NATO Submarine Rescue System Third In-Service Support Period

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) has a potential requirement for the provision of a Government Owned Contractor Operated service to ensure continued availability and capability of the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) from mid-2023.

NSRS is a tri-national project established in 2003 to deliver a submarine rescue capability to the United Kingdom (UK), France and Norway (collectively known as the Participant Nations). The SDA acting on behalf of the UK, operates as the designated lead nation responsible for the commercial arrangements under which NSRS is delivered.

NSRS is a world leading capability for Submarine Rescue and the next phase of this project (known as the Third In-Service Support project or 3ISS) offers an exciting opportunity for potential suppliers to operate and maintain a worldwide, continuously available and sustainable submarine rescue capability, supporting the Participant Nations and wider NATO community.

NSRS is comprised of three overarching systems:

a) Intervention - Independent Remote Operated Vehicle (IROV) and supporting equipment which provides the capability to search, examine and deliver vital emergency supplies to enable rescue;

b) Rescue - Submarine Rescue Vehicle (SRV) and supporting equipment used to dock and enact escape from a distressed submarine, launched from a Mothership (MOSHIP) using a Portable Launch and Recovery System; and

c) Transfer Under Pressure System (TUP) - A decompression chamber located on-board the deck of a MOSHIP and used to bring rescued crew back to the correct atmospheric pressure.

The scope of the 3ISS requirement is expected to include, but not be limited to:

a) Provision of project and programme management to oversee the management and maintain capability and availability of the system (rescue readiness);

b) Provision of a complete contractor operated service;

c) Continuous maintenance and support of NSRS assets and systems;

d) Mobilisation and conducting NSRS training exercises;

e) Obsolescence management; and

f) Spares management.

3ISS is expected to be operate across a 9-year term from mid-2023 to align with both the end of the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the Partner Nations and the current NSRS out-of-service date.

This procurement is subject to the Defence Security & Public Contract Regulations 2011 and will operate against the Competitive Negotiated procedure. Suppliers who wish to express an interest must do so by completing and returning a Dynamic Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (DPQQ) via the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP). The searchable Project Code is 60992378.

In order to qualify at the supplier selection stage, Suppliers will need to meet the minimum standards set out in the DPQQ, namely:

a) that you will not be subject to any of the exclusionary criteria set out under Regulation 23 unless the Authority is satisfied that the provisions of Regulation 23(2) can apply;

b) that you will be able to meet the economic and financial standing requirements;

c) that you will be able to meet the technical and professional ability requirements.; and

d) for the scored section criteria which is scored between 0 (low score) and 5 (high score) that a minimum pass mark of 33 is achieved with each question scoring not less than a 2.

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 the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP), Contracts Finder or the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU), as appropriate.