Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom

1. Title: Fleet Helicopter Support Unit (FHSU)
2. Awarding Authority:
Ministry of Defence
MHP Delivery Team, Spruce 0c, Abbey Wood

Bristol
England
BS34 8JH
Contact: Andy Davies
Email: andy.davies171@mod.gov.uk
Phone:
URL:
3. Contract Type: Services
4. 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.
5. CPV Codes:
35612300 – Support helicopters
60424120 – Hire of helicopters with crew
6. NUTS Codes: UKK11
7. Main Site or Location of Works, Main Place of Delivery or Main Place of Performance: North East,North West,Yorkshire and The Humber,East of England,South East,South West,Scotland,Wales
8. Reference Attributed by the Awarding Authority:
tender_304935/1286560
9. Estimated Value of Requirement: £50,000,000 to £70,000,000
10. Start Date: 31/01/2025
11. End Date: 31/03/2031
12. Closing Date: 19/01/2024
13. Other Information:
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
Opportuntiy Notice

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