LTPA Extension

In March 2003, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) let the LTPA (Long-Term Partnering Agreement) contract with QinetiQ which is a 25-year commitment to 31st March 2028, including an option to extend. The LTPA provides for the operation and management of MOD assets and sites geographically dispersed across the UK, as well as the performance of T&E services to ensure the continued availability of T&E capabilities, enabling Defence to accept capabilities into service and to assure the through-life performance of capabilities. The Authority intends to extend the contract by 5-years to 31st March 2033 by exercising the agreed option. The extension will not materially alter the scope and nature of the LTPA. The extension is exempt from the Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations (DSPCR) under Regulation 6(3A)(a) due to the security classification of the projects and the storage and transfer of UK sensitive information. The extension is also excluded from DSPCR under Regulation 7(1)(a) as there is a need for QinetiQ to employ Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel with the appropriate Security clearances. By invoking the agreed extension in the current contract, it will ensure continued availability of T&E capabilities to Defence and to allow for an organised transition to the follow-on arrangements to the LTPA by March 2033. In parallel, the Authority has commenced the Defence Test & Evaluation Services (Future) (DTES(F)) project for the Authority’s centralised T&E capabilities beyond the LTPA. In due course, the project will be launching Early Market Engagement with Industry to support the project in developing a range of artefacts.