Modification of the FAAM Atmospheric Research Aircraft (ARA) via Mid Life Upgrade

Concepts

• aircraft equipment
• faam atmospheric research aircraft
• atmospheric research aircraft
• leeds
• modification of the faam atmospheric research aircraft
• life modification upgrade services
• aircraft maintenance
• research purposes
• modification services
• aircraft systems

Location

North Hampshire

Description

Services for Atmospheric Research Aircraft. Provision of Mid Life Modification Upgrade services - the BAe 146 301 aircraft, serial number E3001

Total Quantity or Scope

This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice, indicating that the University of Leeds (UoL) intends to contract with BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd., for modification services for the Atmospheric Research Aircraft (ARA). BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd adapted this ARA for research purposes and provides ongoing operational and maintenance services pursuant to an existing contract entered into on 15 April 2019. These services, that are the subject of this new contract, relate to critical upgrades that are required to ensure the ARA is fit for purpose for up to the next two decades. The various services that are to be provided will include modification and upgrades to aircraft, aircraft systems and supported scientific systems. The value of the modification work is likely to be up to £30m (excluding taxes) over a planned 5 year period starting in 2022 Additional information: The existing contract was published in the OJEU 2019/S 024 053759. The services will predominantly be carried out at the aircraft’s Home Base and at BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd., where the support contract for the aircraft is managed although it is likely that such services may be carried out elsewhere as well.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 50210000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft and other equipment
• 50211100 - Aircraft maintenance services

Legal Justification

The University of Leeds has considered that this requirement can be placed using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of the contract notice pursuant to Article 31 of Directive 2014/24/EU and regulation 32(b) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015: when, for technical reasons, or for protection of exclusive rights, the contract can be awarded to a particular economic operator (BAE Systems). The Atmospheric Research Aircraft (msn 3001) is a unique aircraft type (BAE 146-301) whose type certificate is held by BAE Systems (Operations) Limited. BAE Systems adapted the aircraft for special atmospheric research use by the UK Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) between 2000 and 2003 and continues to have responsibility for configuration control of the aircraft and all major adaptations to it pursuant to an existing agreement with the University of Leeds. It therefore has a unique understanding of its operational characteristics, support requirements and modification status. The research aircraft contains extremely complicated scientific equipment and is highly modified. As such, any service provider carrying out further modifications will need to be extremely familiar with the specific scientific equipment and those modifications already in place. The research aircraft has an adapted BAE 146-301 airframe and so any service provider will need to hold relevant intellectual property rights relating thereto and have the technical expertise and the intellectual property rights required to provide further modification services on an already heavily modified airframe. The University of Leeds considers that only the Contractor has the technical knowledge to provide the modifications that are now required. In addition, the Contractor benefits from intellectual property rights to the research aircraft which it could not reasonably be expected to assign to a third party contractor without disclosing commercially confidential information. The Contractor is therefore the only viable contractor to provide these highly specialist upgrades and modifications.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** To view this notice, please click here: https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=627716725 Main Site or Place of Performance: UKJ37 BAE Systems (Operations) Limited a company registered in England and Wales (Company registered number 01996687) whose registered office is at Warwick House, PO Box 87, Farnborough Aerospace Centre, Farnborough, Hants GU14 6YU, having a place of business at Building 37, Prestwick International Airport, Prestwick KA9 2RW. Type of Procedure: Negotiated Procedure without prior publication (in accordance with Article 32 of Directive 2014/24/EU) and in accordance with the UK Public Contracts Regulations 2015 Regulation 32. To view this notice, please click here: https://neupc.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=627716725 GO Reference: GO-2022317-PRO-19812454