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Fibre Optic Compass System (FOCS) In-Service Support (ISS)
AI Summary
The Ministry of Defence, acting through Sense Decide and Communicate – Command and Control, Target, Navigation, Communications (C2TNC), is preparing to award a follow‑on contract for the in‑service support, sustainment and installation of the Fibre Optic Compass System (FOCS) across the Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Submarine fleets. The procurement is being undertaken through a preliminary market engagement, aimed at clarifying the current market, technical capabilities, supply chain arrangements, and commercial models that will underpin the future procurement. The contract will cover a core agreement that delivers through‑life technical support, system availability management, technical query resolution, obsolescence handling, documentation maintenance, spares and repair services, and the storage of all required materiel in accordance with defence standards, as well as a non‑core scope that includes ad‑hoc tasking for equipment faults, engineering studies, system enhancements, potential installation work on remaining platforms in the current tech refresh programme, and operational attendance on ships, submarines and bases.
The supplier will be responsible for managing the spares supply chain, providing repair services, and maintaining an up‑to‑date technical documentation repository compliant with MOD policy. In addition, the contractor must be able to respond to engineering studies and system enhancement requests, perform installation activities on platforms that remain in the FOCS refresh programme, and attend naval vessels, submarines, and base locations when required under CONDO arrangements. The engagement will culminate in a competitive tender issue planned for September 2026, after the preliminary market engagement and a request for information round.
All spares storage, maintenance, and documentation updates must comply with Defence Standards and MOD policy.
Description
This engagement is being conducted in accordance with Section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023 (Preliminary Market Engagement) and aims to ensure the Authority understands the current market, technical capability, supply chain, and commercial models relevant to this requirement.
The intended procurement covers:
a) Core agreement to provide support and sustain existing systems:
a. Through-life technical support to sustain the existing FOCS capability.
b. System availability management.
c. Technical query resolution.
d. Obsolescence management.
e. Maintenance and updating of all technical documentation in accordance with MOD policy
f. Spares and repairs service provision. The responsibility for the management of spares and repairs to be held by the supplier.
g. Storage of all materiel required for support in accordance with relevant defence standards.
b) Non-core scope to complete ad-hoc tasking:
a. Ad-hoc tasking to support equipment faults, engineering studies, or system enhancements.
b. Potential tasking to perform installation activity on remaining platforms in the current FOCS tech refresh programme.
c. Attendance on ships/subs, military bases, and operational environments when required (in accordance with CONDO if required).
Estimated date of publication of contract notice: 2026-06-30T23:59:59+01:00
Engagement process description
a. The Authority published a Request for Information (RFI) in April-May 2025. This PMEN is a further step to refine requirements ahead of a competitive flexible procedure.
b. The Authority is engaging the market to:
i. Provide suppliers with the opportunity to express interest.
ii. Understand the capability in the market.
iii. Understand commercial feasibility and delivery models.
iv. Build supplier awareness and support competitive participation.
c. The Authority confirms that:
i. All information disclosed will be provided transparently to all suppliers to ensure equal treatment.
ii. Participation in engagement does not create any preferential status in later procurement stages.
iii. All relevant information shared through engagement will be published on the DSP to ensure open and equal access.
d. The planned PSQ issue date is June-26, and the planned tender issue date is Sep-26.
Interested suppliers may:
a) Express interest including a capability statement.
b) Submit clarification questions upon acceptance of capability statement by the authority.
c) Offer feedback on commercial or technical approaches.
All communication must be submitted via the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) no later than 17:00 on 27 April 2026.
The engagement will be conducted in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 Section 16(1) and Section 16(2) ('Preliminary Market Engagement'). Depending on the response from suppliers, the Authority may discuss:
a) Developing the authority's requirements and approach to the procurement.
b) Designing a procedure, conditions of participation or award criteria.
c) Preparing the tender notice and associated tender documents.
d) Identifying and notifying suppliers that may or may not be able to supply the goods, services or works required.
e) Identifying likely contractual terms.
f) Building capacity among suppliers in relation to the contract being awarded.
Lot: 1
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En