710583450 - MSS/144 - Fresh Water Production & Purification

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.