Description of how these justifications apply
The proposed contract will develop, integrate, test and operationalise the capability created through Project LOW, following a compliant competitive procurement by Dstl. As systems integrator within the successful consortium, Rowden holds detailed knowledge of the capability, its architecture, integration requirements, technical dependencies and previous test and evaluation outcomes.
NATO Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2027, scheduled for February 2027, is a defined operational milestone for the MOD. The capability must be established and available in time to enable the UK to participate effectively and operate alongside NATO allies. Rowden’s continued involvement is necessary to achieve that outcome because its detailed knowledge of the existing capability and role as systems integrator, achieved through a competitive tender, are critical to completing the required development, integration, assurance and testing within the available timeframe. Transferring responsibility at this stage would create material integration, assurance and schedule risks and would prevent the capability from being ready for the exercise.
This defined, time-limited phase is necessary to establish and maintain the operational capability and readiness required for the February 2027 exercise. Failure to complete the work in time would affect the UK’s ability to participate fully and operate effectively and interoperable alongside NATO allies. The direct award is therefore limited to the work required to achieve this operational outcome and is not to establish a long-term sole-source arrangement.
The work will also assess the prototype and its delivery model, including the use of a systems integrator alongside an MOD-sovereign, open-architecture technology stack.
The evidence generated through STEADFAST DEFENDER 2027 will inform further development and the Authority’s future technical requirements, operating model and procurement strategy for next year, with the aim of preserving MOD ownership, interoperability and freedom of manoeuvre while avoiding technological or commercial lock-in.
Applicable Direct Award Grounds include:
- Schedule 5, paragraph 20 – Defence and security
The Authority considers that the conditions in Schedule 5, paragraph 20 of the Procurement Act 2023 are met. The February 2027 NATO Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2027 is a defined operational milestone, and the contract is necessary to establish and maintain the Armed Forces capability and operational effectiveness required for the UK to participate and operate effectively alongside NATO allies. A direct award to Rowden is necessary because its embedded systems integration knowledge, acquired through the previously competed Project LOW activity, is required to complete the development, integration, testing and assurance in time. Appointing another supplier at this stage would introduce material technical, assurance and schedule risks, affecting the UK’s ability to achieve the required operational outcome for the exercise.
- Schedule 5, paragraph 2 – Prototypes and development
The Authority also considers that the conditions in Schedule 5, paragraph 2 of the Procurement Act 2023 are met. The capability remains a prototype, and the contract will support its further development, integration, testing and evaluation in a relevant military environment. NATO Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER 2027 will provide evidence of the capability’s suitability and the viability of the proposed MOD-sovereign, open-architecture delivery model.