Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2019-07-09
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, Submarines, In-Service Submarines (ISM) Team
Country: UK
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 35512000: Submarines
Estimated value: 14250000 GBP

Technical requirements: Procurement of submarine atmosphere monitoring system and methanol monitors inclusive of provisions for spares, servicing of equipment and initial training.
To procure the analox atmosphere analyser unit and methanol monitors for RN submarines and additional 2 units for each item for training purposes. This shall be inclusive of spares provision, servicing for equipment and initial training courses.
The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (the ‘Authority’) intends to place a contract (the ‘Contract’) for the procurement of the Analox Centralised Atmosphere Analyser (AA) and Methanol Monitors to meet the Authority's minimum requirements for Atmosphere Monitoring in a closed boat environment by adhering to UK legislation (including in relation to EH40 levels) with Analox Military Systems Ltd (the ‘Company’).
It is considered that the Contract can be placed using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a Contract Notice pursuant to Article 28(1)(e) of Directive 2009/81/EC (Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) for technical reasons.
(i) the Authority requires a system which detects low levels of gases at a more accurate level, in line with UK legislation (including EH40 levels), and one which can provide graphical representations of the environment, the AA Unit is the only fixed atmosphere monitoring system in the supply market with the capability to meet the Authority's requirements and Analox Military Systems Ltd are the only supplier with the capability, design rights and technical expertise to manufacture the AA Unit;
(ii) an improved capability for fixed atmosphere monitoring system is required to specifically detect and measure low levels of gases at a more accurate level. In particular, the acceptance of Women into active submarine service leads to an Authority specific requirement to monitor submarine gases, to ensure that the environment (specifically carbon dioxide) does not harm potential ongoing pregnancies. The company are the only supplier with the capability to provide an atmosphere monitoring system to meet this requirement, with provisions to allow for real time medical decisions to be enacted whilst in service
(iii) future RN submarines will have the AA Unit installed. Procurement of a characteristically different fixed atmosphere monitor on-board the remaining RN Fleet (the subject of this VEAT) would cause disproportionate technical difficulties in the operation and maintenance of existing equipment across platforms and in relation to training and the provision of spares.
The Authority reserves the right to amend any condition related to security of information to reflect any changes in national law or government policy. If any contract documents are accompanied by instructions on safeguarding classified information (e.g. a security aspects letter), the Authority reserves the right to amend the terms of these instructions to reflect any changes in national law or government policy, whether in respect of the applicable protective marking scheme, specific protective markings given, the aspects to which any protective marking applies, or otherwise. The link below to the Gov.uk website provides information on the Government Security Classification.
Advertising Regime OJEU: This contract opportunity is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), the MoD Defence Contracts Bulletin and www.contracts.mod.uk GO Reference: GO-201975-DCB-15062600


Winner: Analox Military Systems Ltd
Award value: 14250000