Continuation of satellite airtime service to BFMC Cutters and CPVs

Descriptions

Each cutter's GMDSS suite is dependent on subscription-based satellite airtime to function. The currently installed equipment is fully integrated into the vessels' systems and operates exclusively on the Inmarsat network, for which NSSL Global is the current and original supplier.

These systems were installed during vessel construction under a Crown Commercial Service (CCS) contract previously held by HMRC and subsequently novated to the Home Office. The same standardised systems and supplier (NSSL Global) were used when the Cutter Patrol Vessels (CPVs) were later procured. As a result, NSSL Global remains the only provider capable of ensuring continued, uninterrupted service on the existing Inmarsat-based GMDSS equipment across the MARDIR fleet.

While MARDIR intends to run an open competition to establish a new three-year airtime contract, a gap in service during this transition would render vessels non-compliant with international maritime regulations and unable to deploy, directly impacting Border Force maritime operations and Government priorities.

Given the critical nature of the GMDSS capability and the technical constraint that airtime can only be provided by an authorised Inmarsat agent, a direct award to NSSL Global until 31 March 2026 is essential to:

• Maintain legal compliance with SOLAS GMDSS carriage requirements;

• Ensure the safety and operability of the cutter and CPV fleets;

• Avoid operational disruption during the period required to run a compliant procurement.

This direct award is therefore justified on the grounds of extreme urgency and technical compatibility, where changing suppliers in the interim would result in unacceptable safety, compliance, and operational risks.