Maritime Communication Capability Support

Tender description

Maritime Communications Capability Support - Voluntary Transparency Notice to advise that the MCS Team intend to place a new support contract with Thales UK Ltd for continued in-service support of internal and external communication systems and equipment fitted to in-service Royal Navy (RN) Legacy, Type 45 Destroyer (T45) and Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier (QEC) platforms. Additional information: The MCS Team, part of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (the "Authority") intends to place a new support contract with Thales UK Limited (company number 0868273) (the "Company") for continued in-service support (including maintenance and obsolescence management) of internal and external communication systems and equipment fitted to in-service Royal Navy (RN) Legacy, Type 45 Destroyer (T45) and Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier (QEC) platforms. Such in-service support includes the provision of spare parts, repair and maintenance activity, and safety certification. The Maritime Communications Capability Support (MCCS) contract will provide continued in-service support and obsolescence management of the systems and equipment currently satisfied under the Fleet Wide Communications Contract. This will include core support of the Legacy, Type 45 and QEC Integrated Communications Systems (ICS), known as the Fully Integrated Communications System (FICS) on T45, comprising of components, software, electronic and electrical sub-systems, and providing in-service support to the KMY Replacement System(KRS) and V/UHF Communication Replacement System (VCR). The MCCS contract will incorporate additional non-core tasking, including obsolescence rectification. The MCCS contract has an estimated value of £240 million (Two Hundred and Forty Million Pounds Sterling (ex VAT), and will have a term of 10 (ten) years plus 2 (two) option years to align with the Authority's technical refresh programme in respect of the equipment. The MCCS contract will also include an option for support to new platforms fitted with Thales UK Ltd communications equipment when brought into service.. Due to the classification of integrated equipment it is considered that the contract is exempt from Defence Security Public Contracting Regulations (DSPCR) 2011, under Regulation 7(1)(a) Disclosure of Information in conjunction with Regulation 6(3A)(a) Security of information for reasons connected with the protection of essential security interests. It is considered that the MCCS contract can be placed with Thales UK Limited as they are the only supplier who can meet the technical and national security requirements for the Contract. Thales UK Limited is the Design Authority and Original Equipment Manufacturer for much of the communications equipment including the Integrated Control System and has the accumulated technical data and knowledge required to support the communication equipment in accordance with the technical requirements of the contract. Placing the MCCS contract with Thales UK Ltd is critical to ensure the safety of personnel and the operational effectiveness of the platforms. This notice advises that the Authority has decided to negotiate a contract with the named supplier on a single source basis and is published for reasons of transparency only. If you are interested in becoming a sub-contractor for this requirement, you should apply directly to Thales UK Ltd.