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Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Operational Control Satcom Data Link Service - UK5

Ministry of Defence

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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23 Oct 2026 at 12:26

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence is buying continued licensing and support for the C-17 aircraft’s air traffic control and operational control satellite communications data-link service. The requirement covers the software and system support on which the C-17 Satcom Datalink Service relies, including its use within the RAF C-17 fleet. The service supports air traffic control and operational control communications. Delivery is for the United Kingdom. This is a specialist software and technical support requirement, rather than a general air traffic control service or a supply of aircraft. The procurement relates to the service configuration already incorporated into the C-17 fleet.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded by direct award to ARINC Incorporated. The Ministry’s rationale is that ARINC holds the relevant software and licensing rights and system-specific technical knowledge; the existing configuration relies on ARINC software and code and cannot be changed or replaced without significant technical intervention. The Ministry previously issued an invitation to tender and then terminated that procurement to review the requirement before proceeding with the direct award. The award is valued at USD 778,944, with a gross value of USD 934,733. The contract period runs from 17 January 2027 to 16 September 2031, with a planned signature date of 4 December 2026. The requirement is a single lot. No separate scored evaluation criteria are stated; the stated basis for selecting the supplier is its exclusive rights and technical expertise.

For suppliers considering similar Ministry of Defence requirements, this award indicates that established, platform-specific software rights and technical knowledge can determine the procurement route. A credible competitor would need to demonstrate lawful access to the relevant C-17 Satcom Datalink software and licensing, detailed knowledge of the existing system configuration, and the ability to provide sustained support without disrupting the RAF fleet. The requirement favoured continuity with the incumbent because the system configuration was embedded in the fleet and could not be modified or replaced without substantial technical intervention. Businesses without those rights or comparable system-specific expertise are unlikely to match the stated justification for this direct award. The work is suited to a specialist provider with the capacity to maintain a defence aviation communications service over a multi-year contract.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Operational Control Satcom Data Link Service - UK5

Notice Description

Provision of C-17 Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Operational Control Satcom Data Link Service valued at USD 778,944.00 for 56 months to be paid on a monthly basis.

Procurement Information

The Define and Procure team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a contract to ARINC Incorporated ("ARINC") for continued licencing and support to the C-17 Satcom Datalink Service. The contract will be for a term of 5 years with an estimated value of USD 778,944.00 The Authority originally issued Invitation to Tender number 715779462. It then issued a UK12 procurement termination notice to allow for review of the requirement. Following that review, the Authority is satisfied that the requirement is such that only ARINC holds the relevant software and licensing rights and system-specific technical knowledge required. The C-17 Satcom Datalink Service relies on ARINC software and associated code. The software configuration was incorporated into the RAF C-17 fleet by Boeing and cannot be modified or replaced without significant technical intervention. Accordingly, it is intended that the contract be directly awarded to ARINC under section 41 of the Procurement Act 2023 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078edc
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/100427-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency 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

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

48 - Software package and information systems

63 - Supporting and auxiliary transport services; travel agencies services

CPV Codes

34962200 - Air-traffic control

34962220 - Air-traffic control systems

48121000 - Air traffic control software package

63732000 - Air-traffic control services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£778,944 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
17 Jan 2027 - 16 Sep 2031 4-5 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
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
WOLVERHAMPTON
Postcode
WV7 3EX
Postcode Area
Wolverhampton
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG22 Shropshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Shropshire
Electoral Ward
Shifnal Rural
Westminster Constituency
The Wrekin

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Arinc Incorporated

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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