Published date: 29 November 2023

Last edited date: 20 December 2023

This notice was replaced on 29 November 2023

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Opportunity (published 29 November 2023, last edited 30 May 2024)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Support helicopters - 35612300

  • Hire of helicopters with crew - 60424120

Location of contract

North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East of England, South East, South West, Scotland, Wales

Value of contract

£50,000,000 to £70,000,000

Procurement reference

tender_304935/1286560

Published date

29 November 2023

Closing date

19 January 2024

Closing time

5pm

Contract start date

31 January 2025

Contract end date

31 March 2031

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Competitive procedure with negotiation (above threshold)

Anyone may ask to participate, but only those who are pre-selected will be invited to submit initial tenders and to negotiate.

This procedure can be used for procurements above the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

The purpose of this Contract Notice is to invite potential and interested suppliers to formally express interest in participating in this procurement by completing a Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) found on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) linked to this Notice.

Background:

The Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Multi Helicopter Platforms (MHP) Project Delivery Team has a requirement for a contracted crewed capability that can provide a medium-lift Support Helicopter (SH) capability to meet Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) and Navy Command (NC) requirements. The project has a security classification of Official Sensitive.

Requirement:

The requirement is to provide a contractor owned rotary wing Air System (AS) service for the Royal Navy (RN), providing point-to-point flights delivering military and non-military personnel to enable the conduct of operational sea training and supporting tasks, including transportation of freight. The service will be operated on a Military Registered Civil Operated Aircraft (MRCOA) contract basis.
Please Note: The Authority requires the successful bidder to be ready to deliver an initial service to specified ships from 1 April 2026.
The Contractor will be required to:
1. Provide crew for the Military Registered AS to fly up to 500 hours per annum based on one assured task line.
2. Deliver tasking by day and night, throughout the year and in adverse weather conditions within the South Coast Exercise Areas (SCEXAs) and wider UK Flight Information Region (FIR).
3. Provide an AS with an endurance of a minimum of 2.5 hours (objective 3.5 hours) and a capability of 200 nautical miles of range with full load & fuel.
4. Provide an AS with a capacity and internal load of minimum 500kg (objective 1000kg), 1m³ (objective 1.5 m³) internal space, or minimum 6 (objective 16) passengers with baggage and/or equipment (100kg each); External Underslung Load minimum 1000kg (objective 1500kg).
5. Provide an AS with the capability to integrate with all civil and NATO Maritime, Land and Air communications and navigation requirements.
6. Provide a service capable of operating from the contractor's Main Operating Base (MOB) to RN, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and International Partner Nation (IPN) vessels at sea.
7. Hold a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)/UK CAA Part 145 Aircraft Maintenance Organisation Approval (Rotary Wing) and maintain that for the duration of the service. Note - The contractor will be required to hold a MAOS MRP Part 145 Approval in accordance with MRP RA 4800 Annex A for the duration of the service.
8. Hold EASA/UK CAA Part M/Part CAMO Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation Approval and maintain that for the duration of the service.
9. Act as the ASCDO and hold an associated DAOS approval for the duration of the service.

More information

Previous notice about this procurement

Fleet Helicopter Support Unit (FHSU)

  • Early engagement
  • Published 25 April 2022, last edited 1 June 2022

Attachments

Links

Additional text

See full Contract Notice document with Opportunity Notice and DPQQ with associated Annexes A and B at Defence Sourcing Portal.

This notice was changed on 20/12/23 in order to remove the requirement for holding EASA/UK CAA Part 21 J Design Organisation Approval (Rotary Wing) and add the requirement to hold MAOS MRP Part 145 approval in accordance with MRP RA 4800 Annex A and to act as the ASCDO and hold an associated DAOS approval for the duration of the service. The end date for expressions of interest has been extended by one week as a result

About the buyer

Contact name

Andy Davies

Address

MHP Delivery Team, Spruce 0c, Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
England

Email

andy.davies171@mod.gov.uk