Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom

1. Title: UAS Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) Framework Re-opening #2
2. Awarding Authority:
Ministry of Defence
#1261 Spruce 2B, DE&S Abbey Wood, Filton

Bristol
England
BS34 8JH
Contact: Toby Love
Email: toby.Love103@mod.gov.uk
Phone:
URL:
3. Contract Type: NotSpecified
4. Description: This Opportunity Listing is a chance to join the extant UASHLC Framework:
The Uncrewed Air Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) Framework (the Framework) has been created by the Authority to accelerate the development of a range of autonomous Heavy Lift UAS 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 operational uses for such Uncrewed systems.
The Authority will facilitate accelerated development of one or more Supplier UAS to meet or exceed the requirements of Authority defined Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), along with complementary and underpinning technologies that will enhance UAS operational capabilities.
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 UASHLC Framework is therefore to support and inform the development of Maritime operating concepts and enable assessment, analysis, exploration and evaluation of the use of UAS for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) payload delivery and broader UAS capabilities.
The Framework is designed specifically to:
i) provide Sponsor / User confidence in the potential for UAS systems to provide recoverable, adaptable, Autonomous/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 requirements (the MVPs) within the timescales stated,
iii) provide the Authority with a mechanism for end users to potentially acquire systems for further evaluation or other use.
The framework is open to all Industry Partners who can articulate how their technology/capability can enhance the Heavy Lift UAS market, thereby not constraining the framework to only Platform providers, as underpinning and novel UAS related technologies and capabilities are also in scope. These underpinning and novel technologies and capabilities can encompass (but aren’t restricted to) payloads, fuels, software, and Counter UAS technologies (ground or platform based).
5. CPV Codes:
73410000 – Military research and technology
35613100 – Unmanned combat aerial vehicles
6. NUTS Codes: UKK11
7. Main Site or Location of Works, Main Place of Delivery or Main Place of Performance: South West
8. Reference Attributed by the Awarding Authority:
tender_446530/1373722
9. Estimated Value of Requirement: £1,225,000 to £95,000,000
10. Start Date: 19/08/2024
11. End Date: 31/08/2026
12. Closing Date: 12/08/2024
13. Other Information:
Additional Text

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