Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment. The requirement is for project Starter, a Category C project to procure a new Explosive Ordnance Disposal Remote Controlled Vehicle (EOD RCV) for use by the MoD on Contingent Operations. It is envisaged that Starter will be a medium to large RCV. The project successfully passed Initial Gate in Oct 2014 and is now in the Assessment Phase. The authority plan to meet the Starter requirement by purchasing a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) system with only minor modifications. The authority is running a competition during the Assessment phase to select the most suitable RCV to meet the requirement.

The endorsed Single Statement of User Need (SSUN) is: ‘The user requires a deployable, robust capability to enable the remote location, diagnosis and render safe of Explosive Ordnance on all deployed operations, at All Scales of Effort'. Starter is required to enable an EOD team to conduct remote explosive ordnance reconnaissance, manipulation and neutralisation. It is required to operate above ground, underground (in a limited role) or within buildings and may suffer temporary immersion in water during operation. It is required to operate with all current and expected in-service EOD weapons and ancillaries in order to enable the defeat of a wide range of current and expected future EOD targets and threats, including vehicle-borne Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The operator burden, both physical and cognitive, must allow operation by a single person without reliance upon a dedicated command and control vehicle, the EOD RCV will also be required to Fit into Existing Vehicles the intention is for Mastiff III and Pinzgauer however the Authority retains the right to amend the type of vehicles.

The criteria will be in accordance with the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) to fulfil the Starter requirement as efficiently as possible, through life costs including options will also be assessed as part of the award criteria. It is envisaged that the contract will be for 56 RCVs, with options for up to 30 additional RCVs at a later date, however the authority reserves the right to amend the quantity of RCVs. The authority intends to contract for an initial 2 years support service, with the option for further years support service in line with the out of service date (OSD) for Starter of 2027.

During the tender evaluation process there will be two elements: a paper based assessment and assessment phase trials.

The authority retains the right to amend Starter timelines. The following timelines are estimated:

Invitation to tender (ITT): Q4 2015

Assessment Phase Trials: Q2 2016

Contract awarded: Q3 2017

Starter equipment delivery date: 2018

Starter out of service date: 2027.