Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2020-10-20
Buyer: Ministry of Defence (MoD)
Country: UK
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated procedure
CPV classification: 35700000: Military electronic systems | 35740000 | 80660000
Estimated value:  GBP
Submission deadline: 2020-11-16
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Battle simulators. Military electronic systems. Training and simulation in military electronic systems. Interim IDFS will bring a capability into service from 2022 to support 105 mm light gun and 81 mm mortar training. The system shall produce a realistic simulated firing solution, fall of shot and effect within a simulated environment and be able to integrate with in-service simulation systems and based on open architecture and DmaSC compliance, ensure integration with potential future systems. An outline of the proposed requirement will be to demonstrate, implement and manage, over an initial period of 3 years followed by 7 x 1-year options (subject to change) a managed service capable of delivering more effective and better assured individual, trade and collective training. A change in the quantity of 81 mm mortar and/or 105 mm artillery equipments may or may not occur throughout the duration of the contract. In issuing this contract notice and engaging with the market, the authority is not committing to carrying out any procurement in relation to the requirements stated in this notice. If third parties are interested in engaging with the authority in relation to the requirements stated here, they must do so without sharing information that is protected by copyright or patents.
The Interim IDFS service will support exercises conducted at fixed training locations in the UK and concurrent deployability worldwide. The capability will be required to be used in all environments, geographically remote and austere locations (the service may be provided in a variety of environments and climates: extreme hot/dry, hot/dry, intermediate, wet/warm, wet/hot, humid/hot, coastal, desert, mild/cold, intermediate/cold, marine hot, marine intermediate) without the need for fixed infrastructure. The Interim IDFS capability intends to deliver qty 12 x 81mm mortar and 12 x 105 mm light gun training systems through a live, virtual, constructive (LVC) blended approach, which has use for individual, trade and collective training. After Action Reviews (AAR) will provide the facility to deliver a debrief to the training audiences, which will be presented by the unit chain of command with support from the service provider.
The authority reserves the right to withhold or extend the capability and/or add additional training needs in relation to the events, which may include but not be limited to:
• a reduction or increase in the quantity of systems to support 81 mm mortar and/or 105 mm light gun;
• contractual options for additional indirect fires assets to include but not be limited to Multi-Launched Rocket System (MLRS) and/or 155 mm Artillery, which if required shall be exercised at the authority's discretion;
• contractual options to extend the contract to 2033 which if required shall be exercised at the authority's discretion.
Seven (7) option years in one (1) year increments, but the authority reserves the right to take option years together.
The authority reserves the right to ask for an Indemnity, guarantee or bank bond if the supplier does not meet the standard for economic and financial standing. A parent company guarantee may also be required dependent on the formation and financial standing of the contracting business.
The contract and services provided will be made against an agreed payment plan. Payments will follow successful delivery and acceptance of services. The end to end process for the aforementioned conditions shall be handled within the contracting, purchasing and finance (CP&F) system (The DE&S Procurement and Payments software). Financing and payment conditions shall be included in the ITN.
If a group of economic operators submits a bid, the group must nominate a lead organisation to deal with the authority. The authority shall require the group to form a wholly legal entity before entering into the contract.
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 a Security Aspects Letter, the authority reserves the right to amend the terms of the Security Aspects Letter to reflect these changes in national law or government policy whether in respect of the applicable protective marking scheme, specific: protective markings given, the aspects of which any protective marking applies or otherwise.
Candidates may be required to have the necessary Personal Security Clearances (PSCs) and may need to have access to facilities with security clearance (Facility Security Clearance ‘FSCs’) e.g. on the list X register in the UK. Candidates which do not yet hold security clearance may obtain such clearance prior to the anticipated contract award. This requirement will be detailed further in the ITN.
The Cyber Risk Profile for this requirement identified by the Cyber Risk Assessment is low, as defined in DEFSTAN 05-138 (Reference: RAR-V6E8X3XA). As the Assessment has been deemed as low, potential suppliers will need to verify their identity before they are able to complete a supplier assurance questionnaire (SAQ). This is a requirement which may take up to a week to complete before being able to access the SAQ.
All suppliers must complete a SAQ, via the supplier cyber protection service, to demonstrate their level of compliance against the required Cyber Risk Level. The reference number is: RAR-V6E8X3XA.
Tenderers must, as a minimum, have Cyber Essentials Plus and conform to the low DEFSTAN 05-138 controls.

