The Procurement and In-Service Support for the Virtus Re-Compete Torso Sub System

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    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-047305-2024-08-08T11:52:15+01:00",
    "date": "2024-08-08T11:52:15+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-047305",
    "description": "The Contracting Authority intends to use an e-Tendering system in this procurement exercise, please visit www.contracts.mod.uk for full details and to register your interest in this procurement.",
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        "title": "The Procurement and In-Service Support for the Virtus Re-Compete Torso Sub System",
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        "description": "1. Introduction and Scope The Authority has a requirement for the ongoing supply, support and development of the VIRTUS integrated Soft body armour and load carriage system. The VIRTUS system focuses on 3 of the NATO soldier domains: survivability, mobility and sustainability. VIRTUS is the UK Armed Forces integrated Soft Body Armour, Helmet and Load Carriage system based on the soldier. VIRTUS comprises of a head and torso sub-system with integrated load carriage and a Quick Release (QR) mechanism, to allow escape from water, confined space or to allow rapid access to the body in an emergency. This notice is NOT for the procurement of the Head Sub System. The DE&S DCC Survivability Team intends to competitively assess, select and award a contract to deliver and support the Virtus Torso Sub System capability to all tri-service users including Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The Torso Sub System requirement is for all body armour and load carriage equipment within the current VIRTUS system including but not limited to scalable tactical vests, soft armour filler, extremity protection, bergens and pouches. The Contract shall also include the ability for the Authority to utilise Post Design Services (PDS) for the ongoing development of the system to ensure that it continues to provide optimal performance as technology develops and matures. There may also be a requirement within the Contract for the provision of training in the use of the VIRTUS system and for the refurbishment and disposal of VIRTUS items. The System needs to comply with MOD standards and policies for quality, safety and cyber amongst others. Full details shall be provided at the Invitation To Negotiate (ITN) stage of the competition. The Competitive procedure will be managed in accordance with the Competitive Negotiated Procedure under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. You may express your interest in this requirement by completing the Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) found at https://contracts.mod.uk/go/9113732701908259B595 The full requirement will be issued in the ITN and suppliers will be given appropriate time to respond with their tenders. 2. Contract Options The contract will be for Five years The contract will have an additional 4 x 1 Year options taking the maximum length of the contract up to 9 years. The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option years. Further information on the option will be provided in the Invitation to Tender. 3. Post Design Services (PDS) during Competition During the Torso Sub System competition, there will be pieces of Post Design Services on the TSS that will continue on the current In-Service contract. There will be a full list of any ongoing PDS along with expected completion dates and any further aspirational PDS tasks provided at ITN release. 4. Estimated Timescales The table below details the anticipated time frames of this procurement. These dates are provided for information only. Activity Date Final date for DPQQ Clarification Questions: 5th August 2024 DPQQs returned to MOD: 16th August 2024 Invitation to Tender Issued: November 2024 Tenders Returned to MOD: May 2025 Authority Evaluation of ITN Completed: June 2025 Anticipated Date of Contract Award: August 2025",
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                    "description": "Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender: 1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once) - Browse to the eSourcing Portal - Click the \"Click here to register\" link - Accept the terms and conditions and click \"continue\" - Enter your correct business and user details - Note the username you chose and click \"Save\" when complete - You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure) 2. Express an Interest in the tender - Login to the portal with the username/password - Click the \"PQQs Open to All Suppliers\" link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires open to any registered supplier) - Click on the relevant PQQ to access the content. - Click the \"Express Interest\" button in the \"Actions\" box on the left-hand side of the page. - This will move the PQQ into your \"My PQQs\" page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only) - Click on the PQQ code, you can now access any attachments by clicking the \"Settings and Buyer Attachments\" in the \"Actions\" box 3. Responding to the tender - You can now choose to \"Reply\" or \"Reject\" (please give a reason if rejecting) - You can now use the 'Messages' function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification - Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ - There may be a mixture of online & offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available) If you require any further assistance please consult the online help, or contact the eTendering help desk.",
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                    "description": "Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender: 1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once) - Browse to the eSourcing Portal - Click the \"Click here to register\" link - Accept the terms and conditions and click \"continue\" - Enter your correct business and user details - Note the username you chose and click \"Save\" when complete - You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure) 2. Express an Interest in the tender - Login to the portal with the username/password - Click the \"PQQs Open to All Suppliers\" link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires open to any registered supplier) - Click on the relevant PQQ to access the content. - Click the \"Express Interest\" button in the \"Actions\" box on the left-hand side of the page. - This will move the PQQ into your \"My PQQs\" page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only) - Click on the PQQ code, you can now access any attachments by clicking the \"Settings and Buyer Attachments\" in the \"Actions\" box 3. Responding to the tender - You can now choose to \"Reply\" or \"Reject\" (please give a reason if rejecting) - You can now use the 'Messages' function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification - Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ - There may be a mixture of online & offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available) If you require any further assistance please consult the online help, or contact the eTendering help desk.",
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            "description": "A minimum number of 3 and a maximum number of 8 Economic Operators will be Invited to tender. These will be the top 8 highest scoring responses against the Pre Qualification Questionnaire that are compliant. Should Economic Operators receive exactly the same weighted score and be tied for 8th place then the Economic Operator who achieves the highest score for the following question: Section 2.1 - Delivery Capacity Shall be awarded the eighth and final place in the ITN with the lowest scoring Economic Operator(s) then out of the competition. In the event of 2 or more Economic Operators having the same weighted score in the Delivery Capacity Section, then the highest score in: Section 2.2 - Post Design Services Section Shall be awarded the eighth and final place in the ITN with the lowest scoring Economic Operator(s) then out of the competition. In the event of 2 or more Economic Operators having the same weighted score in the Post Design Services Section, then the highest score in: Section 2.3 - Supply Chain Shall be awarded the eighth and final place in the ITN with the lowest scoring Economic Operator(s) then out of the competition. If scores are still tied then all Economic Operators who are tied for 8th then all will be issued with the ITN. The Authority reserves the right to take forward a number of Economic Operators lower than three (3) should it fail to receive at least three (3) compliant DPQQ submissions. Please refer to the Dynamic Pre Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) for evaluation criteria and further guidance."
