Aerial Dispersant Spray (ADS) Service

Further to a Prior Information Notice (PIN) reference: 2023/S 000-007002 issued on the 10th of March 2023, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) (the Authority) is undertaking this procurement to appoint a suitably capable and experienced provider to deliver the Authority's Aerial Dispersant Spray Service following the expiry of the current contract. The purpose of the procurement is to contract for an aviation service for the application of oil spill dispersant that best meets the MCA's statutory obligations with respect to responding to and mitigating the impacts of marine oil spills. This will include aviation assets capable of carrying and applying large quantities of dispersant to an oil slick within a rapid timeframe to anywhere within the United Kingdom's (UK) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and to be able to sustain such an operation over an extended period of time. The solution to be procured must be compliant with both aviation regulatory environments, environmental regulations and industry best practice for aerial dispersant operations. The procurement will be operated in line with the Competitive Procedure with Negotiation under the Public Contracts Regulation 2015 (Regulations) and will use an output-based specification, supported by detailed scenarios and conversations with industry to inform a market-tailored solution, ensuring the most appropriate assets are provided and situated at the most suitable location(s) in the UK to meet the MCA's commitments. Furthermore, the procurement will include specific provisions to address training and innovation needs, dispersant logistics for an initial load and operational resilience and capability that will deliver a service that is an improvement on the current provision. This procurement will also take the opportunity to utilise a contract which aligns with the current best practice for public procurement.