ADEWS/138: Provision of In-service Support for ADEWS DT Radomes

Description

A single contract for a 5-year period (3 years with 2 x 12-month extension options) for technical through life support and safety assurance of 23 radomes housing Air Traffic Management and Air Defence radars, ensuring that all work complies with industry standards and safety regulations. The radomes are primarily in the UK, including the Scottish Islands, but also Cyprus and the Falkland Islands. The radome structures vary from composite sandwich to solid GRP; Defence is adding air supported radomes to the fleet; however, at this stage it is not known whether the air supported radomes will be included in the scope of this contract. Lot 1: A single contract for a 5-year period (3 years with 2 x 12-month extension options) for technical through life support and safety assurance of 23 radomes housing Air Traffic Management and Air Defence radars, ensuring that all work complies with industry standards and safety regulations. The radomes are primarily in the UK, including the Scottish Islands, but also Cyprus and the Falkland Islands. The radome structures vary from composite sandwich to solid GRP; Defence is adding air supported radomes to the fleet; however, at this stage it is not known whether the air supported radomes will be included in the scope of this contract. The anticipated In-Service Life of each radome is typically 20 years from installation. The contractor will advise the Authority of significant impacts to changes in standards and regulations affecting radomes and ancillaries and will prepare and amend Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) as necessary. The Authority may task the contractor, who will be the design authority, with activities including the following: approve designs, modifications, and technical specifications. The contractor will also provide ongoing technical support, conduct technical investigations, and produce reports and recommendations. Additionally, the contractor will maintain a Master Records Index (MRI) to track and manage all records related to radome construction, maintenance, modifications, configuration management, and obsolescence management. This may include incorporating additional documents as further required during the life of the contract. This MRI will be provided to the contractor by the Authority as Government Furnished Information (GFI). For obsolescence management, the contractor will manage radome components on a proactive or reactive basis as stipulated by the Authority. This considers that the radome fleet is mixed, supplied by different Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and includes some OEMs that no longer exist. This could include mitigating risks, sourcing alternatives, and redesigning or reverse engineering obsolete parts. Field services may involve delivering on-site support including the installation, recovery, maintenance, commission, decommission, recovery, and repair of radomes and ancillaries, ensuring safe, efficient service within agreed timelines. The contractor will source spare parts as needed, ensuring timely delivery to meet operational requirements. The contractor may be required to provide training on radome construction and maintenance, covering theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and safety. Additionally, the contractor will participate in safety panel reviews to assess and enhance radome safety, preparing, presenting, and reviewing necessary documentation, risk assessments, and compliance evidence to support the Authority’s safety management system. The contractor will adhere to all Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) arrangements in all aspects of the work. Where the contractor is not the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for the radomes and ancillaries, the contractor is required to put in place formal arrangements with the OEM to access the technical data (intellectual property) necessary to support its contractual obligations. Typically, this would include but not be limited to activities such as structural appraisals, condition inspections and radio frequency modelling. It will be the sole responsibility of the Contractor to make these arrangements. In cases where OEM information is unavailable, the contractor would be expected to utilise their professional judgement and expertise to address and resolve any issues, providing suitable solutions. Any solutions or modifications developed independently of the OEM must comply with the relevant standards and best practices. The contractor's ability to make informed recommendations and provide reliable advice in the absence of OEM data is crucial to maintaining the integrity and functionality of the radome systems.