707961450 - In Service Support of Detector Special Purpose DSP34

The Specialist EOD&S, Exploitation and Countermeasures Project Team, part of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (The Authority) intends to award a 17 Month contract to Roke Manor Research Limited for a new contract for the support of Detector Special Purpose (DSP) No. 34 (DSP34 In-Service Support Contract) with an estimated value of £888,203.00 (ex VAT).

The DSP34 System is part of the Infrastructure Search detection suite. It allows Through Barrier Detection (TBD). DSP34 was developed under a partnership between Dstl, and Roke Manor Research Limited in 2014. DSP34 is only used by UK Armed Forces and is not In-Service with any other NATO Country. DSP34 works using a high-end transmitter as it's radiation source for the detector. It is a bespoke equipment with risk of radiation exposure to maintainers and users if incorrectly maintained and supported.

The previous contract expired in June 2021 and therefore a new maintenance, support, and repairs contract is required to continue servicing the detectors. The contract will be required until 31 March 2026. Roke Manor Research Ltd have been involved with DSP34 since 2014 contract (SPSCM/00863) to take the Dstl Concept Demonstrator and develop it to Technical Readiness Level 9 and on to manufacture and into Service.

Only Roke Manor Research Limited have the necessary expertise, knowledge, and experience to Service, Maintain and Repair DSP34. A Safe System of work is critical for DSP34 with its radiation transmission, which is subject to periodic Hazardous Effects of Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) assessments for its safety working conditions. They are the only Suitably Qualified and Experienced Person (SQEP) Contractor that can safely maintain and calibrate the system to ensure it is safe to use for its Users, as outlined in the Single Source Justification. At present certain spares and parts within DSP34 are 3D printed. Only Roke Manor Research Ltd possess the blueprints, knowledge, and programming to allow these to be reprinted to the correct specification.

The Authority does not hold a Manufacturers Data Pack (MDP) for DSP34 which means that a third party would be required to reverse engineer the equipment. This is not a viable option as the Authority cannot provide another Contractor with a Safe System of Work around the Gamma radiation source to protect either themselves or Users of the equipment. A Safe Systems of Work are the procedures according to which work must be carried out where hazards cannot be eliminated, and some risk still exists.

It is considered that this contract can be awarded to Roke Manor Research Limited using the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a contract notice pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the UK Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for technical reasons.