On 06 February 2024, two years behind schedule, Team Leidos on behalf of UK MoD issued the Supply of Combat Footwear Contract Notice.
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The Supply of Combat Footwear [extracts from]
Short description: Team Leidos are proud to be delivering the logistics commodities and services transformation (LCS(T)) Delivery partner contracts (LCS (T)/0001 dated 16.4.2015) on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence (the ‘Prime Contract’). Delivery of other parts of the LCS(T) contract are delivered by Leidos Europe Ltd (LEL) and other partners (together ‘Team Leidos’). This requirement is subject to the Public Procurement Regulations and respective advertising action.
The requirement is a complex one and the need to conduct a series of lengthy product testing phases during the tender process means that the overall length of the procurement is estimated to be approximately two and half years, from tender publication to contract award. This includes a full user trial which has been allocated a time period of one year.
This in turn means that prospective bidders will need to make a substantial up-front commitment into the manufacturing of samples required for the trial periods. It has been estimated that this could be within the region of £100,000.00 with, for example, the Full User Trial phase alone likely to require the following samples:
- Boots Combat, High Liability – 100 pairs of each solution
- Boots Combat, Patrol – 100 pairs of each solution
- Boots Desert Combat High Liability – 50 pairs of each solution
- Boots Combat Cold Wet Weather – 50 pairs of each solution
- Boots Combat Jungle – 50 pairs of each solution
In order not to deter new entrants to the market and in order to allow the prospect of those up-front costs to be recouped during the lifetime of the contract, it is felt, following extensive market engagement, that a longer contract term is needed.
A seven year framework would allow a five year period between contract award and beginning market engagement for the future contract; assuming that all proposed option periods are taken up.
Estimated total value – Value excluding VAT: £70,000,000
Description of the procurement: The Defence Clothing team, which forms part of Leidos Supply Ltd. is considering the potential requirement for the supply of Combat Boots on behalf of the UK MOD, consisting of multiple lots.
Jungle Boots – Lot No 1
Jungle Combat Boots: Primarily used for patrolling and combat use, although the boots may also be used for more general duties within camp and the office space. The main four categories of jungle are captured in Annex A.1a to ITB specification DCPS 6933. Unisex full sizes 3 to 15, 2 width fittings medium and large. (UK sizes).
Options/solutions for outsizes: Size 16 plus (UK sizes).
The framework length should not exceed 7 years.
The value of this framework is estimated to be between £1,387,000 – £3,470,000 (ex. option years)
Cold Wet Weather Boots – Lot No 2
Cold Wet Weather Boot: Primarily for use in cold/wet environments by Tri-Service personnel, captured in Annex A.1b to ITB specification DCPS 6934. Male full sizes 5 to 15, Female full sizes 3 to 9, 2 width fittings medium and large. (UK sizes).
Options/solutions for outsizes: Size 16 plus (UK sizes).
Spacers/footbed: To be provided per pair facilitating optimal fit.
The framework length should not exceed 7 years.
The value of this framework is estimated to be between £13,090,000 – £19,625,000.
Patrol Boots – Lot No 3
Patrol Boots: Typically worn in and around the barracks, the range and for driving, also public order training, captured in Annex A.1c to ITB specification DCPS 6935. Male full sizes 5 to 15, Female full sizes 3 to 9, 2 width fittings medium and large. (UK sizes).
Options/solutions for outsizes: Size 16 plus (UK sizes).
Spacers/footbed: To be provided per pair facilitating optimal fit.
The framework length should not exceed 7 years.
The value of this framework is estimated to be between £5,362,752 – £10,000,000
Desert High Liability Boots – Lot No 4
High Liability Desert Combat Boots: Issued to Tri-Service personnel this is the designated boot for dis-mounted high intensity close-combat tasks, captured in Annex A.1d to ITB specification DCPS 6936. Male full sizes 5 to 15, Female full sizes 3 to 9, 2 width fittings medium and large. (UK sizes).
Options/solutions for outsizes: Size 16 plus (UK sizes).
Spacers/footbed: To be provided per pair facilitating optimal fit.
The framework length should not exceed 7 years.
The value of this framework is estimated to be between £6,934,000 – £13,000,000.
High Liability Combat Boots – Lot No 5
High Liability Combat Boots: Issued to Tri-Service personnel, primarily for high intensity combat tasks, captured in Annex A.1e to ITB specification DCPS 6937 Male full sizes 5 to 15, Female full sizes 3 to 9, 2 width fittings medium and large. (UK sizes).
Options/solutions for outsizes: Size 16 plus (UK sizes).
Spacers/footbed: To be provided per pair facilitating optimal fit.
The framework length should not exceed 7 years.
The value of this framework is estimated to be between £37,152,000 – £51,100,000
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Administrative Information
- Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate: 21 March 2024
- Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates: 2 April 2024
- Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender: Duration in months: 21 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
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Editor’s Comment: The constantly shrinking total number of UK combat troops requiring footwear (which contrasts markedly with the ever-increasing number of UK MoD civilian staff) coupled with the requirement for potential suppliers to commit an estimated £100,000 up-front with no guaranteed prospect of success in all or any category, appears to be making some manufacturers of excellent quality combat boots think long and hard about whether the time and cost involvement in supplying footwear for British Forces is now worth it. Although it is stated in the documentation that “price is not the only award criterion”, it is our understanding that cost, not ‘fitness for task’, has the highest weighting (50%?) in the assessment criteria… which of course in a competitive tender process often equates to a lowering of quality and a subsequent race to the bottom.
By 2012 the best part of a decade of combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq led to the British Army, Royal Marines and RAF Regiment being issued a range of superb combat and patrol boots in alternative fits across the different categories, and although five years later it looked like there had been a minor hiccough with the decision on one of the replacement Lots, on the whole at the end of the last decade UK Forces still had combat boots that some other NATO Allies looked upon with envy; though most were quickly catching up.
Looking at things positively, by the time the next batch of UK combat boots eventually percolates down to the frontline troops, hopefully sometime in 2026, a little part of the UK defence procurement machine will have managed to keep itself in a job for an additional four or so years.
¤ Further reading:- Future Supply of UK MoD Combat Boots
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