Eligibility requirements: (a) Appropriate statements from the economic operator's bankers or where appropriate, evidence of relevant professional risk indemnity insurance evidence of appropriate professional risk indemnity; at least 2 years certified audited accounts in statutory form, profit and loss account and balance sheet; statement of overall turnover to be provided with DPQQ. A financial assessment will be undertaken on the supplier's financial status. An overall pass/fail judgement will be made after considering areas such as turnover, profit, net assets, liquidity, gearing and capacity. This assessment will include the parent company where applicable. An independent financial assessment obtained from a reputable credit rating organisation will be utilised as part of this process.
The estimated average annual core contract value is approximately GBP 4.7 million, this does not include the invoking of options. If the estimated annual contract value is greater than 40 % of the supplier's turnover, the authority reserves the right to exclude the supplier from being selected to tender except where the supplier provides, to the satisfaction of the authority, evidence showing it has sufficient economic and financial capability; such evidence may include: 1) any additional information proving it has sufficient economic and financial resources to deliver the requirement; and 2) state whether the supplier is willing to provide the authority with an indemnity, guarantee or bank bond. A financial assessment will be undertaken on the supplier's financial status. An overall pass/fail judgement will be made after considering areas such as turnover, profit, net assets, liquidity, gearing and capacity. This assessment will include the parent company where applicable. An independent financial assessment obtained from a reputable credit rating organisation will be utilised as part of this process.
(a) appropriate statements for the economic operator's bankers or where appropriate, evidence of relevant professional risk indemnity insurance; (b) the presentation of balance-sheets or extracts from the balance-sheets, where publication of the balance-sheet is required under the law of the country in which the economic operator is established; (c) where appropriate, a statement, covering the three (3) previous financial years of the economic operator, of: (i) the overall turnover of the business of the economic operator, and (ii) where appropriate, the turnover in respect of the work, works, goods or services which are of a similar type to the subject matter of the contract. Evidence of appropriate risk indemnity; at least two (2) years certified audited accounts in statutory form, profit and loss account and balance sheet; statement of overall turnover to be provided with the DPQQ. A financial assessment will be undertaken on the supplier's financial status. An overall pass/fail judgement will be made after considering areas such as turnover, profit, net assets, liquidity, gearing and capacity. This assessment will include the parent company where applicable. An independent financial assessment obtained from a reputable credit rating organisation will be utilised as part of this process.
The authority reserves the right to exclude the supplier from being selected to tender except where the supplier provides, to the satisfaction of the authority, evidence showing it has sufficient economic and financial capability; such evidence may include: 1) any additional information proving it has sufficient economic and financial resources to deliver the requirement; and 2) state whether the supplier is willing to provide the authority an indemnity, guarantee or bank bond. A financial assessment will be undertaken on the supplier's financial status. An overall pass/fail judgement will be made after considering areas such as turnover, profit, net assets, liquidity, gearing and capacity. This assessment will include the parent company where applicable. An independent financial assessment obtained from a reputable credit rating organisation will be utilised as part of this process.
(a) in the case of a supply contract requiring the siting or installation of goods, a services contract or a works contract, the economic operator's technical ability, taking into account in particular that economic operator's skills, efficiency, experience and reliability; (c) a statement of the principal goods sold or services provided by the supplier or the services provider in the past 5 years, or during a shorter period if necessary, and: (i) the dates on which the goods were sold or the services provided; (ii) the consideration received; (iii) the identity of the person to whom the goods were sold or the service were provided; (iv) any certificate issued or countersigned by that person confirming the details of the contract for those goods sold or services provided; and (v) where: — that person was not a contracting authority, and — the certificate referred to in subparagraph (c)(iv) is not available, any declaration by the economic operator attesting the details of the goods sold or services provided; (d) a statement of the technicians or technical services available to the economic operator to: (i) carry out the work under the contract, or (ii) be involved in the production of goods or the provision of services under the contract, particularly those responsible for quality control, whether or not they are independent of the economic operator; (e) a statement of the economic operator's: (i) technical facilities, (ii) measures for ensuring quality, (iii) study and research facilities, and (iv) internal rules regarding intellectual property; (f) a check carried out by the contracting authority or on its behalf by a competent official body of the member state in which the economic operator is established: (i) on the technical capacity of the economic operator, and (ii) if relevant, on the economic operator's study and research facilities and quality control measures; (g) in the case of works contracts, services contracts or supply contracts also covering siting and installation operations or services, the economic operator's educational and professional qualifications where the economic operator is an individual and: (i) if any, those of the economic operator's managerial staff, and (ii) those of one or more persons who would be responsible for providing the services or carrying out the work or works under the contract; (h) the environmental management measures, that the economic operator is able to apply when performing the contract, but only where it is necessary for the performance of that contract; (i) a statement of the services provider's or contractor's average annual number of staff and managerial staff over the previous 3 years; (m) in the case of contracts involving, entailing or containing classified information, evidence of the ability to process, store and transmit such information at the level of protection required by the contracting authority; (n) a certificate: (i) attesting conformity to quality management systems standards based on the relevant European standard, and (ii) from an independent accredited body established in any member state conforming to the European standards concerning accreditation and certification; (o) any other evidence of conformity to quality management systems standards which are equivalent to the standards referred to in subparagraph (n)(i). This and any other information required for evaluation will be sought through the associated dynamic pre-qualification questionnaire (DPQQ). The main contractor will be required to provide evidence of it's subcontractor's ability to process, store and transmit classified information at UK Official. The authority reserves the right under Article 21(5) of Directive 2009/81/EC to reject any subcontractor chosen by the main contractor at any stage of the contract award procedure or during performance of the contract if that subcontractor: 1) requires access to classified information at UK Official; and 2) fails to provide evidence to the satisfaction of the authority that it has the capability to protect that level of classified information in accordance with Article 42.1(j) of Directive 2009/81/EC.
