Watchkeeper In-Service Support 2024 - 2027

Concepts

• bristol
• unmanned aerial vehicles
• service management
• watchkeeper in-service support
• 2024
• watchkeeper
• drones
• target acquisition
• the sustainment fleet
• av

Location

Bristol

Description

The Thales Watchkeeper is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for all weather, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) used by the British Army. Watchkeeper In-Service Support has been provided since the AV came into service in the 2010s.

Total Quantity or Scope

Continued Watchkeeper Air Vehicle In-Service Support. 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2027. This consists of; - Provision of service management - Asset Management - Obsolescence Management - Training - Engineering and Safety - Management of the Sustainment Fleet

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles

Indicators

• Award on basis of price and quality.

Legal Justification

Short description of the contract or purchase(s): To extend the existing scope of the extant Watchkeeper In-Service Support (ISS) Contract UAS/00096 including delivery of continued Test and Evaluation (T & E) and activities to address known WK system obsolescence. Reason For Award of Contract: To enable the Watchkeeper Air Vehicle to operate at numerous Units of Action and Points of Presence in the UK and overseas for a further three-year period until 2027. Justification for Non-Competitive Decision: Technical Reasons In accordance with Regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. Thales UK (ISR) are the platform Design Authority Approved Organisation Scheme (DAOS) and Military Airworthiness Organisation Scheme (MAOS) accredited Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), in conjunction with other equipment OEMs within the supply chain. Therefore, only Thales have the technical documents and proprietary information (including software), equipment, infrastructure, skills, knowledge and authority (via the MAA) required in order to safely carry out this work. No other contractor would be able to safely perform this requirement as no other contractor would have access to the required technical and proprietary information. Main Place of Performance or Delivery: Thales Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), Crawley, Manor Royal, Crawley, Sussex RH10 9HA, United Kingdom