---
title: "A400M MRO Upgrade"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-040afb"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-040afb"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040afb.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040afb.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"
published: "2023-10-11"
---

# A400M MRO Upgrade

Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-040afb

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040afb.json)

## Summary

The Ministry of Defence, based in Bristol, United Kingdom, has completed a procurement process for the A400M MRO Upgrade project. The project falls under the goods category and aims to create maintenance docking and staging for A400M aircraft. The contract has been awarded to Planet Platforms Ltd. The estimated contract value is £4.5 million. The procurement method used was limited, with negotiation without the publication of a contract notice.

This tender presents an opportunity for businesses involved in electromechanical equipment to compete for the creation and limited post-design services required for maintenance docking and staging of A400M aircraft. Companies with expertise in bespoke solutions and electromechanical equipment are particularly suited to participate in this procurement process. Interested businesses should align with the exclusive rights held by the supplier, Planet Platforms Ltd, to ensure compliance with the project's unique design requirements.

## Notice

The A400M Delivery Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to place a new Contract with Planet Platforms for the creation and limited post-design services of a set of maintenance docking and staging bespoke to A400M Aircraft.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The A400M Delivery Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to place a new Contract with Planet Platforms for the creation and limited post-design services of a set of maintenance docking and staging bespoke to A400M Aircraft. The estimated Contract value is PS4.5M. It is considered that this Contract can be placed 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 is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. This is due to Planet Platforms holding exclusive rights to the docking and staging required. It is necessary that the new units will be of similar design to the current docking and staging provided by Planet Platforms to ensure the safe handling and continued competence with the maintenance activities required for the A400M aircraft. The platforms age is still within the monopoly period for Unregistered Design Rights (UDR), and so, noting the degree of design freedom, it is considered that a new manufacturer is likely to infringe the OEMs UDR. Working at height is one of the major risks to life that the maintenance staff face therefore any differences in design between the docking and staging such as how gates operate, close, lock, how the staging fits together and attachment points for personnel to harness in, all create unacceptable human factors risks if there is a difference in the layout to the equipment. This could contribute to personnel doing these activities incorrectly and therefore increasing the risk of a fall. To contract with another organisation would necessitate a sufficiently different design so as not to impinge on UDR, the OEM of the current docking and staging for the A400M Aircraft is most appropriate to provide the new set.

### Procurement Information

The A400M Delivery Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to place a new Contract with Planet Platforms for the creation and limited post-design services of a set of maintenance docking and staging bespoke to A400M Aircraft. The estimated Contract value is PS4.5M. It is considered that this Contract can be placed 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 is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. This is due to Planet Platforms holding exclusive rights to the docking and staging required. It is necessary that the new units will be of similar design to the current docking and staging provided by Planet Platforms to ensure the safe handling and continued competence with the maintenance activities required for the A400M aircraft. The platforms age is still within the monopoly period for Unregistered Design Rights (UDR), and so, noting the degree of design freedom, it is considered that a new manufacturer is likely to infringe the OEMs UDR. Working at height is one of the major risks to life that the maintenance staff face therefore any differences in design between the docking and staging such as how gates operate, close, lock, how the staging fits together and attachment points for personnel to harness in, all create unacceptable human factors risks if there is a difference in the layout to the equipment. This could contribute to personnel doing these activities incorrectly and therefore increasing the risk of a fall. To contract with another organisation would necessitate a sufficiently different design so as not to impinge on UDR, the OEM of the current docking and staging for the A400M Aircraft is most appropriate to provide the new set.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029942-2023 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Negotiated without publication of a contract notice |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 Oct 2023 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 10 Oct 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 | £4,500,000 |

## 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 | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Not specified |
| Postcode | N/A |
| Country | Not specified |
| ITL 1 | Not specified |
| ITL 2 | Not specified |
| ITL 3 | Not specified |
| Local authority | Not specified |
| Electoral ward | Not specified |
| Westminster constituency | Not specified |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | PLANET PLATFORMS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting

### Codes

- 31720000 - Electromechanical equipment

## Release History

- 11 Oct 2023 at 10:47 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029942-2023

## 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-040afb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-040afb.json.