--- title: "10000000" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0559c4" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0559c4" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0559c4.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0559c4.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2025-07-07" --- # 10000000 Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0559c4 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0559c4) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0559c4.json) ## Summary The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence is seeking to enter into a contract for 'In Service Support' for the Queen Elizabeth Carrier's Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) and High Resolution Direction Finder (HRDF) equipment. This process is currently in the tender stage with the tender period concluding on 18th July 2025. The project falls under the services category, specifically within repair and maintenance services, with a primary location of operations within the United Kingdom. The anticipated contract spans from 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2028, with an expected value of approximately £5 million. The procurement method is selective, adhering to a competitive procedure with negotiation. This tender represents significant opportunities for businesses adept in high-tech support and maintenance, particularly those with capabilities in aeronautical and defence equipment systems. However, while opportunities abound, the requirements for the tender highlight the necessity for a company with profound technical expertise and intimate knowledge of the TACAN & HRDF systems, as indicated by the existing partnership with Thales UK, the original equipment manufacturer. Companies with expertise in technical and safety-critical systems in the defence sector may find it advantageous to engage with the procurement process, particularly if they can offer innovative support solutions or component enhancement services. ## Notice VTN for the placement of the In Service Support of Queen Elizabeth Carrier (QEC) Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) and High Resolution Direction Finder (HRDF) equipment The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (the "Authority") intends to place a support solution with Thales UK (the "Company") for the In-Service Support, including maintenance, repair and replacement component spares for the Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) and High Resolution Direction Finder (HRDF) equipment. The term of the support is envisaged to be nine years. The anticipated value of the support will be circa PS5 million (Five Million Pounds Sterling). Equipment items included in the scope of the proposed support are: Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) High Resolution Direction Finder (HRDF) The reasons for placing the requirement with Thales UK are: TACAN & HRDF equipment performs the essential functions as aids to Air Traffic Controllers for the Air Traffic management of aircraft in proximity to the ship, or fixed wing recovery of aircraft during attempts to land on board a ship at sea. As such, the Authority requires absolute confidence that repairs and maintenance are carried out in accordance with design specifications, ensuring the equipment is fit for purpose and enabling the Armed Forces to function safely. The safety mitigation that this equipment provides is a key tenet of the Certificate of Safety (Aviation) issued to each aviation-capable platform. In respect of TACAN & HRDF equipment, there is a strict technical impracticability for a candidate other than the Company to achieve the required goals of maintaining and repairing the equipment. This is because only the Company has at its disposal the specialist know-how, extensive technical knowledge and maintenance history of the products concerned and the characteristics of the system(s) being maintained. In respect of the TACAN & HRDF equipment, the Company is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for these systems. This range of equipment is designed to mitigate safety risks associated with Air Traffic Management and Fixed wing Recovery of aircraft on ships at sea. The Company is responsible for the overall system integrity and safe installation and operability, ensuring form fit for function is maintained and certifying that this safety-critical equipment remains fit for purpose, at both component and system level. In respect of the TACAN & HRDF equipment, the Company is the OEM and holds all IPR rights as these equipment items were designed as a sole venture. There is a strict technical impracticability for a candidate other than the Company to achieve the required goals of maintaining and repairing the equipment. This is because only the Company has at its disposal the specialist know-how, extensive technical knowledge and maintenance history of the products and the characteristics of the system(s) being maintained. There is a need to mitigate obsolescence issues within the TACAN equipment on the current antenna and components within the beacon transponder. The current OEM has identified the solution where there is an intent to embody, whereby any interoperability issues of other ships fitted equipment will be mitigated based on using the existing OEM of the equipment. ### Lot Information Lot 1 VTN for the placement of the In Service Support of Queen Elizabeth Carrier (QEC) Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) and High Resolution Direction Finder (HRDF) equipment The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (the "Authority") intends to place a support solution with Thales UK (the "Company") for the In-Service Support, including maintenance, repair and replacement component spares for the Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) and High Resolution Direction Finder (HRDF) equipment. The term of the support is envisaged to be nine years. The anticipated value of the support will be circa PS5 million (Five Million Pounds Sterling). Equipment items included in the scope of the proposed support are: Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) High Resolution Direction Finder (HRDF) The reasons for placing the requirement with Thales UK are: TACAN & HRDF equipment performs the essential functions as aids to Air Traffic Controllers for the Air Traffic management of aircraft in proximity to the ship, or fixed wing recovery of aircraft during attempts to land on board a ship at sea. As such, the Authority requires absolute confidence that repairs and maintenance are carried out in accordance with design specifications, ensuring the equipment is fit for purpose and enabling the Armed Forces to function safely. The safety mitigation that this equipment provides is a key tenet of the Certificate of Safety (Aviation) issued to each aviation-capable platform. In respect of TACAN & HRDF equipment, there is a strict technical impracticability for a candidate other than the Company to achieve the required goals of maintaining and repairing the equipment. This is because only the Company has at its disposal the specialist know-how, extensive technical knowledge and maintenance history of the products concerned and the characteristics of the system(s) being maintained. In respect of the TACAN & HRDF equipment, the Company is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for these systems. This range of equipment is designed to mitigate safety risks associated with Air Traffic Management and Fixed wing Recovery of aircraft on ships at sea. The Company is responsible for the overall system integrity and safe installation and operability, ensuring form fit for function is maintained and certifying that this safety-critical equipment remains fit for purpose, at both component and system level. In respect of the TACAN & HRDF equipment, the Company is the OEM and holds all IPR rights as these equipment items were designed as a sole venture. There is a strict technical impracticability for a candidate other than the Company to achieve the required goals of maintaining and repairing the equipment. This is because only the Company has at its disposal the specialist know-how, extensive technical knowledge and maintenance history of the products and the characteristics of the system(s) being maintained. There is a need to mitigate obsolescence issues within the TACAN equipment on the current antenna and components within the beacon transponder. The current OEM has identified the solution where there is an intent to embody, whereby any interoperability issues of other ships fitted equipment will be mitigated based on using the existing OEM of the equipment. Options: option years may be added ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037703-2025 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Competitive procedure with negotiation | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 7 Jul 2025 | | Submission deadline | 18 Jul 2025 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 30 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2028 | | 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 | Active | | Lots status | Active | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 50 - Repair and maintenance services ### Codes - 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services ## Release History - 7 Jul 2025 at 10:44 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037703-2025 ## 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-0559c4. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0559c4.json.