The support contract is a framework arrangement and activities likely to be delivered as part of this include design revisions, reverse engineering, interoperability studies and equipment trials.
In addition, the group will deliver through life technical support services such as obsolescence management, failure analysis, and defect management.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle said: “The spares and repairs that keep our warships and submarines at sea are critical, and this agreement will ensure that more British small businesses – from Southampton to Aberdeen – will be at the heart of supporting the Royal Navy.”
Gareth Dyer, Managing Director at Nova Systems International, said: “Having supported UK Defence for over a decade, we’re extremely pleased to extend this support to the MaST framework through the Encompass partnership.
“Nova has a long history of supporting and sustaining maritime warfighting capability across the AUKUS nations, and we look forward to working with the Royal Navy and the Encompass partner members to continue this tradition in the interests of the safety and security of the UK.”
Dr Simon Dakin, DG – Core at DE&S, said: “The MaST frameworks are a game-changer to spares procurement and in service support to Royal Navy warships and submarines. It brings the agility to respond to increasingly uncertain world events and meet a demanding operational schedule while driving value for money in our procurement approach to the goods and services that we just need to deliver repeatably, cost effectively and well.”
The nine Encompass members are: Nova Systems, Co-at Marine, Delkia, Drumgrange, Element Digital Engineering, Fleetwind, Innovation and Design Engineering, and RED Scientific.
The group will provide a wide range of high-quality capabilities to the Surface Fleet, delivering digitally enabled, innovative and novel solutions through their R&D programmes and trusted partnerships with academia. Encompass are part of 39 different companies who have a place on the framework.
Kevin Watkins, Nova Systems’ Programme Manager, Capability Services Programme, added: “This award for Nova, as part of the Encompass partnership, is a demonstration of trust and vision from the MOD that SMEs can deliver excellence to the Front Line. With a proven international track record of delivery, Nova is excited to bring the skills and expertise to support the Royal Navy over the coming years and becoming a key part of the Defence ecosystem.”