OPNET Future Ship Fit and Build - Early Market Engagement Questionnaire

The Deployed & Interoperability Services (D&IS) organisation currently manages a contract for the design, build, installation, removals and tech refresh of the Defence Information Infrastructure (Maritime Deployed) (DII(MD)), OpNET and MARWAN Maritime Deployable Cat 2 (infrastructure) and Cat 3 (Racks and IT equipment build) systems across HM Ships, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessels and Submarines.

The current service provision supports both the RED domain (OpNET Red – SECRET UK EYES ONLY) and the BLACK domain (Minerva and OpNET Black – OFFICIAL/OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE). The Authority is now developing its future contracting strategy and associated requirements to ensure the continued delivery of these critical services.

Maritime Front Line Commands (FLCs) depend upon these deployed capabilities to provide logistics, administration, intelligence, office automation and operational warfighting applications. These Communications and Information Systems (CIS) are mission-critical enablers that support deployed commanders in delivering operational outputs and effects. The Authority requires the continued transition and installation of the future NSOIT(D) OpNET capability, in parallel with the removals of legacy DII(MD) and MARWAN services. The future requirement will encompass the build, installation, and removals of Maritime Deployable Cat 2 and Cat 3 systems and equipment.

The Authority is currently refining its future service requirements with an anticipated initial contract term of approximately two years, together with three optional extension periods of up to 12 months each, or an equivalent commercial arrangement. Subject to approvals, this will lead to the publication of a Contract Opportunity Notice (Exempt Procurement) and the issue of a Procurement-Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) to potential suppliers.

Notes: This Early Market Engagement Notice is accompanied by an Early Market Engagement Questionnaire, through which industry participants are invited to provide information that will assist the Authority in further assessing market capability, capacity and appetite for the future delivery of these services.

The questionnaire will also seek supplier feedback on potential risks, opportunities, innovations and recommendations that may inform the development of the future requirement and procurement strategy.

Procurement Route: Other

Contract Duration: estimated/ approximate initial term in the range of 2 years with 3 x optional up to 1 year extension periods (or broadly equivalent commercial construct).