Procurement notice — Ministry of Defence

The Flight Simulation and Synthetic Training (FsAST) Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, has awarded a 5-year contract to AMST-Systemtechnik GmbH (AMST) for the Spatial Disorientation Trainer (SDT) Support Contract with an additional 5 option years. This will include an option for the complete relocation of the equipment during the contract duration, and ongoing support. 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 is lawful in accordance Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. This is because AMST is the design authority, is the only company to have access to the SDT source code, data and other necessary technical information to enable it to meet the RAF’s synthetic training needs. To be successful in maintaining the functionality of the equipment, the supplier must have suitable experience and detailed knowledge of the system as a whole including both hardware and software which is only available within AMST. It is critical that the SDT device remains fully operational and contracting with another contractor would pose a high risk to its critical functionality, thereby jeopardising the training of pilots and the safety of the Armed Forces. For these reasons, AMST is the only supplier able to meet the requirement.