Find a TenderAwarded
Published 6 Feb 2024, 07:51 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

710583450 - MSS/144 - Fresh Water Production & Purification

Official notice

Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)

WorksNegotiated without publication of a contract notice
Awarded value£50,000,000published contract · exc. VAT
Awarded 1 Feb 2024
Awarded to Salt Separation Services Limited

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Marine Systems Support (MSS) Output Business Unit, within the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation, intends to place a contract for Post Design Services, Repairs & Overhaul and the provision of Spares for the support of Fresh Water Production & Purification and associated equipment.

This equipment is fitted across all HM Ships and Submarines (including the new build programme), and is supplied and supported by Salt Separation Services. Salt Separation Services are also the selected equipment supplier for future support projects including Type 26, Type 31 and Dreadnought new build programmes and are engaged in the AUKUS programme.

The procurement shall be conducted using the Invitation to Negotiate procedure without prior publication pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 with Salt Separation Services.

CPV: Operation of a water-purification plant · Purification plant equipment · Purification-plant repair and maintenance work

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1
Delivery: UK
Extensions: There is the potential that any future Contract would contain optional extension periods.

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
  • Lowest price

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Negotiated without publication of a contract notice
Legal basis
CELEX · 32009L0081 Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (Directive 2009/81/EC)
Procurement category
Works
Notice status
Awarded
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
6 Feb 2024, 07:51 GMT
Last source update
6 Feb 2024, 07:51 GMT
Authority reference
710583450 - MSS/144
FTS notice number
2024/S 000-003795
Classification (CPV)
Operation of a water-purification plantPurification plant equipmentPurification-plant repair and maintenance work
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-043769 Find a Tender
Why no open competition

The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons

Published justification

The Marine Systems Support (MSS), within Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), intends to place a contract for Post Design Services, Repairs & Overhaul and the provision of Spares for the support of Fresh Water Production & Purification and associated equipment.

This equipment is fitted across all HM Ships and Submarines (including the new build programme) and is supplied and supported by Salt Separation Services. Salt Separation Services are also the selected equipment supplier for future support projects including Type 26, Type 31 and Dreadnought new build programmes and are engaged in the AUKUS programme.

The procurement shall be conducted using the Invitation to Negotiate procedure without prior publication pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 with Salt Separation Services Ltd. The direct award is on the basis of Technical & Safety and anticipates a Contract term of 5 years with options to extend further should the business need dictate.

Fresh Water Production and Purification equipment is installed and integrated into all HM Ships & Submarines. Salt Separation Services are the Design Authority and manufacturer of 70% of the Authority’s in-service Fresh Water Production and Purification equipments.

Under the current contracting arrangement and previous competitive procurements for this equipment, the rights holders of the remaining 30% of equipments have expressed that they do not have the capacity nor capability to contract directly with the Authority for their niche capability.

Salt Separation Services have a longstanding relationship and an established supply chain for those equipments for which they are not the Original Equipment Manufacturer and are, currently, the Prime Contractor for the remaining 30% of equipments.

In addition to Fresh Water production for domestic use & consumption, which is a key life support activity, the equipment also generates higher quality Technical Water required to safely meet complex, integrated military capabilities such as the provision of Technical Water for Nuclear Steam Raising Plant for Submarine Propulsion, Technical Water in support of Naval Aviation capabilities and Technical Water in support of Naval Medical capabilities.

A Fresh Water Production and Purification equipment support solution enabled by a capable industry supplier is critical to supporting Platform operability and delivering capabilities, including maintaining the Continuous At Sea Deterrent and the availability of the Carrier Strike Group.

The contract can only be performed by Salt Separation Services because they hold the necessary technical knowhow including technical data, technical overhaul manuals and manufacturing design codes that are necessary for performing this requirement. Without access to this information no other contractor could safely maintain this equipment, or safely support this equipment within the current integrated system.

The technical information held by Salt Separation Services is necessary for performing this requirement to the safety levels required by the mandatory requirements. Failure to use Salt Separation Services would lead to significant safety issues.

Failure to provide a continued support solution with the Industry Subject Matter Expert will significantly constrain the UK’s ability to operate in service HM Ships and Submarines assets in support of the UK’s defence doctrine and mandate.

Publisher note: The Marine Systems Support (MSS) Output Business Unit, within the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) organisation, intends to place a contract for Post Design Services, Repairs & Overhaul and the provision of Spares for the support of Fresh Water Production & Purification and associated equipment. This equipment is fitted across all HM Ships and Submarines (including the new build programme), and is supplied and supported by Salt Separation Services. Salt Separation Services are also the selected equipment supplier for future support projects including Type 26, Type 31 and Dreadnought new build programmes and are engaged in the AUKUS programme. The procurement shall be conducted using the Invitation to Negotiate procedure without prior publication pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 with Salt Separation Services. The direct award is on the basis of Technical & Safety and anticipates a Contract term of 5 years with options to extend further should the business need dictate. Fresh Water Production and Purification equipment is installed and integrated into all HM Ships & Submarines. Salt Separation Services are the Design Authority and manufacturer of 70% of the Authority’s in-service Fresh Water Production and Purification equipments. Under the current contracting arrangement and previous competitive procurements for this equipment, the rights holders of the remaining 30% of equipments have expressed that they do not have the capacity nor capability to contract directly with the Authority for their niche capability. Salt Separation Services have a longstanding relationship and an established supply chain for those equipments for which they are not the Original Equipment Manufacturer and are, currently, the Prime Contractor for the remaining 30% of equipments. In addition to Fresh Water production for domestic use & consumption, which is a key life support activity, the equipment also generates higher quality Technical Water required to safely meet complex, integrated military capabilities such as the provision of Technical Water for Nuclear Steam Raising Plant for Submarine Propulsion, Technical Water in support of Naval Aviation capabilities and Technical Water in support of Naval Medical capabilities. A Fresh Water Production and Purification equipment support solution enabled by a capable industry supplier is critical to supporting Platform operability and delivering capabilities, including maintaining the Continuous At Sea Deterrent (CASD) and the availability of the Carrier Strike Group (CSG). The contract can only be performed by Salt Separation Services because they hold the necessary technical knowhow including technical data, technical overhaul manuals and manufacturing design codes that are necessary for performing this requirement. Without access to this information no other contractor could safely maintain this equipment, or safely support this equipment within the current integrated system. The technical information held by Salt Separation Services is necessary for performing this requirement to the safety levels required by the mandatory requirements. Failure to use Salt Separation Services would lead to significant safety issues. Failure to provide a continued support solution with the Industry Subject Matter Expert will significantly constrain the UK’s ability to operate in service HM Ships and Submarines assets in support of the UK’s defence doctrine and mandate.

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £50,000,0001 contract exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 1 Feb 2024
Awarded toValueDateStatus
Salt Separation Services LimitedSubcontracting: declared£50,000,000 †—Awarded

Contracts

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Ministry of Defence

Contracting authorityCentral GovernmentMinistry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisionsDefence MOD Abbeywood, Bristol, UK, BS34 8JHContact name, email, phone

Dispute resolution & review bodies

  • MOD AbbeywoodReview body BristolContact email

Bidders & participating suppliers

1 commercial party on the notice

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.