706883452 The Provision of Networked Electronic Warfare Training Simulator (NEWTS) Support Contract

The UK Ministry of Defence ("The Authority") intends to award a contract with MASS Consultancy UK ("the Contractor") for software to maintain the existing simulation package for Network Electronic Warfare Training Simulators (NEWTS) at a value of £504,000.00. NEWTS trains and educates Aeronautical Engineering (AE), Electronic and Mechanical Engineering (EME), Nuclear and Marine Engineering (MarE) and Communication Information systems (CIS) personnel in order to meet Defence requirements.

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. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16 (1)(a)(ii) on the grounds of technical reasons.

The Authority does not currently have access to technical documentation and knowhow which would allow a new supplier to deliver the requirement, addressing the interdependencies and managing the risks to operational safety. A new model could increase the risk of technical incompatibility, reduced quality, operational ineffectiveness and would increase the resource and training burden