Find a TenderAwarded

Published 26 Jul 2021, 22:45 BST

Official UK procurement notice

701577419.1-4 Framework Agreement for the Procurement and Support of an Armalite Rifle (AR) platform

Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)·Consortium: 4 public authorities

Framework agreementGoodsRestricted procedure

Sectors: Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment (35)Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) (38) Delivery: UK

Framework ceiling (notional)£90,000,000framework ceiling, not attributable revenue

Submissions closed 18 Aug 2021awarded 14 Jul 2023

What is being bought

Published requirement description

An initial circa £15 million order of 1,620 AIW systems has been placed, with options to procure up to 10,000 systems – totalling circa £90 million - under the contract over the next decade. The systems will initially be fielded to the Army Special Operations Brigade (ASOB) who operate in complex, high threat environments.

CPV: Purchase · Repair and maintenance services of firearms and ammunition · Rifles · Telescopic sights

How this framework works

From the published notice

Places: up to 6 suppliers · 13 bids received (2.2 per place) · 3 appointed
Framework period: … – … (5 yrs)
Framework value: £90,000,000
Electronic auction: It is intended than an electronic auction would be used at Stage 3 (mini competitions) for the procurement of circa 3,000 AIW Systems.

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published

Lot #1The Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system - known as the L403A1 and procured by…Awarded

The Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system - known as the L403A1 and procured by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) under Project HUNTER – is made up of a new assault rifle fitted with a muzzle signature reduction system and an improved optical sighting system.

The AIW is a modern rifle using the latest in design technology and manufacturing methods, to produce an exceptionally reliable and accurate weapon. The magnified optic means the user is able to engage threats from greater distances; whilst the signature reduction system works to mask the AIW from detection from sight and hearing.

Delivery: UK

Second stage: 3–6 candidates invited to tender

38633000 Telescopic sights

What it takes to win
i
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more

How bids were scored

Quality: 100%

Published sub-criteria (1)

MEAT as stated in the ITT: 100%

Published award criteria (1)

Price

Conditions of participation6

Suitability
Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender:
1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once)
- Browse to the eSourcing Portal
- Click the “Click here to register” link
- Accept the terms and conditions and click “continue”
- Enter your correct business and user details
- Note the username you chose and click “Save” when complete
- You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure)
1. Express an Interest in the tender
- Login to the portal with the username/password
- Click the "PQQs Open to All Suppliers" link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires open to any registered supplier)
- Click on the relevant PQQ to access the content.
- Click the “Express Interest” button in the “Actions” box on the left-hand side of the page.
- This will move the PQQ into your “My PQQs” page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only)
- Click on the PQQ code, you can now access any attachments by clicking the “Settings and Buyer Attachments” in the “Actions” box
1. Responding to the tender
- You can now choose to “Reply” or “Reject” (please give a reason if rejecting)
- You can now use the ‘Messages’ function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification
- Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ
- There may be a mixture of online & offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available)
If you require any furt…
Suitability
Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender:
1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once)
- Browse to the eSourcing Portal
- Click the “Click here to register” link
- Accept the terms and conditions and click “continue”
- Enter your correct business and user details
- Note the username you chose and click “Save” when complete
- You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure)
1. Express an Interest in the tender
- Login to the portal with the username/password
- Click the "PQQs Open to All Suppliers" link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires open to any registered supplier)
- Click on the relevant PQQ to access the content.
- Click the “Express Interest” button in the “Actions” box on the left-hand side of the page.
- This will move the PQQ into your “My PQQs” page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only)
- Click on the PQQ code, you can now access any attachments by clicking the “Settings and Buyer Attachments” in the “Actions” box
1. Responding to the tender
- You can now choose to “Reply” or “Reject” (please give a reason if rejecting)
- You can now use the ‘Messages’ function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification
- Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ
- There may be a mixture of online & offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available)
If you require any furt…
Economic & financial standing
As detailed in the DPQQ
Minimum: As detailed in the DPQQ
Economic & financial standing
As detailed in the DPQQ
Minimum: As detailed in the DPQQ
Technical & professional ability
As detailed in the DPQQ
Minimum: As detailed in the DPQQ
Technical & professional ability
As detailed in the DPQQ
Minimum: As detailed in the DPQQ

Second stage candidates: 3–6 candidates invited to tender

What this means for your bid

“701577419.1-4 Framework Agreement for the Procurement and Support of…” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 6 suppliers, not a single contract.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached

Procedure method: Restricted procedure
Legal basis: CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
Procurement category: Goods
Notice status: Awarded
Procurement threshold: Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime: Standard
Commercial structure: Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement: Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type: Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered: Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement: Unspecified in notice
First published: 26 Jul 2021, 22:45 BST
Last source update: 6 Sept 2023, 15:50 BST
FTS notice number: 2023/S 000-026370
Classification (CPV): PurchaseRepair and maintenance services of firearms and ammunitionRiflesTelescopic sights
Delivery area: UK
Official registry OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02ccab Find a Tender

Publisher note: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/59b146a5-0015-4737-8847-2a45f02daf39 - for Redacted Contract documentation and Contract Finder Contract Award Notice.

