Public procurement notice: Voluntary Ex Ante Transparency Notice
Published: 2016-01-22
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, Combat Air, Fast Air Support Team (FAST)
Country: UK
Region: Norfolk
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Contract award without prior publication
CPV classification: 35610000: Military aircraft
Estimated value: 5000000 GBP
EU fund: ESF

Technical requirements: Military aircraft. The Provision of Post Design Services, Repairs, and the Supply of Spares in Support of the RAPTOR Reconnaissance Pod carried on RAF Tornado GR4 Aircraft.
The Fast Air Support Team (‘FAST’), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (‘MoD’) intends to award a contract to UTC Aerospace Systems (‘UTC’) for the provision of Post Design Services (‘PDS’), repairs, and the supply of spares in support of the UK Tornado GR4 Reconnaissance Airborne Pod for Tornado (RAPTOR) equipment from [insert date] until the planned out of service date of 31 March 2019.
It is considered that this contract can be awarded 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 UTC is the MoD's Design Organisation (‘DO’) for its RAPTOR systems carried on the UK GR4 Tornado aircraft as well as a Design Approved Organisation Scheme (‘DAOS’) member in respect of Electro-Optic Systems. UTC provides the MOD with specific DO technical and safety advice in order to ensure airworthiness decisions on the RAPTOR system does not impact RAF aircraft safety or flight clearances. UTC, as the DO, is the only economic operator with the required technical knowledge and experience to provide RAPTOR technical and safety advice.
In addition, UTC has supported the RAPTOR system since its introduction to service in 2003. During that time they have developed a number of proprietary equipments, Special-to-Type Test Equipment (‘STTE’), processes and procedures to support PDS, repairs and spares manufacture. UTC is the only economic operator with the technical knowledge and expertise to deliver this requirement. UTC has confirmed that this specialist equipment and knowledge would not be transferred to a third party.
Suppliers interested in working with the Ministry of Defence should register on the MOD Supplier Information Database (SID) Register, available at www.contracts.mod.uk The MOD SID is a database of active and potential suppliers available to all MOD and UK Defence procurement personnel, and is the main supplier database of MOD Procurement organisations. Please note: the registration and publication of a company profile on the MOD SID does not mean or imply that the supplier has in any way been vetted or approved by the MOD. Suppliers wishing to compete for advertised MOD contracts must respond to any specific call for competition by submitting a separate expression of interest in accordance with the instructions of the purchasing organisation.
From 2 April 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-2016120-DCB-7603571.