AWARDED CONTRACT: Project Black Opal

Contract summary

Industry

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

• Research services - 73110000

Location of contract

United Kingdom

Value of contract

£3,792,769.95

Procurement reference

710168450

Published date

19 February 2024

Closing date

22 January 2024

Closing time

5pm

Contract start date

12 February 2024

Contract end date

30 August 2024

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Call-off from a framework agreement

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

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Description

ARMY FUTURES DIRECTORATE - Project BLACK OPAL
Established to set the British Army's aiming mark and drive change, the Army Futures Directorate, is uniquely positioned as the Army's engine for research, experimentation, and innovation. Our purpose, to win in competition conflict, and create strategic advantage which out paces that of our adversaries.
The environment in which the Army operates continues to be ever more dynamic, complex, and rapidly evolving. Against a backdrop of societal and environmental change, adversaries are investing heavily in the application of emerging technologies which challenge our capabilities and threaten our national interests. The adoption of innovative commercial and military technologies, at the pace of relevance, is essential to achieve competitive advantage as the British Army adapts and transforms. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of those technologies.
BLACK OPAL will, through data exploitation and the use of AIs, enhance our insights, assessment, and measurement of effectiveness, in a single visualised version of the truth, whilst increasing tempo, and competitive advantage over our adversaries by;
1. Apply contemporary technologies and data exploitation to enable competitive advantage.
2. Cohere an SME ecosystem, which brings innovative commercial solutions into alignment with military application, and National Strategic Priorities.
3. Upskill service personnel to develop digital and data literacy levels, to drive the adoption of a quantifiable approach to solve the most complex adversarial threat challenges.
4. Demonstrate the strategic importance of data to the British Army, and how the application of machine intelligent processes can provide insight beyond the capability, or capacity of humans.
5. Demonstrate the British Army's Approach to AI in action, so that whole force can benefit from the outcomes.

BLACK OPAL will build a specialist team, to drive a human centric approach to the application of AI, using data driven decision making capability. BLACK OPAL will formalise a quantifiable and measurable approach to continuously addressing evolving adversarial threats, with novel solutions. It will do so in alignment with ambitious, safe, and responsible AI governance.

Please note the SOR and contract has been heavily redacted due to sensitive information

This contract was competed through G-Cloud 13 lot 2

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More information

Attachments

• 20240212_710168450-RM1557.13-G-Cloud-13-Call-Off-Contract-O REDACTED.pdf
• Contract draft
• Redacted G-Cloud 13 contract for Black Opal

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Award information

Awarded date

9 February 2024

Contract start date

12 February 2024

Contract end date

30 August 2024

Total value of contract

£3,792,769.95

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

Montvieux Limited

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About the buyer

Contact name

Katie Hunter

Address

Army HQ
Andover
SP11 8HJ
England

Email

ArmyComrcl-Innov-ARIEL-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk