---
title: "Merlin Out of Service Extension Programme"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03dec5"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03dec5"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03dec5.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03dec5.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-03dec5

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## Summary

The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract for the Merlin Out of Service Extension Programme to Leonardo Helicopters. The procurement process, led by the Ministry of Defence, involved a limited award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition. The contract aims to extend the Out of Service date of the Merlin Mk2 and Mk4/4a aircraft. The contract value is £1,861,065. The procurement falls under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011, as amended. The project involves parallel, mirrored single source contracts with Leonardo Helicopters and Lockheed Martin acting as CDOs.

This tender presents a business growth opportunity for companies with expertise in repair and maintenance services of helicopters. Businesses in the aerospace and defence industry, especially those with specific know-how, tools, and equipment related to the Merlin Mk4/4a aircraft, would be well-suited to compete for this contract. The procurement method chosen aims to reduce coordination risks by establishing a Joint Project Office with the selected contractors. The Ministry of Defence in the UK, as the buying organisation, welcomes suppliers with the necessary capabilities to fulfil the contractual requirements outlined in the award.

## Notice

Contract to undertake the Assessment Phase of the OSDEP Programme.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Out of Service Extension Programme for Merlin Assessment Phase

### Procurement Information

The Secretary of State for Defence intends to enter into a contract with Leonardo Helicopters 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 Leonardo Helicopters have the specific know-how, tools and equipment and access to the technical drawings, publications and manufacturing data pertaining to the relevant Merlin Mk4/4a 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/019037-2023 |
| 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 | £1,861,065 |

## 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 | LEONARDO HELICOPTERS |

## 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 14:04 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019037-2023

## 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-03dec5. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03dec5.json.