Award

Hydraulic Support Equipment

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

04 Feb 2025 at 10:33

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has completed the procurement process for the Hydraulic Support Equipment contract, focusing on in-service support of various hydraulic test systems used by the MOD. This award falls under the "Security, fire-fighting, police, and defence equipment" industry category. The awarded contract, valued at approximately £6 million, will cover a three-year period with two additional one-year extension options. This contract involves requirements such as spare provision, repairs of major equipment and sub-components, technical support, and modifications. The procurement method used was a limited, negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice due to the absence of competition for technical reasons, with the contract being signed on 3rd February 2025.

This tender offers significant opportunities for businesses specialising in the defence and security sector, particularly those with expertise in hydraulic systems and technical support services. Companies involved in manufacturing, repairing, and providing technical assistance for complex defence equipment would benefit from exploring similar contracts with the MoD. The contract's requirement for specific technical and software expertise means that businesses with proprietary knowledge and intellectual property in the relevant areas are ideally suited to compete in this domain. This procurement also highlights the importance of specialised capabilities and exclusive technical solutions for future tender opportunities within the defence sector.

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Notice Title

Hydraulic Support Equipment

Notice Description

In-service support arrangement for the support of a range of the MODs Hydraulic Test Systems. This will include elements of spare provision, repairs of major equipment and sub-components, technical support and modifications.

Lot Information

Lot 1

In-service support arrangement for the support of a range of the MODs Hydraulic Test Systems. This will include elements of spare provision, repairs of major equipment and sub-components, technical support and modifications.

Options: 2 x 1 year extension options 4 x added equipment to scope options

Procurement Information

The Air Commodities team, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to enter into a contract with Test Fuchs GmbH for the Provision of an in-service support arrangement for the support and modification of a range of the MODs Hydraulic Test Systems. This will include elements of spare provision, repairs of major equipment and sub-components, technical support and modifications. The contract will be for three years, plus two one-year options and have a value of approximately PS6m (including options). 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(the "DSPCR 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 the 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 Security Public Procurement Regulations 2011 because competition is absent for technical reasons. Test Fuchs (TF) are the Original Equipment Manufacturer for a technically complex range of aircraft Hydraulic Servicing Trollies (HST), Static Hydraulic Test Benches (HTB) and Damper Absorbers Test Trolley (DATT). To ensure specific hydraulic circuit parameters are maintained and no damage to complex aircraft systems occurs all of TF HST and HTB's owned and operated by the MoD are subject to a 24-month calibration test utilising the TF Calibration Transfer Stand (CTS1, CTS2 and CTS3) which automatically interrogates the operating parameters of the equipment ensuring specific safety parameters are maintained. These CTS rigs are themselves subject to an annual Master calibration and are returned to TF HQ in Austria where a Master Calibration Unit is utilised within a controlled environment to ensure a high level of compliance. The above equipment's proprietary software has been designed and is owned by TF who have previously stated that they do not intend to release it to any third party. This mature software is critical to the functionality of the above equipment and helps underpin the safety argument used by AC DT to provide an important level of Safety assurance via the specific Safety Assessment Report for this equipment. The DT holds neither the rights nor the source code to enable it to confidently go out to the wider market without introducing a certain level of risk which would be unacceptable from an engineering perspective. In Addition, the OEM holds all the IPR for the design and manufacture to the structure and the operating system specifications for the equipment. This specialist technical knowledge underpins each decision they make and enables them to provide the DT with key safety information, configuration control and technical support which underpins the Safety argument contained within the equipment SAR, it also allows for the continued safe running of this ageing equipment whilst providing a high level of safety confidence in the range of equipment they support.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04db5c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003594-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
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

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment


CPV Codes

35000000 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£6,000,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Feb 20251 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
3 Feb 20251 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
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
jamie.malone417@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
N/A
Post Town
Not specified
Country
Not specified

Major Region (ITL 1)
Not specified
Basic Region (ITL 2)
Not specified
Small Region (ITL 3)
Not specified
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Not specified
Electoral Ward
Not specified
Westminster Constituency
Not specified

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

TEST FUCHS

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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