Procurement of Cryptographic Computer Equipment

Concepts

• computer equipment
• bristol
• hensoldt of qrtk3bng
• procurement of cryptographic computer equipment
• equipment
• cryptographic computers
• provision of qrtk3bng
• qrtk4ng

Location

France:

Description

Provision for the supply by Hensoldt of QRTK3BNG and QRTK4NG cryptographic computers and associated ancillary supporting equipment.

Total Quantity or Scope

Provision of QRTK3BNG and QRTK4NG cryptographic computers and associated ancillary supporting equipment.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 30200000 - Computer equipment and supplies

Legal Justification

It is considered that this contract amendment can be awarded to Hensoldt using the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication of a Contract Notice pursuant to Regulation 16 (1) (a) (ii) of the UK Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (DSPCR), for technical reasons.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** The scope of the contract will cover the further supply of QRTK3BNG & QRTK4NG cryptographic computer systems and Hensoldt France SAS are the only economic operator who provide these specific models of cryptographic computer systems. These models of cryptographic equipment are required to be issued by the Authority to Thales UK as part of MOD's Marshall Deployable ATC Radar replacement and upgrade Programme, which incorporates the Hensoldt (Germany) Mono-pulse Secondary Surveillance (MSSR) 2000 IDR and Far Field Monitor (FFM) systems. The cryptographic computer systems supplied by Hensoldt are the only systems available which are compatible with the MSSR 2000IDR & FFM Identification Friend or Foe (IFF)\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Secondary Surveillance Systems (SSR). The integration of the QRTK3BNG & QRTK4NG crypto computers, alongside the MSSR 2000 and FFM IFF\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\SSR systems from Hensoldt, is critical to ensure that the UK system has commonality, compatibility and interoperability with NATO and Coalition Forces Mode 5 IFF systems. The MSSR 2000 and FFM systems have been designed to use identical IFF cryptographic computer models, in order to ensure their ability to communicate effectively and function interoperably, and so that the interface between the systems can be maximised. The requirement for interoperability is contingent on the compatibility between the MSSR 2000 & FFM systems and their associated cryptographic computers, and on this basis the use of an alternative supplier or equipment is not viable as they would not allow the same level of compatibility. Failure to provide the QRTK3BNG & QRTK4NG models of cryptographic computers would impact upon the upcoming integration testing and acceptance phase of the Marshall Deployable ASR-NG ATC Radar systems, which have been designed around the integration and use of this specific Hensoldt MSSR 2000 & FFM systems. The integration and use of alternative models of IFF systems would not be possible without significant redesign of the overall system, along with a change to the common Training DLOD and Support DLOD. There is a strict technical impracticality for any other economic operator to undertake the work required within this proposed contract amendment as the specific model of cryptographic computer systems are proprietary to Hensoldt. This specific models of IFF cryptographic computer systems are necessary for interoperability, compatibility and commonality purposes, in order to ensure successful acceptance into service of the UK Marshall ATC Programme. The QRTK3BNG model of cryptographic equipment is also to be issued to Thales UK for integration into the UK MoD Mine Hunting Capability Team's Maritime Mine Countermeasures (MMCM) system. The MMCM Programme is a collaborative contract between the UK and French Governments with Thales DMS France, for the design and manufacture of the next generation of autonomous underwater mine hunting capability. The Agreement stems from, and forms part of, the Lancaster House Agreement made between the UK and French nations and is based upon the idea of co-operation and collaboration between the two nations and their capabilities within this area. Both the UK and French MMCM systems have been designed to use identical IFF cryptographic computer models in order to ensure their ability to communicate effectively and function interoperably, and so that the common interface between the 2 systems can be maximised. The requirement for interoperability is contingent upon the compatibility between the Thales TSC2002 IFF system and its associated cryptographic computer, and on this basis the use of an alternative supplier or equipment is not viable as they would not provide the level of compatibility required. The integration of the QRTK3BNG crypto computer, alongside the TSC2002 IFF system from Thales, is critical to ensure that the UK system has commonality, compatibility and interoperability with the French system. Failure to provide the QRTK3BNG model of cryptographic computer would impact upon the upcoming production phase of the MMCM systems, which have been designed around the integration and use of the TSC2002 IFF system. The integration and use of alternative models of IFF system would not be possible without significant redesign of the overall system, along with a change to the common Training DLOD and Support DLOD.