---
title: "WATCHKEEPER AIRPORT SERVICES AND ACCOMODATION AT WEST WALES AIRPORT FOR WATCHKEEPER TEST AND EVALUATION"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-044730"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-044730"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-044730.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-044730.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"
published: "2024-03-11"
---

# WATCHKEEPER AIRPORT SERVICES AND ACCOMODATION AT WEST WALES AIRPORT FOR WATCHKEEPER TEST AND EVALUATION

Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-044730

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-044730)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-044730.json)

## Summary

The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract for WATCHKEEPER AIRPORT SERVICES AND ACCOMODATION AT WEST WALES AIRPORT for Watchkeeper test and evaluation. The procurement falls within the services category and utilised a limited procurement method without prior publication. The contract was awarded to West Wales Airport LTD, with a value of £6,500,000 and signed on 7th March 2024. The main place of performance or delivery is West Wales Airport, Blaenannerch, Cardigan SA43 2DZ.

This opportunity can benefit businesses related to non-residential property renting or leasing services, particularly those with expertise in airport services and facilities management. Companies with experience in supporting unmanned aerial vehicle programmes for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance could also find this contract suitable. The procurement stage has been completed, offering a chance for the awarded supplier to deliver services essential for the Watchkeeper Unpiloted Air System Programme.

## Notice

The Thales Watchkeeper is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for all weather, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) used by the British Army. Watchkeeper In-Service Support has been provided since the AV came into service in the 2010s.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

WATCHKEEPER AIRPORT SERVICES AND ACCOMODATION AT WEST WALES AIRPORT FOR WATCHKEEPER TEST AND EVALUATION

### Procurement Information

Short description of the contract or purchase(s): The continued provision of airport services, facilities and building lease/s as a direct contract with West Wales Airport (WWA) to support the Watchkeeper Unpiloted Air System Programme Test and Evaluation (T &E). Reason For Award of Contract: To enable continuation of Watchkeeper T & E from 1 April 2024 to 31 Mar 2027 to align with the Watchkeeper In-Service Support Contract and associated tasks requiring T & E. Justification for Non-Competitive Decision: Only WWA has the regulated environmental conditions under which WK T & E flying can take place, and therefore is the only location where T & E can be carried out in accordance with the T & E Military Permit to Fly (MPTF). The MPTF dictates how specific Air Vehicle/s will be operated as part of the prime flying contractor Thales' UK (ISR)'s Contractor Flying Approved Organization Scheme (CFAOS) responsibilities, granted by the UK Military Airworthiness Authority (MAA). The MPTF includes an Airspace Constraints prohibition relating to flying and does not allow for T & E flying to take place at other location. The MPTF will not recommend alternative sites as being suitable within the proposed contracting timeframe. 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. Accordingly, it is considered that this contract can be awarded to West Wales Airport Ltd using the negotiated procedure without prior publication pursuant to Regulation 16(1) (a) (ii) of the UK Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for Technical Reasons. Main Place of Performance or Delivery: West Wales Airport, Blaenannerch, Cardigan SA43 2DZ

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007650-2024 |
| 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 | 11 Mar 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 7 Mar 2024 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £6,500,000 |

## 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 | WEST WALES AIRPORT |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 70 - Real estate services

### Codes

- 70220000 - Non-residential property renting or leasing services

## Release History

- 11 Mar 2024 at 11:44 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/007650-2024

## 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-044730. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-044730.json.