Award

CONTRACT CHANGE FOR THE USE OF THE AERIAL VERIFICATION AND SPRAY SERVICE SPOTTER AIRCRAFT FOR MARITIME PATROL ACTIVITY

MARITIME & COASTGUARD AGENCY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

10 May 2021 at 21:55

Summary of the contracting process

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has completed a contract modification for the "Aerial Verification and Spray Service Spotter Aircraft for Maritime Patrol Activity," focusing on anti-pollution ship services. This procurement, which falls under the services category, employed a limited procurement method without a prior call for competition. The existing contract with RVL Aviation Limited has been modified to facilitate a 12-week trial of a radar system, commencing at the end of July 2021. The contract was signed on 10th May 2021, with a total value of £638,552.80, and it is intended for use across various regions in the UK.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses engaged in aviation, maritime services, and technological innovation. Companies specializing in aerial reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, or those with expertise in radar systems may find this particularly relevant. As the UK Government intends to explore an enduring requirement based on the trial's success, businesses prepared to offer additional aerial capacity or advanced systems for maritime activities will be well-positioned to compete in future tenders, potentially leading to long-term partnerships with government agencies.

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Notice Title

CONTRACT CHANGE FOR THE USE OF THE AERIAL VERIFICATION AND SPRAY SERVICE SPOTTER AIRCRAFT FOR MARITIME PATROL ACTIVITY

Notice Description

The MCA originally awarded a contract to RVL Aviation Limited for the provision of an aerial verification and spray service utilizing a spotter aircraft in support of both spray operations and maritime patrol activity. The service includes the aerial application of oil spill dispersant using a Boeing 737 400 modified for aerial dispersant spray delivery. This service requires the use of a Spotter Aircraft to conduct maritime reconnaissance patrols and, in the event of an oil spill in which dispersant is required, to ensure the safety of the spray aircraft and the effectiveness of the dispersant application. The Spotter Aircraft is available for the MCA's use at least 98% of the time but is not routinely used for spray operations due to the rare requirement for this service. The contract modification will provide a temporary alteration to be made to the Spotter Aircraft under the MCA's Aerial Dispersant Spray Contract to enable it to undertake a trial of a radar system on behalf of the UK Government. The trial itself will consist of a series of flights over the course of 12 weeks, or around 120 flying hours, from the end of July 2021 to test the utility of the radar system in a range of operational scenarios. Once the trial is complete the requirement will cease and any additional equipment, including the installed radar system, will be removed.

Lot Information

Lot 1

A contract change to enable the utilisation of the existing 'Spotter Aircraft' under the MCA's Aerial Spray and Verification contract for additional short-term maritime patrol activity to trial equipment. Additional information: Not provided

Procurement Information

The MCA's Aerial Spray and Verification Contract, provided by RVL Aviation, relies on the use of a Spotter Aircraft for maritime patrol activity and to spot oil and perform a safety and targeting role during spray operations. Because of its role in spotting oil slicks, the aircraft, a Beechcraft King Air 200, is equipped to perform aerial reconnaissance missions. To make best use of the asset the aircraft is therefore used to conduct maritime reconnaissance missions on behalf of the MCA, supplementing the MCA's Aerial Surveillance and Verification Contract. It is also made available for use by other government departments; the aircraft has conducted reconnaissance missions in support of fisheries enforcement, border protection and maritime law enforcement, on behalf of a number of other government stakeholders. The UK Government have approached the MCA with a requirement to use the Spotter Aircraft to conduct a proof-of-concept trial on a radar system. The requirement is urgent, with a limited window of opportunity to conduct the trial over the summer months. The Spotter Aircraft RVL provide is already equipped with the fixed fittings required to carry the radar, so the installation and removal will be relatively quick and unintrusive, enabling the modifications to be made in time for the summer window. Furthermore, with capacity already available in this asset, the trial will not impact on the MCA's own operational priorities. Upon conclusion of the trial after approximately 12 weeks of flight time, the radar and all associated equipment will be removed from the aircraft. If the trial is successful and the concept is proven, it is the UK Government's intention to tender for an enduring requirement as an open competition. MCA considers that this change is permitted on the basis that it is not substantial under Regulation 72(1)(e) as the change does not materially alter the original procurement or the scope of the services. The Contractor is using the same spotter aircraft to deliver the additional, short-term service and the increase in charges reflects only the increased flying hours and cost of the temporary modifications to the aircraft and as such the economic balance of the contract has not changed. The Spotter Aircraft already conducts reconnaissance on behalf of the MCA and other government departments, which it has done since the commencement of the contract and consequently there is no considerable extension of scope. This contract modification is simply to facilitate a specific, temporary requirement of another government partner. No new conditions have been added to the contract which would have altered the initial procurement had they been present at that stage - this is a short-term contract change which will not be enduring. In any event, contracting for short-term additional aerial capacity through open competition would cause significant inconvenience for the MCA and a substantial duplication of costs. RVL is the only operator who can utilise existing spare capacity in the Spotter Aircraft provided under its Aerial Verification and Spray Service.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-02af3e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010189-2021
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)


CPV Codes

60651300 - Anti-pollution ship services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£638,552 £500K-£1M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
10 May 20214 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 May 20214 years ago
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MARITIME & COASTGUARD AGENCY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
contracts@mcga.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
SOUTHAMPTON
Postcode
SO15 1EG
Post Town
Southampton
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ32 Southampton
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Southampton
Electoral Ward
Banister & Polygon
Westminster Constituency
Southampton Itchen

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

RVL AVIATION

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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