Provision and Support of Groundcrew Headsets

The Air Commodities Team (ACT) within DE&S has a Tri-Service requirement to provide circa One Thousand Nine Hundred (1900) replacement headsets for Aircraft Groundcrew. These headsets are required to ensure that personnel can conduct tasks safely and comfortably whilst operating in a high noise level environment around running aircraft. These headsets must comply with all appropriate UK and EU legislation in the protection against Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL). Aircraft Groundcrew must be able to communicate with the Aircrew within the aircraft for the safe and effective operation of the Aircraft. The headsets must allow full duplex voice communication with a wide variety of in-scope fixed and rotary wing platforms. The headset must be compatible with existing communication systems and the wearing of appropriate in-service Personnel Protection Equipment (PPE). There may be a requirement over the life of the contract to purchase additional headsets to meet shifts in demand as the Authority's Aircraft Fleet size fluctuates. The option to purchase additional batches beyond what is initially ordered will be included within the contract.

ACT requires any potential contractor to provide an in-service support package for a period of up to Ten (10) years. The support package will include but not be limited to the repairs/maintenance, provisioning of spares and technical documentation to allow an element of the repairs to be conducted by the Authority. Post Design Services (PDS) may also be required to preserve equipment capabilities such as meeting new or safety legislation. ACT may also require the development and delivery of a training package for operation of the headsets.

The exact specification of the headset and interface requirements will be provided as part of the ITT pack for bidders who successfully pass through the PQQ. The deadline for completion of the PQQ and expressing an interest in this requirement is 12:00 midday on 16/09/2019.

As this competition may result in new to service equipment there will be the need to conduct trials as part of the tender evaluation and release to service activities. The first phase of trials will take place during the ITT stage, which the tenderers will be asked to provide headsets for, in order to evaluate the product provided by the tenderers. A second phase may include on-aircraft trials post contract award.

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