How it was run

Official notice

Appointment period ends: 18 Aug 2021, 23:59 BST
Submission channel: {"written"}
Accepted languages: en

Timeline

18 Aug 2021 → 6 Sept 2023 · 3 dates

Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown
18 Aug 2021, 23:59 BST
Invitations to tender expected
10 Sept 2021, 00:00 BST
Notice published
6 Sept 2023, 15:50 BST

Notice history

4 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 29 Jul 2021

Buyer details updated
29 Jul 2021, 22:45 BST
Buyer details updated
24 Mar 2022, 16:00 GMT
Status changed to complete
6 Sept 2023, 15:50 BST
Buyer details updated
6 Sept 2023, 15:50 BST

Published amendments (1 · 0 deadline changes)

When	What	Before	After
—	TextII.2.1	Stage 1 - DPQQ Down Select of economic operators to be issued the ITT to be invited to tender for a place on the framework agreement. Stage 2 - Up to a maximum of six (6) economic operators shall be awarded tasks under the framework to supply and support the trial AIW systems. All Economic operators that have successfully passed the DPQQ stage will be invited to submit a single bid under the frame…	Stage 1 - DPQQ Down Select of economic operators to be issued the ITT to be invited to tender AIW Systems (Rifle System and Optic System) for a place on the framework agreement. Stage 2 - Up to a maximum of six (6) AIW Systems (Rifle Systems and Optic Systems) will be selected for which the economic operators shall be awarded tasks under the framework to supply and support the trial AIW systems. A…
—	TextObjective criteria for choosing the limited number of candidates: · IV.1.2	The criteria stated in the DPQQ will be used to down select the number of potential economic operators to be taken forward to Stage 2. A maximum of six (6) economic operators from the evaluation, will be offered contracts from the Authority for the procurement & support of trial weapons.	The criteria stated in the DPQQ will be used to down select the number of potential economic operators to be taken forward to Stage 2. A maximum of six (6) AIW System variants shall be taken forward and tasks awarded under the framework agreement to various economic operators to supply and support the trial AIW systems.
—	TextShort description of the contract or purchase(s) · II.1.5	Stage 1 - DPQQ Down Select of economic operators to be issued the ITT to be invited to tender for a place on the framework agreement. Stage 2 - Up to a maximum of six (6) economic operators shall be awarded tasks under the framework to supply and support the trial AIW systems Stage 3 - All Economic operators that were awarded Tasking forms under the Framework agreement for the Authority to procur…	Stage 1 - DPQQ Down Select of economic operators to be issued the ITT to be invited to tender AIW Systems (Rifle System and Optic System) for a place on the framework agreement. Stage 2 - Up to a maximum of six (6) AIW Systems (Rifle Systems and Optic Systems) will be selected for which the economic operators shall be awarded tasks under the framework to supply and support the trial AIW systems St…
—	TextTitle attributed to the contract by the contracting authority/entity · II.1.1	701577419 - Army Special Operations Brigade Rifle Procurement and Support of an Armalite Rifle (AR) platform Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) System.	701577419 - Army Special Operations Brigade Rifle Procurement and Support of an Armalite Rifle (AR) platform Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) System, comprising Rifle and Optic.

1 amendment published without a description.

Routine re-releases (4)

2021-07: 1 release · 26 Jul 2021

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast

Suppliers appointed 3admitted to the panel · see the list ↓

Bids received 13

Contracts signed 6latest 14 Jul 2023

6 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.

Contracts

All 3 of these contracts carry the same published figure, £3,445,250, the framework's maximum for the whole notice, not each contract's own value. They are not eleven separate sums.

701577419.1-4-Army Special Operations Brigade Rifle
Signed
14 Jul 2023
Value
£15,000,000
Status
active
Contract 008043-2022-701577419.1-1-1
Signed
8 Mar 2022
Value
ceiling above
Status
active
Contract 008043-2022-701577419.1-2-2
Signed
8 Mar 2022
Value
ceiling above
Status
active
Contract 008043-2022-701577419.1-3-3
Signed
8 Mar 2022
Value
ceiling above
Status
active
Contract 008043-2022-701577419.2-1-4
Signed
8 Mar 2022
Value
£2,330,567
Status
active
Contract 008043-2022-701577419.3-1-5
Signed
8 Mar 2022
Value
£3,407,618
Status
active

Bid statistics published by the authority

Lot	Bids	SME	VCSE	Valid bid range
The Alternative Individual Weapon (AIW) system - known as the L403A1 and procured by…	13bids	—	—	—
Whole notice	13bids · 13 electronic	—	—	—

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

2 public bodies on the notice

Ministry of Defence

Contracting authorityCentral GovernmentMinistry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisionsDefence MOD Abbey Wood South, LEOC-STSP-DCC-Lethality, NH3 Cedar 2A #3260, Stoke Gifford, Bristol, BS34 8JHContact name, email, phone

Dispute resolution & review bodies

Defence Equipment and SupportReview body Bristol

Framework contractors & participating bidders

4 commercial parties on the notice

Ian Edgar (Liverpool) LTDFramework contractorUnited Kingdom Trading as Edgar Brothers Heather Close Lime Green Business Park, Macclesfield, SK11 0LRContact email
Ian Edgar (Liverpool) LimitedFramework contractor Cheshire, UK
NSAF LtdFramework contractorUnited Kingdom PO Box 7151, Nottingham, NG7 2TDContact email
Viking Arms LimitedFramework contractorUnited Kingdom Summerbridge, Harrogate, HG3 4BWContact email

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.