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                            "text": "1. Introduction and Scope The Authority has a requirement for the ongoing supply, support and development of the VIRTUS integrated Soft body armour and load carriage system. The VIRTUS system focuses on 3 of the NATO soldier domains: survivability, mobility and sustainability. VIRTUS is the UK Armed Forces integrated Soft Body Armour, Helmet and Load Carriage system based on the soldier. VIRTUS comprises of a head and torso sub-system with integrated load carriage and a Quick Release (QR) mechanism, to allow escape from water, confined space or to allow rapid access to the body in an emergency. This notice is NOT for the procurement of the Head Sub System. The DE&S DCC Survivability Team intends to competitively assess, select and award a contract to deliver and support the Virtus Torso Sub System capability to all tri-service users including Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The Torso Sub System requirement is for all body armour and load carriage equipment within the current VIRTUS system including but not limited to scalable tactical vests, soft armour filler, extremity protection, bergens and pouches. The Contract shall also include the ability for the Authority to utilise Post Design Services (PDS) for the ongoing development of the system to ensure that it continues to provide optimal performance as technology develops and matures. There may also be a requirement within the Contract for the provision of training in the use of the VIRTUS system and for the refurbishment and disposal of VIRTUS items. The System needs to comply with MOD standards and policies for quality, safety and cyber amongst others. Full details shall be provided at the Invitation To Negotiate (ITN) stage of the competition. The Competitive procedure will be managed in accordance with the Competitive Negotiated Procedure under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. You may express your interest in this requirement by completing the Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) found at https://contracts.mod.uk/go/9113732701908259B595 The full requirement will be issued in the ITN and suppliers will be given appropriate time to respond with their tenders. 2. Contract Options The contract will be for Five years The contract will have an additional 4 x 1 Year options taking the maximum length of the contract up to 9 years. The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option years. Further information on the option will be provided in the Invitation to Tender. 3. Post Design Services (PDS) during Competition During the Torso Sub System competition, there will be pieces of Post Design Services on the TSS that will continue on the current In-Service contract. There will be a full list of any ongoing PDS along with expected completion dates and any further aspirational PDS tasks provided at ITN release. 4. Estimated Timescales The table below details the anticipated time frames of this procurement. These dates are provided for information only. Activity Date Final date for DPQQ Clarification Questions: 5th August 2024 DPQQs returned to MOD: 16th August 2024 Invitation to Tender Issued: November 2024 Tenders Returned to MOD: May 2025 Authority Evaluation of ITN Completed: June 2025 Anticipated Date of Contract Award: August 2025"
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                            "text": "1. Introduction and Scope The Authority has a requirement for the ongoing supply, support and development of the VIRTUS integrated Soft body armour and load carriage system. The VIRTUS system focuses on 3 of the NATO soldier domains: survivability, mobility and sustainability. VIRTUS is the UK Armed Forces integrated Soft Body Armour, Helmet and Load Carriage system based on the soldier. VIRTUS comprises of a head and torso sub-system with integrated load carriage and a Quick Release (QR) mechanism, to allow escape from water, confined space or to allow rapid access to the body in an emergency. This notice is NOT for the procurement of the Head Sub System. The DE&S DCC Survivability Team intends to competitively assess, select and award a contract to deliver and support the Virtus Torso Sub System capability to all tri-service users including Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The Torso Sub System requirement is for all body armour and load carriage equipment within the current VIRTUS system including but not limited to scalable tactical vests, soft armour filler, extremity protection, bergens and pouches. The Contract shall also include the ability for the Authority to utilise Post Design Services (PDS) for the ongoing development of the system to ensure that it continues to provide optimal performance as technology develops and matures. There may also be a requirement within the Contract for the provision of training in the use of the VIRTUS system and for the refurbishment and disposal of VIRTUS items. The System needs to comply with MOD standards and policies for quality, safety and cyber amongst others. Full details shall be provided at the Invitation To Negotiate (ITN) stage of the competition. The Competitive procedure will be managed in accordance with the Competitive Negotiated Procedure under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. You may express your interest in this requirement by completing the Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) found at https://contracts.mod.uk/go/9113732701908259B595 The full requirement will be issued in the ITN and suppliers will be given appropriate time to respond with their tenders. 2. Contract Options The contract will be for Five years The contract will have an additional 4 x 1 Year options taking the maximum length of the contract up to 9 years. The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option years. Further information on the option will be provided in the Invitation to Tender. 3. Post Design Services (PDS) during Competition During the Torso Sub System competition, there will be pieces of Post Design Services on the TSS that will continue on the current In-Service contract. There will be a full list of any ongoing PDS along with expected completion dates and any further aspirational PDS tasks provided at ITN release. 4. Estimated Timescales The table below details the anticipated time frames of this procurement. These dates are provided for information only. Activity Date Final date for DPQQ Clarification Questions: 19th August 2024 DPQQs returned to MOD: 30th August 2024 Invitation to Tender Issued: November 2024 Tenders Returned to MOD: May 2025 Authority Evaluation of ITN Completed: June 2025 Anticipated Date of Contract Award: August 2025"
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