Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Ministry of Defence
Situational Awareness Command and Control Delivery Team, Spruce 1c, MoD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
UK
Contact person: Debbie Probert
E-mail: deborah.probert812@mod.gov.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://des.mod.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
Defence
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Provision of Link 16 Network Management System (L16 NMS)
Reference number: SACC/00113
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72315200
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The Situational Awareness Command and Control (SACC) Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to award a contract for the In-Service Support of a Link 16 Network Management System (NMS), with Thales UK Limited for a period of 2 years with options.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
9 820 902.00
GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
Main site or place of performance:
Templecombe, Somerset BA8 0DH
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The United Kingdom (UK) Defence has an enduring requirement to manage and monitor all Link 16 activity within the UK and support up to 2 deployed operations. The NMS allows the Network Management operators to monitor network activity and modify the network architecture to provide optimal Link 16 network operating conditions. NMS also monitors all Link 16 activity to ensure compliance with the MOD/Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) UK Frequency Clearance Agreement (FCA).
The current equipment set up is unique and the software installed on the equipment is owned and supported by the Contractor. As the OEM with proprietary rights for the software that is installed on the equipment, support can only be provided by Thales UK Limited, as only they hold the technical information, tools and expertise required. In the immediate term changing the system would have a potentially detrimental impact and could result in an inability to utilise the Link 16 network across all platforms in the UK Flight Information Region (FIR). This would significantly curtail pan domain platform’s ability to train for operations.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion: Commercial
/ Weighting: 40
Quality criterion: Technical
/ Weighting: 60
Price
/ Weighting:
100
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
The contract contains 2x1 year options for the continuation of support.
The contract contains options for out of hours support during crisis operations
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
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition
Justification for selected award procedure:
The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the Directive
Explanation
The Situational Awareness Command and Control (SACC) Team, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (the Authority), intends to award a contract for the In-Service Support of a Link 16 Network Management System (NMS), with Thales UK Limited (the Contractor) for a period of 2 years with options.
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 (DSPCR) 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the DSPCR 2011 for technical reasons as the Contractor owns the relevant technical information relating to the equipment and only the Contractor has the required technical expertise and know-how necessary to fulfil the Authority’s requirement.
United Kingdom (UK) Defence has an enduring requirement to manage and monitor all Link 16 activity within the UK and support up to 2 deployed operations. The NMS allows the Network Management operators to monitor network activity and modify the network architecture to provide optimal Link 16 network operating conditions. NMS also monitors all Link 16 activity to ensure compliance with the MOD/Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) UK Frequency Clearance Agreement (FCA).
The current equipment set up is unique and the software installed on the equipment is owned and supported by the Contractor. As the OEM with proprietary rights for the software that is installed on the equipment, support can only be provided by Thales UK Limited, as only they hold the technical information, tools and expertise required. In the immediate term changing the system would have a potentially detrimental impact and could result in an inability to utilise the Link 16 network across all platforms in the UK Flight Information Region (FIR). This would significantly curtail pan domain platform’s ability to train for operations.
The Cyber Risk profile is Level 1 - Foundational. The reference for the Risk Assessment is: RAR-JYYDQKV
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
No
Section V: Award of contract
Contract No: 714074450
Title: Provision of Link 16 Network Management System (L16 NMS)
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
07/08/2026
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Thales UK Limited
Horizon House, Throop Road, Templecombe
Somerset
BA8 0DH
UK
E-mail: lynn.o'dwyer@uk.thalesgroup.com
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 9 820 902.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Situational Awareness Command and Control Delivery Team
Spruce 1c, MoD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
10/08/2026