--- title: "The Procurement and In-Service Support for the Virtus Re-Compete Torso Sub System" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-047305" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-047305" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047305.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047305.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2024-08-08" --- # The Procurement and In-Service Support for the Virtus Re-Compete Torso Sub System Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-047305 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-047305) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047305.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is conducting a procurement for the ongoing supply, support, and development of the Virtus integrated Soft Body Armour and Load Carriage system, specifically the Torso Sub System. This procurement falls under the industry category of protective gear and is located in the United Kingdom. The process is currently at the tender stage, with significant upcoming deadlines such as the final date for clarification questions being 19th August 2024 and the return of Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaires (DPQQs) by 30th August 2024. An Invitation to Tender (ITN) will be issued in November 2024, with tenders due back by May 2025. The anticipated contract award date is August 2025. This contract will run for five years with options to extend up to a total of nine years and will be managed in accordance with the Competitive Negotiated Procedure under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. This tender presents substantial opportunities for businesses specializing in military and protective gear manufacturing. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with expertise in scalable tactical vests, soft armour components, and associated load carriage equipment like bergens and pouches are well-suited to compete. Additionally, firms with capabilities in post-design services for ongoing system development and those offering training, refurbishment, and disposal services for military equipment stand to gain from this contract. The opportunity includes a steady revenue stream from a long-term agreement and the potential for involvement in technological advancements and support for the UK armed forces, covering the Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force. ## Notice 1. Introduction and Scope The Authority has a requirement for the ongoing supply, support and development of the VIRTUS integrated Soft body armour and load carriage system. The VIRTUS system focuses on 3 of the NATO soldier domains: survivability, mobility and sustainability. VIRTUS is the UK Armed Forces integrated Soft Body Armour, Helmet and Load Carriage system based on the soldier. VIRTUS comprises of a head and torso sub-system with integrated load carriage and a Quick Release (QR) mechanism, to allow escape from water, confined space or to allow rapid access to the body in an emergency. This notice is NOT for the procurement of the Head Sub System. The DE&S DCC Survivability Team intends to competitively assess, select and award a contract to deliver and support the Virtus Torso Sub System capability to all tri-service users including Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. The Torso Sub System requirement is for all body armour and load carriage equipment within the current VIRTUS system including but not limited to scalable tactical vests, soft armour filler, extremity protection, bergens and pouches. The Contract shall also include the ability for the Authority to utilise Post Design Services (PDS) for the ongoing development of the system to ensure that it continues to provide optimal performance as technology develops and matures. There may also be a requirement within the Contract for the provision of training in the use of the VIRTUS system and for the refurbishment and disposal of VIRTUS items. The System needs to comply with MOD standards and policies for quality, safety and cyber amongst others. Full details shall be provided at the Invitation To Negotiate (ITN) stage of the competition. The Competitive procedure will be managed in accordance with the Competitive Negotiated Procedure under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011. You may express your interest in this requirement by completing the Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) found at https://contracts.mod.uk/go/9113732701908259B595 The full requirement will be issued in the ITN and suppliers will be given appropriate time to respond with their tenders. 2. Contract Options The contract will be for Five years The contract will have an additional 4 x 1 Year options taking the maximum length of the contract up to 9 years. The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option years. Further information on the option will be provided in the Invitation to Tender. 3. Post Design Services (PDS) during Competition During the Torso Sub System competition, there will be pieces of Post Design Services on the TSS that will continue on the current In-Service contract. There will be a full list of any ongoing PDS along with expected completion dates and any further aspirational PDS tasks provided at ITN release. 4. Estimated Timescales The table below details the anticipated time frames of this procurement. These dates are provided for information only. Activity Date Final date for DPQQ Clarification Questions: 5th August 2024 DPQQs returned to MOD: 16th August 2024 Invitation to Tender Issued: November 2024 Tenders Returned to MOD: May 2025 Authority Evaluation of ITN Completed: June 2025 Anticipated Date of Contract Award: August 2025 ### Lot Information Lot 1 Virtus Torso Sub System - This will be a Build To Print solution with Technical Data Packs provided by the Authroity. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025006-2024 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Goods | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Negotiated | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 8 Aug 2024 | | Submission deadline | 16 Aug 2024 | | Future notice date | 4 Jul 2024 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £135,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Post town | Bristol | | Postcode | N/A | | 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 | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 18 - Clothing, footwear, luggage articles and accessories - 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment ### Codes - 18143000 - Protective gear - 18931100 - Rucksacks - 18934000 - Kitbags - 18936000 - Textile bags - 35113400 - Protective and safety clothing - 35811300 - Military uniforms - 35812200 - Combat suits - 35812300 - Combat gear - 35813100 - Helmet covers - 35815100 - Bullet-proof vests ## Release History - 8 Aug 2024 at 10:52 - TenderUpdate - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025006-2024 - 5 Jul 2024 at 11:29 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/020587-2024 - 27 Jun 2024 at 12:29 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019677-2024 ## Notice URLs - https://contracts.mod.uk/go/9113732701908259B595 - https://des.mod.uk/ - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h6vhtk-041db4 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/api/1.0/ocdsReleasePackages/ocds-h6vhtk-046b67 ## 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-047305. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-047305.json.