(a) in the case of a supply contract requiring the siting or installation of goods, a services contract or a works contract, the economic operator's technical ability, taking into account in particular that economic operator's skills, efficiency, experience and reliability; (c) a statement of the principal goods sold or services provided by the supplier or the services provider in the past 5 years, or during a shorter period if necessary, and: (i) the dates on which the goods were sold or the services provided; (ii) the consideration received; (iii) the identity of the person to whom the goods were sold or the service were provided; (iv) any certificate issued or countersigned by that person confirming the details of the contract for those goods sold or services provided; and (v) where: — that person was not a contracting authority, and — the certificate referred to in subparagraph (c)(iv) is not available, any declaration by the economic operator attesting the details of the goods sold or services provided; (d) a statement of the technicians or technical services available to the economic operator to: (i) carry out the work under the contract, or (ii) be involved in the production of goods or the provision of services under the contract, particularly those responsible for quality control, whether or not they are independent of the economic operator; (e) a statement of the economic operator's: (i) technical facilities, (ii) measures for ensuring quality, (iii) study and research facilities, and (iv) internal rules regarding intellectual property; (f) a check carried out by the contracting authority or on its behalf by a competent official body of the member state in which the economic operator is established: (i) on the technical capacity of the economic operator, and (ii) if relevant, on the economic operator's study and research facilities and quality control measures; (g) in the case of works contracts, services contracts or supply contracts also covering siting and installation operations or services, the economic operator's educational and professional qualifications where the economic operator is an individual and: (i) if any, those of the economic operator's managerial staff, and (ii) those of one or more persons who would be responsible for providing the services or carrying out the work or works under the contract; (h) the environmental management measures, that the economic operator is able to apply when performing the contract, but only where it is necessary for the performance of that contract; (i) a statement of the services provider's or contractor's average annual number of staff and managerial staff over the previous 3 years; (m) in the case of contracts involving, entailing or containing classified information, evidence of the ability to process, store and transmit such information at the level of protection required by the contracting authority; (n) a certificate: (i) attesting conformity to quality management systems standards based on the relevant European standard, and (ii) from an independent accredited body established in any member state conforming to the European standards concerning accreditation and certification; (o) any other evidence of conformity to quality management systems standards which are equivalent to the standards referred to in subparagraph (n)(i). This and any other information required for evaluation will be sought through the associated dynamic pre-qualification questionnaire (DPQQ). The main contractor will be required to provide evidence of it's subcontractor's ability to process, store and transmit classified information at UK Official.
The authority reserves the right under Article 21(5) of Directive 2009/81/EC to reject any subcontractor chosen by the main contractor at any stage of the contract award procedure or during performance of the contract if that subcontractor: 1) requires access to classified information at UK Official; and 2) fails to provide evidence to the satisfaction of the authority that it has the capability to protect that level of classified information in accordance with Article 42.1(j) of Directive 2009/81/EC.
The main contractor will be required to provide evidence of it's subcontractor's ability to process, store and transmit classified information at UK Official by describing the required Facility Security Clearance (FSC) granted by its National or Designated Security Authority.
The Authority reserves the right under Article 21(5) of Directive 2009/81/EC to reject any subcontractor chosen by the main contractor at any stage of the contract award procedure or during performance of the contract if that subcontractor: 1) requires access to classified information at UK Official; and 2) fails to provide evidence to the satisfaction of the authority that it has the capability to protect that level of classified information in accordance with Article 42.1(j) of Directive 2009/81/EC.