Voluntary Transparency Notice (VTN) for Archer Artillery System Enduring In-Service Support Contract

Description

The Secretary of Sate for Defence, acting through the Artillery Systems Team of the Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”) intends to award BAE Systems Bofors AB an Archer Artillery System Enduring In-Service Support Contract for the Archer Artillery System commencing April 2025, addressing equipment / components via technical design and configuring the Archer Artillery System, providing training, maintenance, repair, obsolescence and configuration management of the Archer Artillery Systems for the period of 5 years. Lot 1: The Secretary of Sate for Defence, acting through the Artillery Systems Team of the Ministry of Defence (the “Authority”) intends to award BAE Systems Bofors AB an Archer Artillery System Initial In-Service Support Contract for the Archer Artillery System commencing September 2023, addressing equipment / components via technical design and configuring the Archer Artillery System, providing training, maintenance, repair, obsolescence and configuration management of the Archer Artillery Systems for the period of 5 years. 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 award of the contract using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. The Archer Artillery System is designed, developed and supported solely by BAE Systems Bofors AB. Only BAE Systems Bofors AB have the necessary and specific technological skills, knowledge in the underlying design and expertise to be able to provide support services required by the MOD to deliver the required outputs of the Interim 155 Capability Project. As the Design Authority (DA), BAE Systems Bofors AB have ownership of essential drawings, technology and are only manufacturer of long lead bespoke items. The Authority does not have sufficient rights to provide such data to any third party. BAE Systems Bofors AB BAE Systems Bofors AB are the only company that can combine technical re-design with maintenance and repair activities with the requirement for supporting the equipment. No other party has the necessary technical expertise and knowledge required to support the equipment and access to proprietary design information and specialist tooling and testing equipment such that only they can provide an acceptable safety case to the reasonable satisfaction of the Authority.