UK6 - MACE - Hangar Services Uplift

Transparency Notice (UK05) – Provision of Hangarage Services at Glasgow Prestwick Airport

1. Overview

Air Commercial, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to award a contract to Storm Aviation Limited (SAL) for the provision of aircraft supporting services at Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA). The estimated value of the contract is £1,040,520.00 with a proposed term of an additional 23 days. This Direct Award is related to a larger Programme of work, referred to as MACE. 'Project MACE' is the name given to the bolthole operation while the Aerodrome Operating Surfaces (AOS) are resurfaced at RAF Brize Norton. This Programme of work requires a number of aircraft from the Air Mobility Force (AMF) to be relocated to alternative airfields while the works are underway. The requirement at Glasgow Prestwick Airport is for the Voyager A330 fleet. The Voyager A330 aircraft is the RAF's sole Air-to-Air Refuelling tanker, it serves to refuel fast jets and operates as strategic air transport. If the Voyager fleet are not safely re-housed, they will be unavailable to support the Fast Jet fleet which critically defend UK airspace. To ensure the fleet remain airworthy and compliant with Military Aviation Standards, including Part 145 legislation, the fleet requires access to hangarage facilities while relocated. A Transparency Notice published on 26/06/2025 relates to the intention to Direct Award a contract to Storm Aviation Limited (SAL) for provision of hangarage rental.

There is an additional requirement for supporting services for the aircraft while they are dispersed including, access to manpower, tooling and equipment storage and access while the aircraft at station away from RAFBN.

As a covered procurement, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023.

This Direct Award relies on two justifications as permitted for under the Procurement Act 2023 legislation: Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 (Single Supplier) and Schedule 5, Paragraph 20 (Defence and Security). This Transparency Notice will address each of these justifications below.

2. Grounds Satisfied

Schedule 5 - Paragraph 6 (Single Supplier)

It is considered that the direct award of the contract is lawful pursuant to Section 41 and Schedule 5, Paragraph 6 of the Procurement Act 2023 because competition is absent for technical reasons such that only Storm Aviation Ltd can achieve the requirement and there are no reasonable alternatives.

The requirement necessitates that the supporting manpower are employed by the organisation which owns the hangar itself for reasons of security, access to the facility and its’ tools and equipment. There is, therefore, no other suitable alternative supplier to which to award the contract.

Schedule 5, Paragraph 20 (Defence and Security)

In addition, it is considered that the direct award of the contract is lawful pursuant to Section 41 and Schedule 5, Paragraph 20 of the Procurement Act 2023 as a defence and security contract (and not only by virtue of section 7(1)(g)) and it is necessary for the contract to be awarded directly to SAL in order to enhance or maintain the operational capability, effectiveness, readiness for action, safety or security of the armed forces.

The contract is a defence and security contract by virtue of Sections 7(1)(c),goods, services or works necessary for the development, production, maintenance or decommissioning of military equipment or sensitive equipment; (d), logistics services relating to military equipment or sensitive equipment; and (g), goods, services or works that are otherwise relevant to the operational capability, effectiveness, readiness for action, safety or security of the armed forces of the Procurement Act 2023. It therefore fulfils both the first and second limbs of this ground.

In relation to the third limb, the Award to SAL is necessary to be awarded directly in order to enhance or maintain the operational capability, effectiveness, readiness for action, safety or security of the armed forces. The Voyager A330 aircraft is the RAF's sole Air-to-Air Refuelling tanker, it serves to refuel fast jets and operates as strategic air transport. If the Voyager fleet are not maintained (which is not possible without the supporting services of manpower, equipment, storage and tooling) while stationed away from RAFBN, they will be unavailable to support the Fast Jet fleet which critically defend UK airspace. Without the Voyager ready to deploy, fast jets would become inoperable, risking the safety of the UK armed forces, public and its allies. Thorough market research has shown there is only one possible supplier which meets all of the Defence and Security requirements set by MOD. Directly awarding this contract is the only viable route to market to assure the aircraft are maintained to the correct specification while stationed away from RAFBN.

3. Summary

For the reasons outlined in this section of the Transparency Notice, it is considered that the direct award of this defence and security contract to SAL is necessary in order to enhance or maintain the operational capability, effectiveness, readiness for action, safety or security of the armed forces. This Contract is also related to an exiting Contract with SAL for an original 16 week period of coverage.