Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2019-03-22
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, Land Equipment, Training and Simulation Systems Programme (TSSP)
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated without a prior call for competition
CPV classification: 34152000
Estimated value: 74305416 GBP

Technical requirements: The Training Simulation Systems Programme within Defence Equipment and Support, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), intends to place with Cubic Defense Applications Inc (CDA) a 3-year contract with an additional 4 1-year option years for the provision of Contractor Logistic Support, Support Repair and Post Design Services for the MoD owned Area Weapons Effect Simulator (AWES). AWES enables the simulation of area effects such as fire missions, danger areas like minefields, and permits the tracking and monitoring of participants (players) while dismounted, in vehicles and structures. The system provides man worn and vehicle instrumentation and an engagement capability for lighter weapons, as part of collective training. It simulates and records the effects of weapon engagements and enables realistic and challenging training.
The Authority intends on placing a contract with 3 guaranteed years and 4 1-year options. The first 1-year option will be priced and the remaining 3 years will be unpriced at contract placement. The contract value included in this advert is a ROM cost if all 4 yearly options are taken up by the Authority. The Authority withholds the right not to take up any of these options. The ROM cost of this contract if no yearly options are enacted by the Authority will be 30 400 000 GBP. This contract award is subject to negotiation with the referenced supplier.
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 Contract Regulations 2011) for Technical Reasons. Cubic Defense Applications (CDA) are the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) for the AWES. They are the only supplier who has access to the necessary technical data, source code and design drawings to be able to provide the support and upgrade services required. Further, only CDA have the specific skills, know-how and experience to provide Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) for the maintenance and repair of existing equipment and managed services, and Post Design Services (PDS) for modifications and design alterations/enhancements to the existing equipment which they have built up over a number of years as the OEM, support and upgrade provider and DA for AWES. Performance of the intended contract also requires access to ITAR controlled information and CDA is the only entity authorised to receive this information. In addition, AWES is required to integrate with the MoD’s Direct Fire Weapons Effect Simulator (DFWES) capability, which is also supported by CDA, to provide the MoD with a Tactical Effect Simulator (TES) capability — a fully integrated combat training system. If another supplier was to attempt to provide the support and upgrade services required for AWES then this would also risk significant technical inter-operability issues with DFWES/TES.
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


Winner: Cubic Defense Applications Inc.
Award value: 74305416