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Contractor Logistics Support of the Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) Systems at Mount Pleasant Complex (MPC), Falkland Islands and RAF Gibraltar

Defence Equipment and Support

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

04 Sep 2026 at 10:30

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Defence Equipment and Support requires contractor logistics support for two bespoke, legacy Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) telecommunications networks: the network at Mount Pleasant Complex in the Falkland Islands and the network at RAF Gibraltar. The systems carry voice and data communications between network nodes and end users. The requirement covers in-service support for discontinued SAGEM hardware, custom configurations and Ministry of Defence-owned assets. It also involves support for the associated SDH Training and Development System, which is used to equip specialist personnel with the knowledge needed to operate and maintain the networks. This is a central government defence communications requirement, delivered in the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct award to Thales UK Ltd under the Procurement Act 2023 provisions for a single capable supplier and technical incompatibility with existing services. The award outcome was recorded on 4 September 2026. The awarded value is £6,894,400 excluding VAT and £8,618,000 including VAT. The contract period is 1 April 2027 to 30 September 2028, with a maximum extent to 30 September 2029. One lot was awarded. The arrangement includes an option for continued support to changes in the equipment and a renewal option relating to equipment changes. The requirement is classified as telecommunications network goods and is above the applicable threshold.

This procurement shows demand for highly specialised support of operational, legacy SDH telecommunications systems in defence environments. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable expertise in discontinued SAGEM hardware, bespoke network configurations, fault diagnosis, maintenance and reliable operation of voice and data bearer networks. Experience of supporting Ministry of Defence-owned assets and working across geographically remote or overseas military locations would be important. The requirement also indicates a need for specialist training and development capability, including the ability to transfer practical knowledge to SMEs responsible for the networks. Suppliers would need to manage continuity and compatibility with an established system rather than offer a standard replacement, and to support equipment changes without creating disproportionate technical or operational difficulties.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Contractor Logistics Support of the Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) Systems at Mount Pleasant Complex (MPC), Falkland Islands and RAF Gibraltar

Notice Description

Mount Pleasant Complex (MPC), Falkland Islands SDH (FI SDH) - The role of the SDH Network at MPC, FI (hereafter referred to as FI SDH) is that of a data bearer sub-system which carries traffic generated by end-users in a seamless and reliable manner. Data messages from external sending terminals pass into the SDH Network at one of the network nodes and onwards through intermediate nodes until the data message arrives at the destination node and then passed to the external destination terminal. Gibraltar SDH (GIB SDH) - The role of the SDH Network at RAF Gibraltar (hereafter referred to as GIB SDH) is that of a high-capacity data bearer carrying voice and data communications between all nodes, which are located at the three main sites at RAF Gibraltar. The MoD requires in-service support for bespoke, legacy SDH networks in the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar, which include discontinued SAGEM hardware and custom configurations originally provided by Thales. Given the outdated nature of SDH technology, Thales' position as the original system designer and support provider since 2001, the unique configuration of the Falklands' network, MoD owned assets are required to maintain the active SDH networks and cannot be released to alternative suppliers to develop their own SDH Training & Development System. Thales is uniquely qualified to fulfil this requirement. Additionally, Thales owns the only SDH Training & Development System capable of equipping SMEs with the specialised knowledge needed for these networks.

Procurement Information

It is considered that this contract can be awarded using the direct award criteria under the Procurement Act 2023 (Act) Sch 5 para 6: "only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required" and/or Sch 5 para 7: "a change in supplier would result in the contracting authority receiving services different from, or incompatible with, the existing services, and the difference or incompatibility would result in disproportionate technical difficulties in operation or maintenance"

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f202
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083787-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

CPV Codes

32412100 - Telecommunications network

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£6,894,400 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Apr 2027 - 30 Sep 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Defence Equipment and Support
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Postcode Area
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 UK Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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