Aerial Dispersant Spray Service - August Update
Published 26 August 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aerial-dispersant-spray-service-august-update/aerial-dispersant-spray-service-august-update
Over the past few months, the HM Coastguard Project Team have been working towards getting the Aerial Dispersant Spray service procurement underway. The MCA has now received approval to formally launch a procurement to identify a competent operator to provide an Aerial Dispersant Spray service for the on behalf of the MCA for the next 10 years, commencing in March 2027.
In accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015, the MCA has elected to use Competitive Procedure with Negotiation as its procurement route. By using this competitive process, the MCA intends to identify the operator and technical solution which best enables the MCA to deliver its critical functions in oil spill response, provides value for money and delivers improvements and additional benefits above and beyond what is provided by the current service. The procurement cycle will now run until the contract is issued in the second half of 2025.
Alongside the work on the business case, the Project Team have run a variety of engagement activities including Market Consultation Questionnaires, one-to-one sessions with industry and have given industry the opportunity to ask the MCA clarification questions. The one-to-one sessions covered topics including finance and Intellectual Property in order for the MCA to gain more in-depth understanding on industry’s position on certain subjects, as well as insights into the types of organisation who may be interested in delivering this requirement. This all leads to the MCA now being in a position to release the Selection Questionnaire.
The Selection Questionnaire (SQ) is live and available through Jaggaer. Alongside the SQ there is a range of supporting documentation available to bidders including:
- A draft version of the Invitation to Tender (ITT) to be issued to bidders down selected in the SQ
- Information on how HMCG responds to marine oil spills, and specifically how it manages an aerial dispersant campaign
- A high-level description of the MCA owned 737 400 Oil Dispersant Spray Kit, which will be available to bidders to use in their solutions
- Bidder guidance for using the MCA’s e-tendering portal, Jaggaer
- Sourcing System bidder guidance
- A list of additional information on the Oil Dispersant Spray Kit to be provided to down selected bidders
- Key Commercial Principles
- Overview of the F406 test spray system