Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2016-04-20
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, Weapons, Defence General Munitions (DGM) Project Team
Country: UK
Region: Bristol, City of
Contract type: Supplies
CPV classification: 35113000: Safety equipment

Technical requirements: 1. The Authority has a possible future requirement to procure a respirator testing system which simulates the presence of a colourless chemical vapour hazard. The system will be used by service personnel conducting Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) training to provide confidence in the ability of the current in-service General Service Respirator (GSR) to provide respiratory protection and to practice users in the correct implementation of CBRN drills. The product should result in an immediate physical indication from exposed, unprotected personnel to the presence of a simulated chemical vapour hazard. The first delivery would be required in FY 17/18.
a. The testing of respirator fitting and conduct of CBRN drills within a controlled respirator testing facility. The product should be capable of providing a simulated colourless chemical vapour hazard within the respirator testing facility and be suitable for the conduct of CBRN drills including: immediate decontamination, eating, drinking and canister changing. The product should be compatible with the current in-service respirator testing facilities and associated extraction systems.
b. The simulation of a chemical vapour hazard in an outdoor/tactical environment. The solution should be capable of generating sufficient simulated colourless chemical vapour to provide a noticeable effect in an outdoor tactical environment and have a directional dispersal capability.
3. Respondents may reply with a solution to either one, or both of the above system requirements. Any solutions should meet MoD policy and be safe and suitable for transportation in all current in-service air, land and sea logistic platforms. Any solution must be compatible with the current in-service GSR, Mk 4A suit and Project SONORIC and be able to be decontaminated effectively and in line with current in-service techniques. The concentration and effect of any product must dissipate safely and naturally over time.
4. A Contract Notice will be published and respondents will be invited to complete an online Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ), which will be measured against selected criteria in terms of Commercial and Technical requirements.
5. The Technical requirement will be base lined against the current in-service models and user requirements and include questions in the following categories: Climatic and Environment; Target Effect; Sensitivity; System and Design Safety; Human Factors; Deployability; Training; Sustainment; Policy and Legal; Capability Resilience and Reliability.
6. The weighting will be released within the PQQ to denote Key User Requirements, Mandatory, Priority 1 and Priority 2 requirements. Evidence will be required to demonstrate the product can meet the Authorities requirements set. Any additional trials the Authority require to be undertaken will require sample products at the contractor's cost.
7. On award of the Contract, the supplying contractor will be responsible for obtaining full qualification and maintenance of this qualification through the duration of the Contract to the Authorities requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, MoD Safety and Suitability for Service (S3) trials to assess the products suitability with regard to the manufacture to disposal sequence (MoD may terminate the contract if any safety concerns become apparent). Any resultant product procured as a result of this expression of interest will be subject to the relevant Quality Assurance Standards.
8. The closing date for expressing your interest in this requirement and confirming you are capable of meeting it is 18.5.16.
From 2.4.2014 the Government is introducing its new Government Security Classifications Policy (GSC) to replace the current Government Protective Marking Scheme. A key aspect of this is the reduction in the number of security classifications used. All suppliers to the Department are encouraged to make themselves aware of the changes as it may impact on this Requirement. The link below to the Gov.uk website provides information on the new GSC.
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.
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-2016415-DCB-8068995.