The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded a significant contract valued at £30 million to IBM for the delivery, integration, and initial in-service support of the Air Command and Control (Air C2) system, known as “GUARDIAN.”
The contract covers the system’s deployment for both the UK and the Falkland Islands, with the first year dedicated to achieving full operational capability (FOC) and two additional years for in-service support.
GUARDIAN plays a crucial role in UK air defence by providing command and control capabilities essential for safeguarding UK and Falkland Islands’ airspace.
The system is designed to enhance coordination and response times, particularly in high-threat environments. IBM’s existing position as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the system was a key factor in awarding the contract directly to the company, citing technical reasons and ensuring that there were no compatibility or safety concerns.
According to the MOD, competition for this contract was not viable due to IBM’s specific expertise in the system. Once the system reaches its FOC, the MOD plans to revisit its contracting strategy to explore the possibility of opening future support contracts for competitive bids, allowing other companies to participate in maintaining and supporting the GUARDIAN system.
The contract is regulated under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011, amended post-Brexit, allowing the MOD to bypass the need for prior publication of a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.
