Planning

A-Class Platform Complex Systems - Batch 1 PMS and ICS

SUBMARINE DELIVERY AGENCY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

12 May 2025 at 09:39

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process led by the Submarine Delivery Agency, a part of the UK Ministry of Defence, is centered on securing in-service support for Internal Communication Systems and Astute Class Platform Complex Systems under the project titled "A-Class Platform Complex Systems - Batch 1 PMS and ICS". The procurement includes technical support, waterfront support, and post-design services, vital for maintaining operational safety and efficiency of the submarine delivery capabilities. The contracting process is currently in the planning stage, following a direct award methodology under the Procurement Act 2023, with the contract valued at approximately £51 million excluding VAT. The procurement is set to commence on 1st March 2026 and extend over a seven-year period, specifically involving services fitted within the Defence and Security sector. The key location for this contract is the United Kingdom, and the procurement details were published in May 2025.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in technical support services, particularly those with expertise in defence and security systems. Given the nature of the direct award to L3Harris MAPPS Ltd, the original equipment manufacturer, this contract illustrates the importance of possessing proprietary technological capabilities or specialised technical knowledge in order to secure similar future contracts. Companies looking to grow in the field of defence infrastructure, particularly in technical support services, would find that pioneering developments or forming strategic alliances could position them as competitive candidates for similar high-value procurements in this industry.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

A-Class Platform Complex Systems - Batch 1 PMS and ICS

Notice Description

The Platform Equipment Delivery Team (PEDT), part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the "Authority"), intends to enter into a contract (the "Contract") with L3Harris MAPPS Ltd (the "Contractor") to take effect on and from 1st March 2026 for a period of 7 years for the provision of in-service support of the Internal Communication Systems (ICS) and Astute Class Platform Complex Systems Batch 1 Platform Management System (PMS) and equipment, providing technical support, waterfront support and Post Design Services ensuring that availability is maintained and obsolescence and reliability issues are addressed, including the provision of ICS Spares and Repairs. The systems provide critical safety and operational functions in support of the Authority's Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) capabilities. The Contract has a value (ex VAT) of approx. PS51,000,000 (Fifty-One million pounds sterling). It is considered that the Contract can be entered into using Direct Award pursuant to Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 on the basis that the Contract may be awarded only to the Contractor for 7(a) the contracting authority receiving goods, services or works that are different from or incompatible with , the existing goods, services or works, and (b) the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operational maintenance. The Contractor is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and Design Authority (DA) for, and holder of all relevant proprietary information in the ICS and A-Class Platform Complex Systems Batch 1 PMS. The Contractor holds and maintains deployed software source codes and original technical documentation specific to the Astute Class Boats 1 to 7 ICS and any changes or modifications to the software can only be undertaken exclusively by the Contractor. As the OEM and DA, only the Contractor has the ability to make amendments to the Batch 1 PMS as in order to make amendments to the Batch 1 PMS, access to the Contractor's proprietary toolset, MAPPS, is required. This is necessary for the performance of the requirement. The Authority does not have sufficient knowledge or experience of using the MAPPS toolset and the Authority does not have any proprietary rights in the MAPPS proprietary toolset used for actual coding and is therefore unable to pass this on to any third party. The Contractor, as the only manufacturer and supplier of the ICS and A-Class Platform Complex systems Batch 1 PMS, is the only economic operator with the specific technical knowledge and experience of the ICS and A-Class PMS system to be able to support and update such equipment, avoiding safety and availability risk issues.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-051088
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020339-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71356300 - Technical support services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£51,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
12 May 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Mar 2026 - 28 Feb 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SUBMARINE DELIVERY AGENCY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
defcomrcl-systemsguidance@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

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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