Heavy Lift Challenge

Contract summary

Industry

• Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting - 31000000

• Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation - 34000000

• Software package and information systems - 48000000

Show additional CPV codes for this notice

• IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support - 72000000

• Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73000000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£1 to £20,000,000

Procurement reference

tender_276399/972073

Published date

24 June 2021

Closing date

26 July 2021

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

14 September 2021

Contract end date

13 September 2025

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (above threshold)

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

---

Description

Heavy Lift Challenge (Contract Number: 701570378)

The Heavy Lift Challenge (HLC) Framework (the Framework) has been created by the Authority in order to accelerate the development of a range of autonomous Heavy Lift Uncrewed Air Systems for use predominantly, but not exclusively, in the maritime domain.

The intention is to address the lack of current options in the market by increasing the number of delivery ready platforms in order to help support and develop the Authority's understanding of the potential capabilities and uses for of such autonomous systems.

The Authority will facilitate accelerated development of a number of Supplier Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) to meet or exceed the requirements of an Authority defined Minimum Viable Product.

Our intent is to ensure that Defence will have access at the speed of relevance to current and future emerging cutting-edge capabilities for use within the Royal Navy and other domains.

The Authority will facilitate, via the use of this competitive framework, an environment whereby suppliers are able to demonstrate current capabilities, set out product development and commercial exploitation roadmaps and work with both the Authority and potentially with other suppliers to accelerate pace of development and reduce time to market.

The purpose of the HLC Framework is therefore to support and inform the development of Maritime operating concepts and enable assessment, analysis, exploration and evaluation of the use of un-crewed air systems (UAS) for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) payload delivery.

The Framework is designed specifically to:
i) provide Sponsor / User confidence in the potential for UAS systems to provide recoverable, adaptable, remotely piloted air systems, capable of accurately delivering heavy payloads at range;

ii) enable the Authority to identify and as appropriate fund the most viable solutions in the market for accelerated further development in order to meet the Authority's minimum requirement (the Minimum Viable Product or "MVP") within the times stated,

iii) provide the Authority with a mechanism for end users to potentially acquire for further evaluation or other use those solutions which demonstrably meet or exceed the MVP.

Cyber Risk Profile: Not Applicable
Cyber Risk Assessment Reference: 927478142

28th June 2021: Update #1: Please find below link to DSP (Defence Sourcing Portal - previously DCO) which provides the bidders with the ITT documentation and portal for ITT submission by the bidder.
https://www.contracts.mod.uk/web/login.html

Please also note a recorded presentation on the process of how to bid will be available on DSP on Wednesday 30th June 2021 followed by a virtual Industry Day on Thursday 8th July 2021.

---

About the buyer

Contact name

DE&S Future Capability Group

Address

#1261 Spruce 2B MOD Abbey Wood
Bristol
BS34 8JH
England

Email

leroy.howell101@mod.gov.uk