Additional information
Please note that this date is indicative only and subject to change.
Background:
The ARGONAUT Project Team would like to hear from providers of the various services that could come under the umbrella of Project ARGONAUT, to understand more about how industry could contribute or innovate to support the Armour Centre (ARMCEN) in future delivery of an effective and efficient training solution.
The services that are likely to be required at the outset of any potential contract are:
Ser Description of Activity Current Activity (C) or Future Activity (F)
1) Provide teaching and instructional services C;
2) Design, Develop and update training packages C;
3) Provide a stores delivery and accounting service including an Arms store, fuel point and all transport services C;
4) Operate and Manage an Ammunition Compound C;
5) Delivery of Physical Training Instruction C;
6) Level 1 Maintenance of Armoured Vehicles and provision of qualified drivers for the same vehicles C;
7) Provide instruction on new Ajax family of vehicles F;
8) Provide instruction on new Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV) F;
9) Provide instruction on new variation of Warrior vehicle post capability enhancement programme F;
10) Provide instruction on new (enhanced) Challenger 2 vehicle F.
The ARGONAUT Team have produced a Project Brief for Industry which provides a summary of the issues that MOD needs to understand from an Industry viewpoint. With this document comes a Questionnaire to elicit Industry’s view.
Although many aspects of the future requirement are currently carried out by one supplier as part of the TMASS22 contract, the Authority are open to looking at potential other contracting models including appointing a Prime, an Integrator, a Consortium or using multiple suppliers (Lots). We are particularly keen to harness the innovation that SMEs can bring to meeting our requirements which is why we are encouraging suppliers to get involved in our market sounding. To develop this aspect, the Authority are planning to hold an SME only day on Wednesday 4.12.2019 at the ARMCEN, Bovington Camp, Dorset BH20 6JA.
The aim of the SME Day is:
1) To provide insight and ‘set the scene’ to show what the ARMCEN is about;
2) To give an overview of the various activities listed above;
3) To explain why we want to encourage SMEs to be involved;
4) To give a broad overview of how MOD conducts its commercial processes
5) To provide an opportunity for SMEs to ask questions around perceived barriers to doing business and for MOD to feedback on issues raised in the returned questionnaires.
The MID will be held on Wednesday15th January 2020 at the National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, LONDON SW3 4HT.
The aim of this event is:
1) To provide Industry as a whole with additional background and detail on the Project;
2) To provide Industry with an opportunity to meet and ask questions of the MOD Project Team
3) To network and engage with other Industry Suppliers of potentially in scope services; and
4) To further inform the Authority’s thinking while they consider various commercial and business approaches to delivering the ARGONAUT requirement.
It should be noted that in the instance of significant interest it may be necessary to restrict attendees per Potential Supplier to a maximum of three (3). Therefore, please ensure that the most appropriate attendees from your organisation are put forward to attend the events. Attendance at either event is not dependant on submitting a completed questionnaire although it would be very useful. Equally, you may submit a completed questionnaire even if you are not intending to be at an event.
For a copy of the Industry Project Brief and Questionnaire, and to register your interest in attending the SME Day (SMEs only) or the MID (open to all potential suppliers, including SMEs), please contact mandy.brown563@mod.gov.uk.
Completed questionnaires should be returned electronically to the contact above by no later than 25.11.2019. Applications to attend either event should also be submitted by this date although earlier confirmation would be helpful. It is MODs aim to confirm attendees and final arrangements prior to Christmas.
MOD will not be liable for any costs incurred by any parties who respond to this notice. The MOD has no obligation to continue with this requirement following this Early Market Engagement, and if potential suppliers choose to act on any answers and/or information they receive from the event, it is entirely at their own risk.
We are also considering holding a number of Webinar type sessions for individual suppliers to provide the Project Team with further thoughts and views. These sessions would be on a bookable basis and would take place shortly after the MID. As part of our Transparency policy and in order to maintain a level playing field for a potential future requirement, we will ensure that any information provided by MOD during our Early Market Engagement will be made available to all (unless both parties agree that the information may expose commercially sensitive information). Details of the Webinar sessions will be released later this month but you are invited to express your interest in taking part as for the events above.
This PIN is not a means to submit a formal Expression of Interest. Any resulting requirement will be conducted competitively and may be subject to the EU Public Procurement Regulations/respective advertising action.
You must not take this announcement to mean confirmation that MOD shall award a contract for this requirement. The MOD is publishing this announcement without any commitment to issue a tender or place a contract. Accordingly, any expenditure, work or effort undertaken before contract award is a matter solely for the commercial judgement of potential suppliers. Announcements may also be published on Defence Contracts Online, Contracts Finder or the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), as appropriate.
To guarantee openness and transparency, all information associated with the MID will be provided as part of any prospective tender documentation pack that may be issued in respect of Project ARGONAUT. This may include summary analysis of the submitted questionnaires but will not include attributable comments.
The Project is likely to be designated a Category [C], in accordance with the MOD Value Bands used to provide guidance when publishing MOD Tender and Contract opportunities on Defence Contracts Online (between [20M GBP] and [100M GBP], dependant on the scope and duration of the potential Contract).
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