Recorded Data Hardware and software services

Description

The Department for Transport & Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are publishing this PIN to engage with the market to understand the capacity, capability and experience of suppliers to provide hardware and software support services to and work alongside the AAIB’s specialist flight recorder staff. A significant part of an aircraft accident investigation involves the recovery and analysis of information contained in the aircraft flight recorders, (the "black" boxes) and the AAIB also recovers and analyses recorded information from a variety of additional airborne and ground-based sources. The AAIB is committed to a programme of continuous improvement in order to meet its statutory obligations. The concept of the need to maintain adequate flight recorder replay and analysis facilities has been recognised and is part of the AAIB Business Plan. The programme, which began in 1987, is necessary to meet advances in flight recorder and avionics technology caused, in the main, by the requirement to record ever more information on the behaviour and performance of modern public transport aircraft so that the causes and circumstances of an accident or serious incident may be determined quickly and cost effectively. Whilst a large part of the development is undertaken by specialist AAIB inspectors, some tasks, in particular the provision of some software and hardware expertise, is contracted out with the AAIB inspectors working alongside specialist independent suppliers. This contract is likely to run for a maximum period of 5 years including extension options (3+1+1). Lot 1: The aim of this PIN is to understand the current state of the market and engage with suitable suppliers who can deliver against the stipulated requirements. The supplier is expected to work in close collaboration with the AAIB’s specialist flight recorder staff and shall be expected to provide the following throughout the duration of the Recorded Data Hardware and Software Support Services Contract: • Specialist software assistance to maintain current software and to develop new software within the scope (further detail is provided in the attached Statement of Requirements) and as directed by the AAIB, • Hardware assistance to construct, adapt and maintain facilities to assist with recovery and analysis of data from data recorders within the scope and as directed by the AAIB. • To fulfil the statutory obligations of the AAIB, the supplier shall be expected to provide a rapid response to any requests and speedy assistance in solving specific problems that arise during the replay and data reduction of accident damaged recorders. Typically, a response and a plan for solutions to problems should be obtained within no more than 24 hours. Please note that this pre-market engagement is being undertaken using the DfT e-sourcing portal “Jaggaer” https://dft.app.jaggaer.com/web/login.html. Participants should register as a supplier on the portal using the aforementioned URL/link (if not already), then search for the opportunity titled using the Reference number stated below. If your organisation would like to take part in this pre-market engagement exercise it can do so by registering to our e-sourcing portal, expressing an interest in this opportunity and completing the questionnaire. Participation or non-participation in the pre-market engagement shall not prevent any supplier participating in a potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the pre-market engagement shall place any supplier at an advantage in a potential procurement process. Participation in this pre-market engagement will be at each organisation's own cost.