--- title: "Gun-Fire Control System Mk 8 (GSA 8) - Early Engagement" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-718cf5cf-3f31-41b9-b265-2c94b6d833b3" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-718cf5cf-3f31-41b9-b265-2c94b6d833b3" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-718cf5cf-3f31-41b9-b265-2c94b6d833b3.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-718cf5cf-3f31-41b9-b265-2c94b6d833b3.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2022-02-02" --- # Gun-Fire Control System Mk 8 (GSA 8) - Early Engagement Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-718cf5cf-3f31-41b9-b265-2c94b6d833b3 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-718cf5cf-3f31-41b9-b265-2c94b6d833b3) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-718cf5cf-3f31-41b9-b265-2c94b6d833b3.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence is currently conducting an early engagement process for the procurement of the Gun-Fire Control System Mk 8 (GSA 8), aimed at maintaining the system's availability and capability on T23 Frigates and associated shore establishments. This procurement, classified under "Repair and maintenance services of weapon systems," has a potential contract value of up to £1.5 million over a sixteen-month period, which commences on 1 February 2023 and concludes on 31 May 2024. Interested suppliers must submit their feedback by 18 February 2022, with a Market Interest Day planned for 10:00 to 11:00 on the same day, during which suppliers can discuss the procurement strategy and commercial options with the contracting authority. This tender represents an opportunity for businesses specialising in defence support, specifically those involved in maintenance and repair services for military systems. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly encouraged to participate, as the procurement process aims to engage a diverse range of suppliers. Companies with expertise in providing integrated support services, including equipment maintenance, spares management, and technical support for weapon systems, will find this opportunity aligns with their capabilities and can significantly contribute to business growth within the defence sector. ## Notice The International Guns, Missiles & Rockets (IGMR) team within DE&S is conducting early market engagement to gain an understanding of the potential level of interest in the market and give suppliers the opportunity to comment on the procurement strategy for the provision of Gun-Fire Control System Mk 8 (GSA 8) equipment In-Service Support. The requirement is to assist the Authority in maintaining availability and capability of the GSA8 system as fitted in T23 Frigates and shore establishments. The potential contract value is up to PS1.5M over 16 months (from 1 Feb 2023 till 31 May 2024). At the end of this 16-month period combined support for GSA 8 and GSA9 systems over a longer period may be explored. Background: GSA8 is the current Gun Fire Control System (GFCS) for the 4.5" Mk8 Medium Calibre Gun (MCG) fitted to the T23 Frigates, in conjunction with the General-Purpose Electro Optical Director (GPEOD) which provides Situational Awareness (SA) and visual target tracking. GSA8/GPEOD has been in service since 1988 and there have been significant obsolescence issues. Since 2021 the T23 population has commenced a gradual draw down of hull numbers and in 2035 the final T23 is due to reach her Out of Service Date (OSD). The intention is for the GSA8/GPEOD systems recovered from T23s, as they each have their own individual OSDs, to be made available to augment current stores holdings and support the remaining T23s. The following equipment shall be supported under this Contract: - The 12 x GSA8 system as fitted to T23 Frigates. - Spares held in stores and on-board ships and at Contractors facilities - The GSA 8 Reference Rig as maintained by Leonardo MW - The GSA 8 System as fitted at the Shore Integration Facility (SIF) at Portsdown Hill. - The GSA 8 Training systems fitted at HMS Collingwood. - Special to Type Test Equipment held by the Contractor in support of this contract Request for feedback: The IGMR Delivery Team wishes to understand the views of interested providers, particularly in relation to challenges of providing intermediate support and the relatively short contract duration thereafter. Interested providers views on constraints relating to the contract transition and access to necessary Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), is particularly sought). The interested suppliers are invited to submit their feedback to Richard.Ireland499@mod.gov.uk . Further to above, interested suppliers are also invited to attend a Market Interest Day which will be held virtually via MS Teams on 18 February 2022, 10.00-11.00 to further discuss and capture potential suppliers' views on the requirement, including viability and possible delivery options, as well as allowing discussion around elements of the commercial strategy, such as pricing mechanisms and duration. In order to participate in Market Interest Day, interested suppliers must confirm their attendance by 11 February 2022 by emailing Richard.Ireland499@mod.gov.uk Additional information: This is not a formal tender document. Participation of this soft market engagement will not prejudice suppliers participating in any future procurement. The Authority is publishing this announcement without any commitment to issue a tender or place a contract. Accordingly, any expenditure, work or effort undertaken before contract award is a matter solely for the commercial judgement of potential suppliers. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86cb5646-19ad-4390-bd6b-943a5d4e44e1 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 2 Feb 2022 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 18 Feb 2022 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Post town | Bristol | | Postcode | BS34 8JH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire | | Local authority | South Gloucestershire | | Electoral ward | Stoke Park & Cheswick | | Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke | | Delivery location | TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 50 - Repair and maintenance services ### Codes - 50842000 - Repair and maintenance services of weapon systems ## Release History - 2 Feb 2022 at 12:29 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86cb5646-19ad-4390-bd6b-943a5d4e44e1 - 2 Feb 2022 at 12:18 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/de4cba2f-b74d-41b8-8039-1f61f91b7e68 - 2 Feb 2022 at 08:25 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/5fdcafe6-87c8-4e59-af4a-3b362ddaed8e ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/86cb5646-19ad-4390-bd6b-943a5d4e44e1 2nd February 2022 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/de4cba2f-b74d-41b8-8039-1f61f91b7e68 2nd February 2022 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/5fdcafe6-87c8-4e59-af4a-3b362ddaed8e 2nd February 2022 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contracts.mod.uk/esop/toolkit/notice/showNationalData.do?noticeId=1038397#fh Link to Opportunity Listing in Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) ## Notice URLs - https://des.mod.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-718cf5cf-3f31-41b9-b265-2c94b6d833b3. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-718cf5cf-3f31-41b9-b265-2c94b6d833b3.json.