Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2017-06-20
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, Land Equipment, Dismounted Close Combat (DCC)
Country: UK
Contract type: Supplies
Procedure: Restricted procedure
CPV classification: 18000000 | 18143000 | 18310000 | 18312000 | 35113400
Estimated value: 20000000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2017-07-17
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Integrated Soldier System Project PETREL— Deliver and support (including refurbish) a combat protective clothing system to integrate with the in-service VIRTUS body armour and load carriage system.
Protective gear. Garments for anti-ballistic protection. Protective and safety clothing. Protective shirts or pants. Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories. Military uniforms. Combat uniforms. Underwear. Underpants. Combat suits. Combat gear. Protective gear. Garments for anti-ballistic protection. Integrated Soldier System — Deliver and support (including refurbish) a combat protective clothing system to integrate with the in-service VIRTUS body armour and load carriage system, including both the Head sub system and the Torso sub system. This will include both the initial procurement and support for PETREL with options for further procurement and support through life.
In issuing this Contract Notice and engaging with the Market, the Authority is not committing to carrying out any procurement in relation to the requirements stated in this Notice. If third parties are interested in engaging with the Authority in relation to the requirements stated here they must do so without sharing information that is protected by copyright or patents.
The Single Statement of User Need (SSUN) for CPE Clothing is taken from the Integrated Soldier System (ISS) Programme Mandate:
‘The User shall be issued with a clothing system that will provide personal protection against climatic (Temperate, Warm Weather), environmental and fragmentation threats, whilst integrating with other Combat Protective Equipment within the Integrated Soldier System, reducing the physical burden and providing greater agility, whilst maintaining overall survivability and improving operational effectiveness.’
The Authority has a potential requirement for delivery and support (including refurbishment) of a combat protective clothing system, including ballistic protection, to integrate with the in-service VIRTUS body armour and load carriage system (Head sub system and Torso sub system). The PETREL system is defined as not less than the trousers, Tier 1 pelvic protection and the Long sleeve Shirt. This will consist of both the initial procurement and support for PETREL and options for further procurement and support through life. The PETREL combat protective clothing system is required in a range of sizes to fit the male and female users across the 1st to 99th percentile, for close combat operations and training. Each user will require an appropriate level of protection proportionate to their size.
It is anticipated that under this contract the initial procurement will be to equip approximately 21000 users with PETREL combat protective clothing systems (each user to be issued with 2 or more sets of the PETREL clothing system), with options to equip and support up to 107,254 users and for on going through life product improvement.
The Authority intends to present greater detail of the project scope to the market at a Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) Briefing Day planned on 27 June 2017 at Warminster, Wiltshire. At the DPQQ Briefing Day more information will be provided regarding the project and the overarching requirement. The Authority will not meet any costs incurred by participation at the DPQQ Briefing Day. Potential suppliers who wish to attend the DPQQ Briefing Day shall complete the expression of interest (EOI) form (attached) and send it to the contact email at Section I.1 above by 10:00 23 June 2017. The DPQQ is to be submitted by 12:00 17/07/2017.
The Authority is undertaking a DPQQ exercise where potential suppliers will be required to demonstrate their level of competence against the Authority's criteria. Full assessment criteria and the evaluation process for the DPQQ are detailed within the supporting DPQQ documentation.
DPQQ responses are invited from potential suppliers who are capable of delivering and supporting the PETREL combat protective clothing system as detailed above.
The Authority reserves the right to verify the information supplied within potential suppliers' responses to the DPQQ.
The Authority currently intends to issue an Invitation To Tender to those successful at the DPQQ stage, in Jan 2018, with an ITT period of 3 months. Whilst the dates in this paragraph are the best current estimate, they may be subject to change due to unforeseen events, and therefore cannot be guaranteed.
Potential suppliers who are invited to tender will be required to provide sample sets of PETREL combat protective clothing systems with their Tender submissions. Two samples of each size will be required at tender return.
A second phase of the assessment will require additional sets of the proposed PETREL combat protective clothing system for testing and trialling; a period of 4 months will be provided to manufacture and deliver 70 sets of various sizes (date to be confirmed in the Invitation To Tender). Whilst the dates and quantities in this paragraph are the best current estimate, they may be subject to change due to unforeseen events, and therefore cannot be guaranteed.
Potential suppliers should note that the AWARD evaluation tool will be used at the Tender evaluation stages for this requirement.