Published date: 25 August 2021

Last edited date: 27 August 2021

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.


Closing: 26 October 2021, 5pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Unmanned aerial vehicles - 35613000

Location of contract

BS32 8JH

Value of contract

£149,000,000 to £390,000,000

Procurement reference

UAS/00106

Published date

25 August 2021

Closing date

26 October 2021

Closing time

5pm

Contract start date

18 August 2022

Contract end date

18 August 2032

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 TIQUILA Programme objective is to deliver Mini-Unmanned Air System ("MUAS") capability to provide Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance ("ISTAR") roles in Man-Packable and Man-Portable loads in support of field operations.

The contract delivery will be the responsibility of a Systems Integrator ("SI") working in conjunction with suppliers to meet developing demands and to keep pace with emergent technology and threats.

The solution and equipment provided will be evolving and modular and be upgradeable in Forward Operating Base workshops with limited basic tools to enable the system to fulfil multiple roles and maintain pace with technology and emerging threats.

The Systems Integrator is required to manage the through-life delivery and sustainment including the following:
a. Provision of Man-Packable MUAS (up to 8kg system weight, up to 4kg Max Take-Off Weight) and Man-Portable MUAV (up to 20kg Max Take-Off Weight) that operate from a common Ground Control Station ("GCS") with an Electro Optical/Infra- Red ("EO/IR") payload that meets the requirements of the TIQUILA Programme;
b. Provision of goods and service in support of the above;
c. A technical and digital architecture that is modular with open standards interfaces and enables the simple integration of new capabilities and upgrades to be incorporated into common base units;
d. Maintain awareness and understanding of novel and emergent technologies that could be applicable to the TIQUILA Programme; and
e. The implementation of Supplier Enabling Arrangement(s) ("SEA(s)") and/or other subcontract arrangements, that provide a flexible commercial model that engages with the Unmanned Air Systems ("UAS") market, industry, and academia; with the aim to encourage innovation and new entrants into the supply chain, to meet developing demands and to keep pace with emergent technology and threats.

The anticipated contract duration will be for a period of 120 months. The TIQUILA contract may contain options to extend the duration of the contract beyond the anticipated contract 120 month period and / or to vary the volume of goods and services to be delivered. Options to extend will be up to a maximum of 24 months subject to the approval of the Authority prior to the expiry of the anticipated 120 month period.

The Contract Bidders Notice was published on the DCO on 11 June 21 in advance of the Invitation To Negotiate (ITN) Issue Date. This Notice is for the purposes of publishing the contract documentation. The Contract Bidder Notice can be found here:
https://www.dcocontracts.mod.uk/delta/project/buyer/displayNotice.html?id=97181872&type=ModContractBiddersNotice. The Notice contained the details of the Contractors shortlisted to receive the ITN for the role of Systems Integrator. Any organisation interested in subcontract opportunities for the TIQUILA Programme may wish to contact the Contractors listed in the 'Contractors Invited to Bid' section of the DCO notice.

More information

Attachments

Additional text

If you are unable to access the DCO link to the Contract Bidder Notice found here: https://www.dcocontracts.mod.uk/delta/project/buyer/displayNotice.html?id=97181872&type=ModContractBiddersNotice.
The details of the Contractors shortlisted to receive the ITN for the role of Systems Integrator can be found as an attachment to this notice.

About the buyer

Contact name

Emily Leach

Address

MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
England

Telephone

030 679 85173

Email

emily.leach101@mod.gov.uk