Contract Award

The contract will provide Inshore Support to Military Training, Testing and Evaluation Services in support of Authority sponsored trials, clearance diving training for the Royal Navy, general air diving training for the Royal Engineers, and range safety. BUTEC and Raasay ranges as well as specified 'off range' locations, off of the North West coast of Scotland and maritime ranges around the UK coast.

The duration of the contract will be 60 months.

The contract encompasses 3 critical elements - the provision of Marine Services to:

• The British Underwater Test & Evaluation Centre (BUTEC)

Covers the safe delivery of maritime services to QinetiQ in support of activities at the British Underwater Test & Evaluation Centre (Raasay Ranges) located in the north west of Scotland with vessels based in Kyle of Lochalsh. Service delivery covers: Torpedo recovery, sonobuoy trials, target launch and recovery including underwater autonomous vehicles, range safety and range maintenance, passenger transfer service, stores and garbage transfer, towed array recovery and transfer to/from submarines, host platform for sound velocity profiles and novel trials.

• Military Diving

Covers the safe delivery of maritime services to entitled customers in north west Scotland. Service delivery is the provision and operation of 2 dedicated vessels to enable the Authority to deliver safe deep-water dive training to service personnel utilising mixture gases.

• Range Safety, Sea Training and Aircrew Training

Covers the safe delivery of maritime services to entitled customers who require a suitable platform to deliver individual & unit level training around the UK. Service delivery covers: support to helicopter crew winching training, coastal sea survival training, target towing for fast jet weapon training and helicopter marine sniper training, range clearance and range safety service, provision of small craft simulating fast attack craft, consorts and target vessels for boarding training.

The specification for the services will include the following:

• Undertake passenger transportation.
• Transport stores & liquids.
• Support military training, exercises, trials and operations including military diving training & Range Safety & Aircrew Training (RSACT).
• Support to Emergencies.
• Provide maritime support to the Raasay ranges.
• Provide additional maritime support through a single service contract