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The Provision of a Design, De-modification & Installation Service for Communication Equipment in Police Rotary and Fixed Wing Aircraft

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

27 Aug 2026 at 12:56

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

West Yorkshire Combined Authority, acting for the National Police Air Service, is procuring design, de-modification and installation services for communication equipment in police aircraft. The requirement covers a UK Part 21-approved modification to install Government Furnished Equipment: a new Aircraft Communication System supporting the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme. Suppliers must remove existing TETRA radio equipment and, where applicable, marine-band VHF equipment, then design and install replacement hardware supporting an initial TETRA solution and future Emergency Services Network LTE capability through dual wiring looms and antennae. The work includes approved installation, associated testing and a Certificate of Release to Service. It covers 11 rotary-wing and four fixed-wing aircraft in the United Kingdom, divided into rotary-wing and fixed-wing requirements.

The process has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through a competitive flexible procedure, using three stages—initial questionnaire and tender assessment, negotiation of proposed solutions, then final tender assessment. Bids were due electronically by 21 October 2026 at 13:00, with enquiries closing on 7 October 2026 at 17:00. The anticipated contract period is 1 July 2027 to 31 December 2029, with a 12-month extension option; the award decision is due by 2 June 2027 at 23:59. The total estimated value is £6,760,000 excluding VAT (£8,112,000 including VAT). The rotary-wing lot is £5,180,000 excluding VAT (£6,216,000 including VAT); fixed-wing is £1,580,000 excluding VAT (£1,896,000 including VAT). Bidders may bid for either or both lots. Evaluation is 40% price, 50% quality and 10% social value.

This opportunity suits aircraft modification and maintenance businesses with UK Part 21 approval and demonstrable capability in integrating, removing and installing aviation communication systems. Relevant experience includes police or other operational aircraft, rotary-wing and fixed-wing platforms, TETRA and marine-band VHF radio equipment, antennae and wiring looms, and transition planning for future LTE-based emergency communications. Suppliers must be able to work across a fleet of 11 rotary-wing and four fixed-wing aircraft, design compliant modifications, complete approved installation and testing, and issue Certificates of Release to Service. The requirement is suitable for a specialist aircraft systems integrator, an approved aviation maintenance organisation, or a consortium combining airworthiness, avionics, radio communications and installation expertise. Bidders can target one aircraft type or both.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

The Provision of a Design, De-modification & Installation Service for Communication Equipment in Police Rotary and Fixed Wing Aircraft

Notice Description

This tender is being published by BlueLight Commercial on behalf of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) who are seeking to award contracts for 'the Provision of a Design, De-modification and Installation Service for Communication Equipment in Police Rotary and Fixed Wing Aircraft.' Scope: The Authority requires a UK Part 21 approved modification that provisions the installation of Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) namely a new Aircraft Communication System (ACS) as part of the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme (ESMCP). Thereafter, the Authority requires the execution of an approved installation and associated testing of the ACS along with a Certificate of Release to Service (CRS). For the Authority to successfully transition onto the new Emergency Services Network (ESN), the Authority requires the de-modification (removal) of existing TETRA radio equipment and the installation of compatible replacement new hardware that initially supports a new TETRA solution and pre-positions for the future ESN LTE capability via dual wiring looms and antennae. This will provide the Initial Operating Capability (IOC) to ensure continued operational capability during the ESMCP transitional period and compliance with the future ESN requirements. The scope includes the removal of the existing TETRA, and where applicable, marine band VHF radio suite, the design for the installation of the replacement solution; and the subsequent installation of IOC and marine band VHF hardware across the Authority's aircraft fleet. Total aircraft to be modified: Rotary Wing =11 Fixed Wing = 4 This contract is being tendered on behalf of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) who are the contracting authority for NPAS. NPAS is not a separate, incorporated entity and therefore WYCA currently enters into contractual arrangements on behalf of NPAS. The Chief Constable of West Yorkshire is responsible for the operational delivery of NPAS. BlueLight Commercial provides commercial support services to police forces and blue light organisations across England and Wales and has been appointed by WYCA to administer the Procurement. The requirement will be tendered as two separate lots as follows; * Lot 1: Rotary Wing * Lot 2: Fixed Wing Bidders may bid for either one or both lots. BlueLight Commercial reserves the right to refine the award criteria at Stage 3 of this procurement process, in accordance with Section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023. The final award criteria and associated weightings will be published prior to the invitation of final tenders at Stage 3 of the procurement. Refinements to the award criteria may include, but are not limited to: a. adding sub-criteria to those set out in the tender notice/associated tender documents; b. adding more detail to existing main criteria set out in tender notice/associated tender documents; c. adding more detail to existing sub-criteria set out in the tender notice/associated tender documents; d. changing weightings within the pre-existing range as indicated in the table above. The potential range of the Award Criteria weightings are detailed as follows: Price: 40% - 50% Quality: 40% - 50% Social Value: 10% The anticipated contract period will be 1st July 2027 until 31st December 2029 with the option to extend for 12 months. Any changes to this commencement date will be communicated to all Bidders through the 'BlueLight' e-Commercial portal. https://atamis-7459.my.site.com/s/Welcome

Lot Information

Rotary Wing

Provision of a Design, De-modification & Installation of Communication Equipment in Police Rotary Wing Aircraft

Renewal: 12 months

Fixed Wing

Provision of a Design, De-modification & Installation of Communication Equipment in Police Fixed Wing Aircraft

Renewal: 12 months

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06ed88
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081739-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

50 - Repair and maintenance services

51 - Installation services (except software)

CPV Codes

50211100 - Aircraft maintenance services

51311000 - Installation services of radio equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,760,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£6,760,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Aug 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
21 Oct 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jul 2027 - 31 Dec 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LEEDS
Postcode
LS1 2DE
Postcode Area
Leeds
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE42 Leeds
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Leeds
Electoral Ward
Little London & Woodhouse
Westminster Constituency
Leeds Central and Headingley

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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