Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2019-12-05
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, Helicopters, Apache Project Team
Country: UK
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 35730000: Electronic warfare systems
Estimated value: 16000000 GBP
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Procurement of One (1) PFMTF (Pre-Flight Message Test Facility) Rig and Two (2) STF (System Test Facility) Rig
The Apache PT, part of UK Ministry of Defence (‘MoD’), intends to place a single source, Qualifying Defence Contract (QDC) with Leonardo MW Ltd by May 2020 to manufacture a UK Apache AH 64E Pre-Flight Message Test Facility (PFMTF) rig. This contract will 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 the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations (2011) for technical reasons. The authority has a requirement for one (1) x PFMTF rig to allow a fully worldwide operational DAS (Defensive Aids System). Alongside this a need to test repairs and conduct function/fault analysis whilst in-service through a STF (System Test Facility). The DAS is a Military Commercial off the Shelf item that feeds into the flight management system. The contract award will be based on a 54-month contracting period (18-month manufacturing including a 36-month telephone support package).
The PFMTF rig will enable MoD to test and verify PFM data for operational use. STF Rigs will enable support of the DAS subsystem equipment through the repair and support loop. PFMTF rig, is housed at JEWOSC and provides the capability to verify the reprogramming of threat data. The PFMTF does this by emulating the AH-64E IDAS (Integrated DAS) system as it is installed on the aircraft. Then through a connection to a CEESIM (Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator), threat emitters are injected into the system to ensure the correct procedures, cockpit displays, manoeuvre queues and countermeasure dispenses are taken by the IDAS against the threat that was simulated, hence verifying the reprogrammed data to be correct or not. The STF rig is used for functional testing and fault analysis tool to support the contractor in the repair loop or support agreements. It is used to test incoming faulty equipment as well as outgoing repaired equipment to ensure expected performance is achieved.
An option will be included on the contract to allow the authority to procure two (2) x System Test Facility (STF) rigs for the UK Apache AH 64E.
The Apache Project Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (‘MoD’), intends to place a single source, Qualifying Defence Contract (QDC) with Leonardo MW Ltd by May 2020 to deliver on aspects of the Apache Capability Sustainment Programme (CSP) in manufacturing a UK Apache AH 64E PFMTF rig. The contract will be awarded on the basis of a 54-month contracting period (18-month manufacturing including a 36 month telephone support package). It is considered that this 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 the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) for technical reasons. This is because of the nature of the DAS being a commercially available modified off-the-shelf (MCOTS) item that goes into the flight management system. The authority could not work within the airworthiness and safety case if we contracted a non-authorised and accredited person to work on this requirement. Leonardo MW Ltd are the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and design organisation (DO) for the DAS system, Apache AGP and Mk1 HIDAS system so are in a unique position to conduct the development and validation activity required on this requirement. They are the only supplier with access to the necessary knowledge base and exclusive technical information along with direct access to the design, qualification and certification data to be able to conduct the work required.
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 — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-security-classifications
This contract opportunity is published in the OJEU, MoD Defence contracts bulletin and www.contracts.mod.uk


Winner: Leonardo MW Ltd
Award value: 16000000