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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

715838592 - Internal Communications System (ICS) - Technical Refresh (TS) - RFI

Submarine Delivery Agency · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 2 Oct 2026, 20:46.

Opportunity overview

This in-service support is currently achieved via a sole source contract with the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) including a contractual arrangement for the management of the Shore Reference Sets (SRS) associated with the ICS. ICS provides a digital and analogue voice message exchange architecture that supports voice communications over digital and wireless networks and analogue circuits. The system also includes a telephone exchange, secondary, emergency damage control (DC) communication systems, submarine broadcast and general alarm functions. A-Class ICS employs a wholly, complex, 3-node communication architecture that employs digital switch and network technologies within a multi-layer software model. It supports essential communications between the submarine crew for operational and safety critical functions on-board. The existing system in place is based on Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and will need to move to the modern Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology to allow long term support. ICS is a complex system with many interfaces and nodes to allow personnel the opportunity to communicate throughout the platform. This complexity is not always understood by Ship Staff so it is essential to have engineering backup available via Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (SQEP) ICS engineers provisioned for via a support contract. Astute ICS is a Priority 1 Master Equipment (ME) and is vital to delivering platform capability. The software will need to be a SIL2 (Safety Integrity Level) system and integral to the whole boat safety case.

Classification

  • CPV32412000 — Communications network

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
ocds-h6vhtk-0684d9
Main Procurement Category
goods
Above Threshold
Yes
Status
planning

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Communication

Future Notice Date
5 Oct 2026, 23:59

Amendments

Entry 1
Description
Added the link to the RFI https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60986
Id
035464-2026

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Has Renewal
Yes
Status
planning

Suitability

Sme
Yes

Contract period

Starts
1 Apr 2027, 00:00
Ends
31 Mar 2032, 23:59
Max Extent Date
31 Mar 2034, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
32412000
Description
Communications network

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Planning and budget

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
This Request for Information (RFI) will be advertised on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) and Find a Tender Service (FTS) and issued to all who request an RFI together with other companies whom the SDA believes may be able to provide useful intelligence on this requirement. Responses to this RFI will be reviewed by subject matter experts from different functional areas within the SDA. Following receipt of responses to this RFI the Authority may initiate follow on engagement with either individual potential suppliers, groups of potential suppliers or all potential suppliers. This may be undertaken in writing or through virtual meetings. Any details provided in response to this RFI or during subsequent engagement will be used for information purposes only and will not be used to determine the potential suppliers who will be invited to bid, should the Authority proceed to tender. The results and analysis of this RFI shall not constitute any form of pre-qualification exercise. Any formal procurement process will be undertaken in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Nothing in this RFI, or any other engagements with Industry prior to a formal procurement process, shall be construed as a representation as to the Authority’s ultimate decision in relation to the future requirement. https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60986
Due
12 Jun 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Documents

Entry 1
Id
035464-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Published
20 Apr 2026, 10:01
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
Submarine Delivery Agency
Id
GB-PPON-PBHX-4625-LVPD

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PBHX-4625-LVPD

Address

Street Address
MOD Abbey Wood, Ash 1c, #3114
Locality
Bristol
Postal Code
BS34 8JH
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKK12

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthorityCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - central government

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Bristol · UKK12 · BS34 8JH · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UK · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

2 published notice versions reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

2 VERSIONS
  1. 035005-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·
  2. 035464-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·