ASH In-Service Support

Concepts

• data services
• ash in-service support
• bristol
• in-service support of ash
• support of the armed services of the united kingdom
• critical information
• file security
• unexploded ordinance
• safety
• use

Location

United Kingdom:

Description

This Contract is for the In-Service Support of ASH which is a repository for safety critical information on unexploded ordinance (UXO) for use in the support of the Armed Services of the United Kingdom, in the rendering safe and disposal of UXO worldwide.

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 72300000 - Data services
• 48731000 - File security software package
• 48732000 - Data security software package
• 48750000 - Storage media loading software package
• 48771000 - General utility software package
• 48781000 - System management software package
• 48782000 - Storage management software package
• 48783000 - Content management software package

Legal Justification

The Specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search (EOD&S), Exploitation & Countermeasures (“SEEC”) Delivery Team, part of Defence Equipment & Support (“DE&S”) within the UK Ministry of Defence (“MoD”), intends to award a three-and-a-half-year contract to DXC Technology (“DXC”) for the In-Service Support of Command & Control Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Identification System, named “ASH”, with an estimated contract value of £2m. ASH is a repository for safety critical information on UXO for use in the support of the Armed Services of the United Kingdom, in the rendering safe and disposal of unexploded ordinance (UXO) worldwide. The requirement for ASH is OFFICIAL SENSITIVE but the physical computer-based system and its incorporated information operates at SECRET UK EYES ONLY. It is considered that this contract shall be placed using the regulation 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Defence and Security Public Contract Regulations (DSPCR) 2011 for technical reasons as when, for technical reasons, the contract may be awarded only to a particular economic operator. It is impractical to contract for this work with any supplier other than DXC, who have managed the in-service support of ASH since its introduction to service in 1996. As the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and as the designers and developers of the electronic architecture that underpins the system, DXC have a unique technical know-how and understanding of the electronic architecture that underpins the system. Contracting with a third party to undertake support to this requirement would introduce an unacceptable level of technical risk that will negatively impact the successful delivery of Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Military Aid to Civilian Authorities (MACA) and Contingent Operations. DXC are the only suppliers with the technical expertise to deliver the ASH system to the required technical specification to the satisfaction of the Authority. The Authority is in the early stages of understanding the scope for a replacement capability beyond the ASH Out of Service Date (OSD) of 31 March 2026. Further information on that requirement shall be issued in due course.

Other Information

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