equipment resulting in various obsolescence issues), Thales UK are deemed by the MOD to be the only supplier with the technical ability to meet the MOD requirement for the continued through-life support to the 4KMA equipment.
6. Thales also own the Intellectual Property for the items listed below which needs to be used for the delivery of the through-life support.
a. The TRC1760 Modem
b. Series 6000 exciter/Receiver and Front Panel
c. 125W Power Amplifier TMR 1096
d. 125W Power Amplifier TMR 1097
e. 500W Transceiver System
f. ARQ Server
g. ACP127/JANAP128 Client
h. ACP123 Client
i. HF E-mail Client
Supplier
Thales UK Limited
- Companies House: 00868273
Thales UK Limited
Crawley
RH10 9HA
United Kingdom
Region: UKJ28 - West Sussex (North East)
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. The Provision of Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) to Outfit 4KMA
Contracting authority
Ministry of Defence
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHVX-4316-ZVGZ
MOD Corsham, Westwells Rd
Corsham
SN13 9NR
United Kingdom
Email: matthew.rowan101@mod.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
Region: UKK15 - Wiltshire CC
Organisation type: Public authority - central government