Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom

1. Title: Heavy Lift Challenge
2. Awarding Authority:
Ministry of Defence
#1261 Spruce 2B MOD Abbey Wood

Bristol
England
BS34 8JH
Contact: DE&S Future Capability Group
Email: leroy.howell101@mod.gov.uk
Phone:
URL:
3. Contract Type: Services
4. 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
5. CPV Codes:
72000000 – IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
31000000 – Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
34000000 – Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
73000000 – Research and development services and related consultancy services
48000000 – Software package and information systems
6. NUTS Codes: UKK11
7. Main Site or Location of Works, Main Place of Delivery or Main Place of Performance: Any region
8. Reference Attributed by the Awarding Authority:
tender_276399/972073
9. Estimated Value of Requirement: £1 to £20,000,000
10. Start Date: 14/09/2021
11. End Date: 13/09/2025
12. Closing Date: 26/07/2021
13. Other Information:
Additional Text

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