---
title: "Merlin Out of Service Extension Programme"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03dec2"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03dec2"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03dec2.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03dec2.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"
published: "2023-07-04"
---

# Merlin Out of Service Extension Programme

Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03dec2

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## Summary

The Ministry of Defence has awarded the contract for the "Merlin Out of Service Extension Programme" to Lockheed Martin. The procurement process falls under the services category, with the contracting authority located in Yeovil, UK. The procurement method used was a limited award procedure without prior publication, justified by the specific expertise of Lockheed Martin in handling the contract requirements. The contract aims to extend the Out of Service date of the Merlin Mk2 and Mk4/4a aircraft, with Lockheed Martin being the main supplier.

This tender presents business growth opportunities for companies specialising in repair and maintenance services of helicopters, particularly those with expertise in handling obsolescence issues. Businesses with knowledge of military transport helicopters and experience in training aids related to aircraft maintenance are well-suited to compete. The procurement strategy involves parallel single-source contracts with Leonardo Helicopters and Lockheed Martin, creating avenues for collaboration and joint project ventures for interested businesses.

## Notice

Contract to undertake the Assessment Phase of the OSDEP Programme

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Contract to undertake the Assessment Phase of the OSDEP Programme

### Procurement Information

The Secretary of State for Defence intends to enter into a contract with Lockheed Martin to undertake a full review of and validation of the obsolescence issues anticipated to arise in with the airframes and equipment together with the associated training aids in the 2030+ timescale in order to extend the Out of Service date of the Merlin Mk2 and Mk4/4a aircraft. In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) because Lockheed Martin have the specific know-how, tools and equipment and access to the technical drawings, publications and manufacturing data pertaining to the relevant Merlin Mk2 aircraft to fulfil all the contractual requirements. The procurement strategy taken is one where parallel, mirrored single source contracts are to be with Leonardo Helicopters and Lockheed Martin acting as CDOs. This aims to reduce the co-ordination risk seen in previous projects by establishing a Joint Project Office (JPO).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019033-2023 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Jul 2023 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 3 Jul 2023 |
| 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 | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE |
| Locality | YEOVIL |
| Post town | Bath |
| Postcode | BA20 2YB |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK6 North Somerset, Somerset and Dorset |
| ITL 3 | TLK62 Somerset |
| Local authority | Somerset |
| Electoral ward | Yeovil South |
| Westminster constituency | Yeovil |
| Delivery location | TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | LOCKHEED MARTIN |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services

### Codes

- 34711500 - Helicopters
- 35612200 - Anti submarine warfare helicopters
- 35612300 - Support helicopters
- 35612400 - Military transport helicopters
- 50212000 - Repair and maintenance services of helicopters

## Release History

- 4 Jul 2023 at 13:56 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019033-2023

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence

## 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-h6vhtk-03dec2. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03dec2.json.