Procurement of 2 ASTUTE Class Reactor Fresh Water-Cooling Heat Exchangers

Concepts

• cooling water pumps
• bristol
• heat exchangers
• astute class submarines
• a key nuclear reactor safety function
• the astute class deep maintenance period
• reactor fresh water-cooling heat exchangers/coolers
• procurement of 2 astute class reactor fresh water-cooling heat exchangers
• two additional fresh water cooling heat exchanger (heatex) units
• 2 modified heat exchangers

Location

Bristol

Description

Reactor Fresh Water-Cooling Heat Exchangers/Coolers are fundamental to the operation of platforms and are linked directly to delivery of submarine outputs and platform availability: they also fulfil a key nuclear reactor safety function. The Platform Equipment Delivery Team which is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to award a contract to Naval Group Limited (“Naval Group”) for the purchase of two additional Fresh Water Cooling Heat Exchanger (HEATEX) units to be installed on ASTUTE class submarines as part of the on-going Deep Maintenance Programme.

Total Quantity or Scope

The intent is to procure 2 modified Heat Exchangers from Naval Group UK, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (the OEM) to meet the requirement for the ASTUTE Class Deep Maintenance Period (DMP) while an enduring support strategy for Coolers is developed.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 42122161 - Cooling-water pumps
• 35512200 - Attack submarine nuclear fuelled

Indicators

• Award on basis of price and quality.

Legal Justification

The Platform Equipment Delivery Team which is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to award a contract to Naval Group Limited (“Naval Group”) for the purchase of two additional Fresh Water Cooling Heat Exchanger (HEATEX) units (“Units”) to be installed on ASTUTE class submarines as part of the on-going Deep Maintenance Programme. In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this contract 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. It is considered that this contract can be awarded without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons. This is because Naval Group is the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the Units, which are a bespoke design for the ASTUTE class submarine. The Units provide Sea Water cooling to the Boat’s Fresh Auxiliary Water Cooling System and the Reactor Compartment Fresh Water Cooling System. They are a vital part of the nuclear safety function and must work with and be compatible with the other systems on the Boat. Only Naval Group has the necessary technical drawings, specialist tooling, knowledge and experience to supply these replacement Units, which will be manufactured to an improved specification, allowing the Units currently installed on the Boats to be removed and refurbished.