713756451 - User Filled Off Route Mines (ORM)

Description

Army Commercial, part of the UK Ministry of Defence ("MoD"), intends to award a contract to Alford Technologies Ltd ("Alford"), to procure GLADIUS User Filled Off Route Mine systems. This will mitigate a current capability gap in Lethal Barriers (mines). This procurement directly increases lethality by providing a means for defensive actions, offensive ambush and sabotage. This equipment will be used to support training, capability development and to bolster NATO readiness and interoperability for operations. The contract is proposed to be entered into early 2025 and will have a duration of approximately 3 months, dependent upon production timelines. The contract has an estimated value of £1,000,000.00 (one million pounds) and will be placed as a Supply contract. Procurement of a user-filled mine system, identical to in-service systems, will minimise Defence Lines of Development (DLOD) impacts and align with the existing safety case for in-service systems. The GLADIUS system is in use with multiple elements of UK Armed Forces and eleven other NATO nations, presenting opportunities for shared knowledge, training, and interoperability whilst on operations with common spares which will increase operational resilience. In accordance with Regulation 4 of the Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011(the "DSPCR 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 contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (as required by the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 for technical reasons and regulation 16(1)(b)(i)(bb) relating to technical difficulties in the operation and maintenance of the existing goods.  This is because Alford is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and Intellectual Property (IP) owner of the GLADIUS User Filled Mine System. Therefore, Alford is the only economic operator with the proprietary information to meet this requirement and meet MoD's capability gap.