Find a TenderAwarded without competition
Published 11 Mar 2024, 11:44 GMT

Official UK procurement notice

WATCHKEEPER AIRPORT SERVICES AND ACCOMODATION AT WEST WALES AIRPORT FOR WATCHKEEPER TEST AND EVALUATION

Official notice

Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)

ServicesAward procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Sectors: Real estate services (70) Delivery: UK
Awarded value£6,500,000published contract · exc. VAT
Awarded 7 Mar 2024no call for competition
Awarded to West Wales Airport LTD

What is being bought

Published requirement description

The Thales Watchkeeper is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for all weather, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) used by the British Army. Watchkeeper In-Service Support has been provided since the AV came into service in the 2010s.

CPV: Non-residential property renting or leasing services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · no lot value published
Lot #1WATCHKEEPER AIRPORT SERVICES AND ACCOMODATION AT WEST WALES AIRPORT FOR WATCHKEEPER…

WATCHKEEPER AIRPORT SERVICES AND ACCOMODATION AT WEST WALES AIRPORT FOR WATCHKEEPER TEST AND EVALUATION

Delivery: UK

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
Legal basis
CELEX · 32009L0081 Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (Directive 2009/81/EC)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Awarded without competition
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Direct award (no call for competition)
GPA / WTO covered
Yes (GPA)
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
11 Mar 2024, 11:44 GMT
Last source update
11 Mar 2024, 11:44 GMT
FTS notice number
2024/S 000-007650
Classification (CPV)
Non-residential property renting or leasing services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-044730 Find a Tender
Why no open competition
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the directive
Published justification

Short description of the contract or purchase(s):

The continued provision of airport services, facilities and building lease/s as a direct contract with West Wales Airport (WWA) to support the Watchkeeper Unpiloted Air System Programme Test and Evaluation (T &E).

Reason For Award of Contract:

To enable continuation of Watchkeeper T & E from 1 April 2024 to 31 Mar 2027 to align with the Watchkeeper In-Service Support Contract and associated tasks requiring T & E.

Justification for Non-Competitive Decision:

Only WWA has the regulated environmental conditions under which WK T & E flying can take place, and therefore is the only location where T & E can be carried out in accordance with the T & E Military Permit to Fly (MPTF).

The MPTF dictates how specific Air Vehicle/s will be operated as part of the prime flying contractor Thales’ UK (ISR)’s Contractor Flying Approved Organization Scheme (CFAOS) responsibilities, granted by the UK Military Airworthiness Authority (MAA). The MPTF includes an Airspace Constraints prohibition relating to flying and does not allow for T & E flying to take place at other location. The MPTF will not recommend alternative sites as being suitable within the proposed contracting timeframe.

In accordance with Regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate.

Accordingly, it is considered that this contract can be awarded to West Wales Airport Ltd using the negotiated procedure without prior publication pursuant to Regulation 16(1) (a) (ii) of the UK Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for Technical Reasons.

Main Place of Performance or Delivery:

West Wales Airport, Blaenannerch, Cardigan SA43 2DZ

Commercial outcome & contract awards

Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast
Awards 1
Awarded value £6,500,0001 contract exc. VAT
Contracts signed 1latest 7 Mar 2024
Awarded toValueDateStatus
West Wales Airport LTDSubcontracting: declared£6,500,000 †—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 Bristol, UKContact 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.