Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2016-11-04
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, Ships, Queen Elizabeth Class
Country: UK
Region: Bristol, City of
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 35520000: Parts for warships
Estimated value: 4000000 GBP

Technical requirements: The provision of spare components for the Highly Mechanised Weapon Handling System (HMWHS) consisting of Track Straight, Energy Tray, Silencer, Load Eye, Drive Shaft, Gearbox and sub-assembly parts on the Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Aircraft Carriers (such components being the ‘Goods’ and such contract being the ‘Contract’). The HMWHS provides an integrated system for the stowage, transportation and handling of weapons in the Deep Magazines, Weapons Preparation Areas and for movement of weapons to the Flight Deck.
Ship Acquisition, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to place a contract with Babcock Integrated Technology Limited (Company Registration Number 06717269) (the ‘Company’) for the provision of spare components for the Highly Mechanised Weapon Handling System (HMWHS) consisting of Track Straight, Energy Tray, Silencer, Load Eye, Drive Shaft, Gearbox and sub-assembly parts on the Queen Elizabeth Class (QEC) Aircraft Carriers (such components being the ‘Goods’ and such contract being the ‘Contract’). The HMWHS provides an integrated system for the stowage, transportation and handling of weapons in the Deep Magazines, Weapons Preparation Areas and for movement of weapons to the Flight Deck. The Company originally manufactured and installed the HMWHS on the QEC Aircraft Carriers.
The Contract has an estimated value of 4 000 000 GBP (Four Million Pounds) and a duration of 2 (two) years.
It is considered that the Contract can be entered into using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice pursuant to (a) Article 28(3)(a) of Directive 2009/81/EC (Regulation 16(1)(b)(i) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011); and (b) 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 obliging the MOD to procure similar Goods having different technical characteristics to the Goods, which would result in incompatibility between the existing Goods and any new goods procured, and disproportionate technical difficulties in operating and maintaining the existing systems which would compromise the integrity of the design, safety and operational performance of those systems as the QEC moves toward Vessel Acceptance.
Additionally, the Company is the only economic operator with the necessary technical know-how such as technical data and schematics, proprietary processes and equipment-specific tooling and test equipment to manufacture and supply the Goods. Further, the Company maintains configuration of the technical data and information necessary to produce compatible 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-2016112-DCB-9049151.


Award value: 4000000