Official UK procurement notice
The Procurement and In-Service Support for the Virtus Re-Compete Torso Sub System
Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought
Published requirement description- Introduction and Scope
The Authority has a requirement for the ongoing supply, support and development of the VIRTUS integrated Soft body armour and load carriage system.
The VIRTUS system focuses on 3 of the NATO soldier domains: survivability, mobility and sustainability. VIRTUS is the UK Armed Forces integrated Soft Body Armour, Helmet and Load Carriage system based on the soldier. VIRTUS comprises of a head and torso sub-system with integrated load carriage and a Quick Release (QR) mechanism, to allow escape from water, confined space or to allow rapid access to the body in an emergency.
This notice is NOT for the procurement of the Head Sub System.
The DE&S DCC Survivability Team intends to competitively assess, select and award a contract to deliver and support the Virtus Torso Sub System capability to all tri-service users including Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
The Torso Sub System requirement is for all body armour and load carriage equipment within the current VIRTUS system including but not limited to scalable tactical vests, soft armour filler, extremity protection, bergens and pouches.
The Contract shall also include the ability for the Authority to utilise Post Design Services (PDS) for the ongoing development of the system to ensure that it continues to provide optimal performance as technology develops and matures. There may also be a requirement within the Contract for the provision of training in the use of the VIRTUS system and for the refurbishment and disposal of VIRTUS items.
The System needs to comply with MOD standards and policies for quality, safety and cyber amongst others. Full details shall be provided at the Invitation To Negotiate (ITN) stage of the competition.
The Competitive procedure will be managed in accordance with the Competitive Negotiated Procedure under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011.
You may express your interest in this requirement by completing the Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) found at
contracts.mod.uk/go/9113732701908259B595 ↗
The full requirement will be issued in the ITN and suppliers will be given appropriate time to respond with their tenders.
- Contract Options
The contract will be for Five years
The contract will have an additional 4 x 1 Year options taking the maximum length of the contract up to 9 years.
The Authority reserve the right, at its absolute discretion, to not take up any or all the option years. Further information on the option will be provided in the Invitation to Tender.
- Post Design Services (PDS) during Competition
During the Torso Sub System competition, there will be pieces of Post Design Services on the TSS that will continue on the current In-Service contract. There will be a full list of any ongoing PDS along with expected completion dates and any further aspirational PDS tasks provided at ITN release.
- Estimated Timescales
The table below details the anticipated time frames of this procurement. These dates are provided for information only.
Activity Date
Final date for DPQQ Clarification Questions: 5th August 2024
DPQQs returned to MOD: 16th August 2024
Invitation to Tender Issued: November 2024
Tenders Returned to MOD: May 2025
Authority Evaluation of ITN Completed: June 2025
Anticipated Date of Contract Award: August 2025
CPV: Bullet-proof vests · Combat gear · Combat suits · Helmet covers · Kitbags · Military uniforms · Protective and safety clothing · Protective gear · Purchase · Rucksacks · Textile bags
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Virtus Torso Sub System - This will be a Build To Print solution with Technical Data…Planned
Virtus Torso Sub System - This will be a Build To Print solution with Technical Data Packs provided by the Authroity.
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
- Suitability
Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender:
- 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)
- 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
- 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:
- 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)
- 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
- 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
Information on financial ability will be assessed as part of your pre-qualification questionnaire return
- Technical & professional ability
Information on technical ability will be assessed as part of your pre-qualification questionnaire return
- Second stage candidates
- 3–8 candidates invited to tender
- Successive reduction
- Candidates will be reduced successively across stages
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Negotiated
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32009L0081 Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (Directive 2009/81/EC)
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Closed
- 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
- 27 Jun 2024, 13:29 BST
- Last source update
- 8 Aug 2024, 11:52 BST
- FTS notice number
2024/S 000-025006- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-047305Find a Tender
- Related procedure VIRTUS Re-Compete
- Related procedure VIRTUS Re-Compete
Publisher note: The Contracting Authority intends to use an e-Tendering system in this procurement exercise, please visit www.contracts.mod.uk for full details and to register your interest in this procurement.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 16 Aug 2024
- Submission channel
- {"written"}
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
5 Jul 2024 → 16 Aug 2024 · 3 dates- Next notice expected5 Jul 2024, 00:00 BST
- Notice published8 Aug 2024, 11:52 BST
- Submission deadline16 Aug 2024
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 5 Jul 2024- Published value published: £135,000,0005 Jul 2024, 12:29 BST
- Status changed to active5 Jul 2024, 12:29 BST
- Procurement method changed5 Jul 2024, 12:29 BST
- Deadline published: 16 Aug 20245 Jul 2024, 12:29 BST
- Buyer details updated5 Jul 2024, 12:29 BST
- Buyer details updated8 Aug 2024, 11:52 BST
Published amendments (1 · 0 deadline changes)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | TextII.1.5 | 1. Introduction and Scope The Authority has a requirement for the ongoing supply, support and development of the VIRTUS integrated Soft body armour and load carriage system. The VIRTUS system focuses on 3 of the NATO soldier domains: survivability, mobility and sustainability. VIRTUS is the UK Armed Forces integrated Soft Body Armour, Helmet and Load Carriage system based on the soldier. VIRTUS co… | 1. Introduction and Scope The Authority has a requirement for the ongoing supply, support and development of the VIRTUS integrated Soft body armour and load carriage system. The VIRTUS system focuses on 3 of the NATO soldier domains: survivability, mobility and sustainability. VIRTUS is the UK Armed Forces integrated Soft Body Armour, Helmet and Load Carriage system based on the soldier. VIRTUS co… |
1 amendment published without a description.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeDispute resolution & review bodies
- DCC Survivability Team, Defence Equipment and SupportReview body
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.