Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: (2023/S 000-009444/EN)
Nature of contract: Supply contract
Procedure: Negotiated without a call for competition
Type of bid required: Not applicable

Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Supplies

Section I: Contracting authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: Ministry of Defence
Postal address: Fir 1C #4110
Town: Bristol
Postal code: BS34 8JH
Country: United Kingdom
Email: DESWpnsDGM-ComrclMultiuser@mod.gov.uk
Internet address(es):
Main address:

I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local sub-divisions
I.5) Main activity
Defence

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title: Supply of Compatible Blank Ammunition

Reference number: DGM/2022
II.1.2) Main CPV code: 35330000
II.1.3) Type of contract Supplies
II.1.4) Short Description:
Defence General Munitions Team (DGM PT), which is part of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (UK MOD) currently contracts the supply of Simunition™ training rounds from General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Limited (GDOTS). To complete the suite of training natures, DGM PT need to procure GDOTS’ proprietary 5.56mm & 9mm Securiblank™ ammunition. The estimated total value of the procurement is circa £1,750,000 (inc VAT) for a duration of 2 years, plus 5 additional annual contract options.
II.1.6) Information about lots
The contract is divided into lots: no
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement(excluding VAT)
Value:1750000.00
Currency:GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)
Main CPV code: 35330000

II.2.3) Place of performance
Nuts code:
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
DGM PT need to procure GDOTS’ proprietary 5.56mm & 9mm Securiblank™ ammunition. The estimated total value of the procurement is circa £1,750,000 (inc VAT) for a duration of 2 years, plus 5 additional annual contract options.

II.2.5) Award criteria
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:yes
Description of options:
Annual contract options for a period of 5 years to enable procurement of additional quantities of 5.56mm and 9mm Securiblank™ ammunition.

II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated procedure without publication of a contract notice(in accordance with Article 28 of Directive 2009/81/EU)
IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement(GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: no
IV.2) Administrative information

Section V: Award of contract/concession
Contract No: DGM/2022
Title: DGM/2022 – Supply of Compatible Blank Ammunition

V.2) Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:2023-03-31
V.2.2) Information about tenders
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Official name: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Canada Inc
Postal address: 5 Montee des Arsenaux
Town: Quebec
Postal code: J5Z 2P4
Country: Canada
Nuts code:
The contractor is an SME: no

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession(excluding VAT)
for framework agreements – total maximum value for this lot
for contracts based on framework agreements, if required – value of contract(s) for this lot not included in
previous contract award notices
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Value or proportion likely to be subcontracted to third parties

Section VI: Complementary informationVI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Official name: Defence Equipment and Support
Postal address: Fir 1C #4110
Town: Bristol
Postal code: BS34 8JH
Country: United Kingdom

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice:
2023-03-31

Justification for the award of the contract without prior publication of a call for
competition in the Official Journal of the European Union
1.Justification for the choice of the negotiated procedure without publication of a call for competition in accordance with
Article 28 of Directive 2009/81/EU

The products involved are manufactured purely for the purpose of research, experiment,study or development under the conditions
stated in the directive(for services and supplies only)
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
absence of competition for technical reasons

3.Explanation
Please explain in a clear and comprehensive manner why the award of the contract without prior publication in the Official Journal of the European Union
is lawful, by stating the relevant facts and, as appropriate, the conclusions of law in accordance with the directive:
The GDOTS Simunition™ suite used by the UK MOD consists of FX™ marking and Securiblank™ rounds. FX™ marking rounds are already in service with the UK MOD and this VTN indicates the UK MOD’s intention to complete the suite by purchasing Securiblank™. When combined, these munitions will be used to facilitate less than lethal training through simulation of “real-life” battlefield missions for the armed forces. The full safety system of associated equipment is already in service, along with the weapon conversion kits that are required to fire both types of ammunition. When employed as a system, it provides a complete safe training system and therefore enhances the safety and effectiveness of training.
The Securiblank™ ammunition is interoperable in terms of design and performance with the in-service Simunition™ weapon conversion kits. The GDOTS Securiblank™ natures have a unique firing mechanism and are the only training natures compatible with the existing in-service systems. Purchasing similar Blank training systems from any other manufacturer would result in a mixed fleet of training equipment and ammunition with different performance and technical characteristics. This would result in incompatibility between the existing in-service training system and the purchased goods, leading to disproportionate technical and safety difficulties in operation and maintenance of this training capability.