CONTRACT VARIATION FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY FOR THE DELIVERY OF MARITIME AERIAL PATROLS

Contracts

• Contract for the Provision of Aerial Surveillance · 2Excel Aviation LimitedSME

  Signed

  30 Jun 2021

  Value

  £28,477,981

  Period

  1 Sept 2021 – 18 Nov 2024

  Status

  active

  • Change The Aerial Surveillance and Verification (ASV) contract was procured on the basis of a level of utilization in line with a historic pattern of MCA use of maritime patrol aircraft, as well as engagement with other government stakeholders to ascertain their predicted use. The requirement in terms of anticipated number of flying hours and the supplier’s solution of two King Air 200s, were both based on this. Following the commencement of the ASV contract in November 2019, the Authority has faced a level of demand both from wider Government and from new, unanticipated, operational commitments which have exceeded its original estimates. This has required short duration increases in its aerial patrolling capacity to meet a variable and unpredictable demand, particularly from other government partners. The temporary additional capacity currently in place, provided by Piper Navajos, is due to be withdrawn on 31 August 2021. The MCA considers that a reversion to the two dedicated King Air 200s will not provide sufficient capacity to continue to meet the maritime aerial reconnaissance requirements of either the MCA or its wider Government partners up to the commencement of the UK Second-Generation Search and Rescue Aviation service in 2024. The provision of one additional King Air 200, used alongside aircraft already provided under the baseline provision of the ASV contract to maintain availability, will enable the MCA to meet the level of demand it faces. Sensor equipment, including radar, line scanner and EO/IR turret already used under the ASV contract will be used to equip this third King Air 200 for maritime patrols. In addition, crew trained to conduct MCA reconnaissance missions, infrastructure and engineering capacity already in place for the ASV contract will all be used to deliver this additional tasking. This is therefore the most cost-effective way to continue to meet this higher tasking demand via a solution integrated with the baseline provision under the ASV contract., Need for modification brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority/entity could not foresee: The MCA considers that this change is permitted under Regulation 72 (1) (c), on the basis that the need for the modification has been brought about by circumstances the MCA could not have foreseen, namely a demand over and above that which was anticipated when the contract was let which has persisted and continued to fluctuate over the 18 months since the service commenced. Moreover, the overall nature of the original contract has not been altered; the service is still for maritime aerial reconnaissance on behalf of both the MCA and its other government partners – neither the mission profiles nor the equipment used will change.