Award

Support Services for the Type 31 Combat Management System (CMS) installed on the Type 31 frigates and Shore Integration Facility (SIF).

DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

13 Dec 2024 at 13:52

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence's Defence Equipment and Support organisation has awarded a contract to Thales UK Limited for the provision of support services for the Type 31 Combat Management System (CMS) installed on five Royal Navy Type 31 frigates and at the Portsdown Technology Park Shore Integration Facility. This contract, classified under the Computer Network Services industry, follows a negotiated procurement method without prior publication due to technical reasons. The contract was signed on 13th December 2024, spans six years with potential extensions up to two more years, and is valued at £116 million excluding VAT. The procurement stage is complete, and this notice indicates a limited competition due to the proprietary nature of the TACTICOS CMS.

This tender provides significant business opportunities, particularly for large-scale Defence suppliers with expertise in combat management systems and associated support services. The scope of this contract requires comprehensive system-designer support, including software integration, defect resolution, updates, hardware maintenance, and obsolescence management. Such contracts are ideal for businesses capable of handling complex, high-value Defence projects, ensuring they stay competitive in the market by leveraging specialised knowledge and technical capabilities exclusive to the Thales CMS. Potential subcontracting opportunities may also arise, making this an attractive proposition for businesses seeking to expand their Defence sector portfolio.

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Notice Title

Support Services for the Type 31 Combat Management System (CMS) installed on the Type 31 frigates and Shore Integration Facility (SIF).

Notice Description

Defence Equipment and Support, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to award a "Procurement of support services for the Type 31 Combat Management System" contract to Thales UK Limited (Thales) for in-service support to the Thales TACTICOS combat management system installed on five Royal Navy Type 31 Frigates and at the Portsdown Technology Park Shore Integration Facility. TACTICOS is a proprietary combat management system, combining sensor control, picture compilation and weapon control. The contract will ensure system-designer support for future software integration, defect rectification, updates and future hardware changes, maintenance and obsolescence management. The contract will be for six (6) years, with options to extend for a further two (2) years and have an estimated value of PS116,000,000 exclusive of VAT.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Defence Equipment and Support, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to award a "Procurement of support services for the Type 31 Combat Management System" contract to Thales UK Limited (Thales) for in-service support to the Thales TACTICOS combat management system installed on five Royal Navy Type 31 Frigates and at the Portsdown Technology Park Shore Integration Facility. TACTICOS is a proprietary combat management system, combining sensor control, picture compilation and weapon control. The contract will ensure system-designer support for future software integration, defect rectification, updates and future hardware changes, maintenance and obsolescence management. The contract will be for six (6) years, with options to extend for a further two (2) years and have an estimated value of PS116,000,000 exclusive of VAT.

Options: The contract will include the options to be extended for a further two (2) years.

Procurement Information

- In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of this contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. This is because Thales is the TACTICOS system designer, manufacturer and installer. Thales owns the proprietary information, including software and detailed design documentation, needed and is the only economic operator with knowledge of the system, the technical expertise and know-how to meet the requirement.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04c7f5
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040276-2024
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Limited
Procurement Method Details
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support


CPV Codes

72700000 - Computer network services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£116,000,000 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Dec 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
13 Dec 20241 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
DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT
Contact Name
Danielle Arbrey
Contact Email
danielle.arbrey100@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

THALES

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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