Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2020-08-07
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, Land Equipment, Dismounted Close Combat (DCC)
Country: UK
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 35300000: Weapons, ammunition and associated parts
Estimated value: 2000000 GBP
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: The authority requires the provision of a contract to procure 81 mm Mortar Blast Attenuation Devices (BAD) for an initial term of 2-years, with an option to extend for a further 1-year.
The authority intends to place a contract for the procurement of 81 mm Mortar Blast Attenuation Devices (BAD), that is currently an in-service weapon system, in order to meet additional capability needs across UK Armed Forces Commands.
Options will be available on the contract to extend the term of the contract for a further 1-year period. Options will be available on the contract to procure additional BADs from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
The Dismounted Close Combat programme team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place a 2-year contract with BAE Systems Global Combat Systems Munitions Ltd (BAE Systems Land UK) for the initial procurement of 500 81 mm Mortar Blast Attenuation Devices (BAD) with an option to extend for a further 1-year period and an option for additional buys if required.
It is considered that 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 UK Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) for technical reasons. This is because BAE Systems Global Combat Systems Munitions Ltd are the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) for the 81 mm Mortar Weapon System and will be required to assure the system against the original design with any attenuation device integrated. BAE Systems are the only economic entity that possess the necessary technical data, knowledge and expertise, and proprietary documentation to fulfil the requirement while underwriting the safe integration of the blast attenuation device into the mortar system.
Without access to the proprietary documentation, technical drawings, tooling and test equipment, specific manufacturing processes and knowledge and expertise, any goods provided by another entity would require new testing, new verification and validation to ensure that the safety and suitability for Service of the system, operational performance and effectiveness, and the interoperability with other equipment is not compromised and that the safety case for the system is not invalidated. This would all be at a disproportionate cost and time. A change of supplier would also oblige the authority to acquire goods having different technical characteristics which could result in incompatibility between the existing mortar weapon system and the goods to be included under 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 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-202084-DCB-16912659


Winner: BAE Systems Global Combat Systems Munitions Ltd
Award value: 2000000