Lifting Equipment Safety Management Systems (LESMS) Operators and Managers Course

The Royal Navy, part of the UK Ministry of Defence, intends to award a 5 year contract with a value of £128,600 to Imes International Ltd for the provision of training to Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) personnel in use of the Lifting Equipment Safety Management System (LESMS). In accordance with the provisions of The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 SI No. 2020/1319, this procurement falls to be regulated under the provisions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR 2015) as amended (in particular by SI 2020/1319). Prior publication of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union is no longer appropriate. It is considered that the award of the contract without prior publication of a contract notice in the UK e-notification service (in accordance with the relevant legislation) is lawful in accordance with regulation 32(2)(b)(ii) of the PCR 2015 because competition is absent for technical reasons. This is because IMES are the manufacturers of the LESMS and the only supplier with the technical knowledge and understanding to train the RFA in the effective use of the system. This training is crucial in the effective operation of the Lifting Equipment Safety Management System. There are no other suppliers who are able to produce and deliver the required training in the use of the LESMS as IMES do not allow any other company to provide this and failure to procure would jeopardize safe operation and maintenance of this system across all RFA vessels.