710172450 - In-Service Support of Fire-Set and Charge Voluntary Transparency Notice

The Specialist EOD&S, Exploitation and Countermeasures Project Team, part of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (The Authority) intends to award a 3-year contract with 2 Option years to Teledyne Reynolds to provide In-Service Support to Fire Set & Charge with an estimated value of £950k (Ex VAT).

This system is a two parted system built of a Fire Set and Charge and sits within the Disablement portfolio under Special Project and Future Search. It provides a multi-user capability for general Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) contingency operations and for Specialist Users. The System is only used by UK Armed Forces and is bespoke to the UK MOD.

The previous support contract is due to expire March 2024. A new support arrangement is required to ensure support is provided throughout the remaining service life of the equipment. The Authority is negotiating a new contract for in-service support, which includes provision of spares, repairs, calibration services, technical documentation management, quality management, safety management. The contract will enable support of the equipment through to 31 March 2029 inclusive of Option Years.

Only Teledyne Reynolds have the proven expertise, knowledge and experience to manufacture consumable spares, maintain and repair this equipment. Awarding the Contract to a third-party supplier would present the MOD with a capability gap as the equipment will need to be removed from service whilst safety and assurance trials are undertaken to ensure the equipment is safe to use and fit for purpose. It is estimated that it would take a minimum of 12 months to contract for a new supplier, develop equipment understanding, completion of trials, evidence and reporting and finally acceptance, or not, back into the hands of the users. This time impact would introduce a capability gap which would have an unacceptable operational impact and introduce unacceptable risk in terms of delay.