UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement - 62517791 - Boxer Integrated Operating Services - In Service Support Contract

BOXER Integrated Operating Services

The Ministry of Defence, acting through Defence Equipment and Support, is developing BOXER Integrated Operating Services (IOS) as the future in-service support solution for the UK BOXER fleet. BOXER IOS will form part of the wider Land Integrated Operating Services (LIOS) Enterprise Operating Model and is currently planned to commence from April 2029.

The requirement is intended to provide an integrated, scalable and readiness-focused support solution covering current and future BOXER variants and associated equipment.

Scope

The developing BOXER IOS requirement is expected to include activities across the following broad service areas:

*Capability Management

*Engineering Services

*Equipment Support

*Logistics Support

*Policy and Governance

The detailed scope, service boundaries, responsibilities and interfaces with other elements of LIOS continue to be developed and remain subject to further refinement as the Authority's requirements mature.

Preliminary Market Engagement

The Authority is undertaking this Preliminary Market Engagement in accordance with section 16 of the Procurement Act 2023. The purpose of the engagement is to obtain, clarify and validate factual information relating to the existing BOXER fleet support construct and associated support arrangements with the incumbent BOXER fleet supplier.

The Authority intends to undertake targeted Preliminary Market Engagement with the incumbent BOXER Fleet supplier ARTEC GmbH reflecting its role in relation to the BOXER platform, including its Design Authority, Original Equipment Manufacturer and existing support responsibilities.

For the purposes of this engagement, the Authority may also engage with ARTEC GmbH's relevant supply chain, contractors and other appropriately authorised supporting entities, where their involvement is relevant to the UK BOXER support arrangements and necessary to support the objectives of the PME (Including RBSL, KNDS and ARTEC BOXER UK). This may include direct correspondence, requests for information, meetings, workshops and other appropriate forms of engagement.

The involvement of any supporting organisation in this engagement does not determine or prejudge its role in any future contractual arrangement. The engagement will also be used to clarify the respective roles, responsibilities, relationships and interfaces between ARTEC GmbH and other relevant organisations within the existing and potential future BOXER support arrangements.

This notice is published to provide transparency to the wider market regarding the Authority's intended targeted engagement. Publication of this notice should not be interpreted as an invitation for wider market participation in this specific engagement.

Procurement approach

The Authority is continuing to develop and assure its procurement and commercial approach for BOXER IOS. The PME will be used to test and validate assumptions relating to potential support arrangements and to obtain information and evidence that may inform the Authority's future procurement approach.

The engagement will be led by the LIOS BOXER IOS Project Team and may include wider Authority stakeholders on a need-to-involve basis. The Authority will also engage with relevant internal stakeholders and existing contracting agents, where appropriate, to validate and contextualise information obtained through the PME against the Authority's knowledge of the existing BOXER fleet and associated contractual and support arrangements.

The Authority retains responsibility for determining its requirements and future procurement and commercial approach. Nothing in this PME should be interpreted as indicating that the Authority has determined or committed to a particular procurement route, contracting model or future supplier arrangement.

Participation in this engagement does not constitute a commitment by the Authority to pursue a particular procurement route or to award a contract to any participating organisation. Participation or non-participation in this PME will not, in itself, determine any organisation's eligibility for, or role in, any future procurement. Any future procurement and contract award will remain subject to applicable governance, assurance and approvals and the requirements of the Procurement Act 2023.

Contract duration

The Authority is currently considering potential contract durations as part of the development of its commercial and contracting approach.

Any contract dates and durations stated within this notice are indicative only and do not constitute a commitment by the Authority. They may be subject to change as the requirement and procurement approach develop. The Authority will update relevant published information where appropriate and where material changes are made to the anticipated duration.

Classification

Main procurement category: Services

CPV: 50630000 - Repair and maintenance services of military vehicles.