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715860487- Training for RFA Tide Class 690V Switchboards incl Frequency Converters - UK5

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

06 Aug 2026 at 11:03

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

02 Jun 2026 at 15:04

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence is procuring specialist technical training for Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel who maintain and diagnose faults in Tide-class electrical power and propulsion systems. The service covers training on the 690V switchboards and frequency converters fitted across RFA vessels, supporting safe operation, maintenance, platform availability and operational capability. The requirement is for 12 training places each year. Delivery is for Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and relates to systems installed on RFA vessels; the buying organisation is the Ministry of Defence. The procurement is categorised as services, specifically technical training services (CPV 80531200). The systems are complex and safety-critical, combining power generation, distribution and conversion equipment.

The procurement is complete and was awarded directly to GE Energy Power Conversion UK Limited on 5 August 2026. The award covers one lot and uses a direct award procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, justified by the absence of competition for technical reasons. GE is the original equipment manufacturer and controls the proprietary design data, software, control logic and OEM-certified training. The award value is £590,689 excluding VAT, or £708,826 including VAT. The awarded period runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031. A contract signature milestone was scheduled for 26 August 2026. The award is active, and the procurement is above the relevant threshold.

This requirement is most relevant to the original equipment manufacturer or a supplier with equivalent, demonstrable access to proprietary switchboard and converter design data, software, control logic and system configurations. Credible providers would need to deliver OEM-certified, system-specific technical training for engineers responsible for onboard maintenance, fault diagnosis and safe operation of electrical power and propulsion equipment. The work requires sufficient specialist instructors and training capacity to support 12 Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel each year. Suppliers would also need strong control of technical assurance, safety and compliance, because generic or non-authorised training could create risks around configuration control, certification and incorrect operation of safety-critical systems. The awarded procurement indicates demand for long-term, manufacturer-led training tied to Tide-class vessels.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

715860487- Training for RFA Tide Class 690V Switchboards incl Frequency Converters - UK5

Notice Description

The Tide-class electrical power and propulsion system is a highly complex system of systems that includes power generation, distribution and conversion machinery. RFA Systems Engineers must be suitably qualified and experienced to conduct onboard maintenance and fault diagnosis on these key systems. This is a crucial principle that underpins RFA platform availability and operational capability. The training courses should provide 12 training places per year for Royal Fleet Auxiliary Personnel.

Procurement Information

The Royal Navy, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a 5 year contract with a value of PS590,689.00 to GE Power Conversion (GEPC) for the Provision of Tide Class Switchboards and Converter Training for RFA Personnel As a covered procurement, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023. It is considered that the direct award of the contract is lawful in accordance with regulation 41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023. (a) Absence of competition for technical reasons GE Power Conversion (GEPC) is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the Tide Class switchboard and converter systems installed across RFA vessels. The training requirement relates to the safe operation and maintenance of these systems, which incorporate proprietary design data, software, and control logic owned by GEPC. GEPC retains exclusive control over the provision of OEM-certified training and does not authorise third-party providers to deliver this training. No alternative suppliers have been identified that are able to access the necessary proprietary information or provide training certified as compliant with OEM requirements. (b) No reasonable alternatives The use of a non-OEM training provider would introduce significant technical and operational risks, including: * Loss of configuration control and system assurance * Potential invalidation of safety and compliance certification * Increased risk of incorrect operation of safety-critical electrical systems Alternative approaches, including internal delivery or use of generic training providers, are not viable due to the lack of access to OEM-controlled technical data and system-specific configurations. Accordingly, only the OEM can deliver the requirement without disproportionate technical and safety risk, and no reasonable alternatives exist.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06aba3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/074582-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80531200 - Technical training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£590,689 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Aug 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
5 Aug 20262 months ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Ministry of Defence
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PORTSMOUTH
Postcode
PO2 8BY
Postcode Area
Portsmouth
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ31 Portsmouth
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Portsmouth
Electoral Ward
Nelson
Westminster Constituency
Portsmouth North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

GE Energy Power Conversion UK Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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