Brightstar Lamps Procurement for Merlin Helicopters

Concepts

• helicopters
• yeovil
• brightstar lamps procurement
• merlin helicopters
• support helicopters
• brightstar lamps
• lamps
• aircraft parts
• brightstar ii
• brightstar iii

Location

Somerset: RNAS Yeovilton

Description

Procurement of 23 Brightstar Lamps for Merlin Helicopters

Total Quantity or Scope

x5 Brightstar II Lamps x18 Brightstar III Lamps

Award Detail

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 34711500 - Helicopters
• 34731700 - Parts for helicopters
• 35612300 - Support helicopters

Legal Justification

The Merlin Delivery Team, part of the Ministry of Defence, intends to enter into a supply contract with LFD Limited for the purchase of Brightstar infra-red LED Search and Landing Lamps (the “Lamps”) for use on the Merlin Aircraft. In accordance with regulation 4 of The Defence and Security Public Contracts (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (SI 2019/697) this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 as amended (in particular by SI 2019/697 and SI 2020/1450). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 16(1)(b)(i) because the Lamps to be purchased are required by the Secretary of State for Defence as a partial replacement for, or in addition to, existing Lamps and to obtain the Lamps from a supplier other than LFD Limited would oblige the Secretary of State for Defence contracting authority to acquire Lamps having different technical characteristics which would result in incompatibility between the existing Lamps and the Lamps to be purchased and disproportionate technical difficulties in the operation and maintenance of the existing Lamps. LFD Limited are the sole manufacturer of the Lamps and the Secretary of State for Defence already has a supply of the Lamps which are used on the Puma 2 and Chinook fleets. Existing stock of the Lamps will be used to partly satisfy Merlin full fleet fit, the intended purchase will top up the existing stock of Lamps. The Lamps to be purchased must be interchangeable with existing in-service Lamps. Having a mix of Lamps in the Merlin fleet will lead to interoperability issues, preventing Lamps being switched from one aircraft to another, potentially restricting flexibility of use of the aircraft. The brackets and wiring on the aircraft has been specifically designed and cleared through the relevant airworthiness channels to be safe and fit for purpose for mounting these specific Lamps. If the Lamp was changed to an alternative type, the entire bracket design would have to be revisited, the associated assessments conducted and the safety arguments regenerated resulting in significant and disproportionate time delays and cost.

Other Information

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