Award of AAIB Provision of Hardware and Software Support Services

Tender description

Award of AAIB (Air Accident Investigation Branch) Provision of Hardware and Software Support Services (aircraft black boxes). This contract is being awarded by way of single tender action in-line with the Public Contracts Regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) “where the competition is absent for technical reasons”. The department conducted a pre-market engagement exercise, using a Prior Information Notice (PIN) https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010488-2021, whereby one formal response received from, Bassom Computer Consultancy. Lot 1: A significant part of an aircraft accident investigation involves the recovery and analysis of information contained in the aircraft flight recorders (the "black" boxes) and other airborne or ground-based sources of recorded data. Whilst a large part of the development is undertaken by specialist AAIB inspectors some tasks, in particular, the provision of software and hardware expertise is contracted out with the AAIB inspectors working alongside specialist independent suppliers. The supplier is expected to work in close collaboration with the AAIB’s specialist flight recorder staff and shall be expected to provide the following throughout the duration of the Recorded Data Hardware and Software Support Services Contract: - specialist software assistance to maintain current software and to develop software within the scope detailed in paragraph 5, as directed by the AAIB, - hardware assistance to construct, adapt and maintain facilities within the scope detailed in paragraph 5, as directed by the AAIB. - to fulfil the statutory obligations of the AAIB, the supplier shall be expected to provide require a rapid response to any requests and speedy assistance in solving specific problems that arise during the replay and data reduction of accident-damaged recorders. Typically, a response and a plan for solution to problems should be obtained within no more than 24 hours.