FsASTC/00107 - Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract Voluntary Transparency Notice

Defence Equipment and Support, Synthetic Environment and Training (SET) team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to place - by way of extension to contract FsASTC/00107 - a Defence Operational Training Capability (Air) Core Systems and Services contract with Boeing Defence United Kingdom Limited (BDUK), for continued system-designer support to the Gladiator synthetic training environment, while Air Command & Control, Fast Air and Joint Fires platforms are integrated. Expiry of FsASTC/00107 before this, on 1 January 2026, presents an intolerable risk that the system is not suitably mature from an operate and maintain perspective to ensure optimal capability on future competition.

The contract extension will be for a period of 2 years 3 months, with an Option to extend by 6 months, and have an estimated value of £25m.

In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract 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. It is considered that the award of contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons.

BDUK is the Gladiator system designer. It is the only economic actor with the familiarity with the capability, the software and Application Process Interfaces, and with the technical expertise and relationships, with sub-contractors and platform original equipment manufacturers, to be able to meet the requirement while essential platforms continue to be integrated.

A Planned Procurement Notice providing outline details of the future competition is anticipated to be published in Q1 2026 with potential providers invited to attend an Early Market Engagement event communicated through the publication of a Preliminary market Engagement Notice.