Find a TenderClosed
Published 8 Jul 2024, 16:59 BST

Official UK procurement notice

UAS Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) Framework Reopening #2

Official notice

Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)

Framework agreementServicesRestricted
Framework ceiling (notional)£95,000,000framework ceiling, not attributable revenue
Submissions closed 12 Aug 2024

What is being bought

Published requirement 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).

CPV: Military research and technology · Other services · Unmanned combat aerial vehicles

How this framework works

From the published notice
Framework period
… – … (3 yrs 3 mo)
Framework value
£95,000,000

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
Conditions of participation2
  • Suitability

    Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender:

    1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once)
    • Browse to the eSourcing Portal
    • Click the “Click here to register” link
    • Accept the terms and conditions and click “continue”
    • Enter your correct business and user details
    • Note the username you chose and click “Save” when complete
    • You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure)
    1. Express an Interest in the tender
    • Login to the portal with the username/password
    • Click the "PQQs Open to All Suppliers" link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires open to any registered supplier)
    • Click on the relevant PQQ to access the content.
    • Click the “Express Interest” button in the “Actions” box on the left-hand side of the page.
    • This will move the PQQ into your “My PQQs” page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only)
    • Click on the PQQ code, you can now access any attachments by clicking the “Settings and Buyer Attachments” in the “Actions” box
    1. Responding to the tender
    • You can now choose to “Reply” or “Reject” (please give a reason if rejecting)
    • You can now use the ‘Messages’ function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification
    • Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ
    • There may be a mixture of online & offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available)

    If you require any furt…

  • Suitability

    Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender:

    1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once)
    • Browse to the eSourcing Portal
    • Click the “Click here to register” link
    • Accept the terms and conditions and click “continue”
    • Enter your correct business and user details
    • Note the username you chose and click “Save” when complete
    • You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure)
    1. Express an Interest in the tender
    • Login to the portal with the username/password
    • Click the "PQQs Open to All Suppliers" link. (These are Pre-Qualification Questionnaires open to any registered supplier)
    • Click on the relevant PQQ to access the content.
    • Click the “Express Interest” button in the “Actions” box on the left-hand side of the page.
    • This will move the PQQ into your “My PQQs” page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only)
    • Click on the PQQ code, you can now access any attachments by clicking the “Settings and Buyer Attachments” in the “Actions” box
    1. Responding to the tender
    • You can now choose to “Reply” or “Reject” (please give a reason if rejecting)
    • You can now use the ‘Messages’ function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification
    • Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the PQQ
    • There may be a mixture of online & offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available)

    If you require any furt…

What this means for your bid
  • “UAS Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) Framework Reopening #2” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, not a single contract.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record · publisher note attached
Procedure method
Restricted
Legal basis
CELEX · 32009L0081 Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 (Directive 2009/81/EC)
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Closed
Procurement threshold
Unspecified in notice
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Framework agreement
Who may use this agreement
Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
8 Jul 2024, 16:59 BST
Last source update
8 Jul 2024, 16:59 BST
FTS notice number
2024/S 000-020829
Classification (CPV)
Military research and technologyOther servicesUnmanned combat aerial vehicles
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-047bba Find a Tender

Publisher note: The Contracting Authority intends to use an e-Tendering system in this procurement exercise, please visit www.contracts.mod.uk for full details and to register your interest in this procurement.

How it was run

Official notice
Appointment period ends
12 Aug 2024, 17:00 BST
Submission channel
{"written"}
Accepted languages
en

Timeline

8 Jul 2024 → 12 Aug 2024 · 2 dates
  1. Notice published
    8 Jul 2024, 16:59 BST
  2. Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown
    12 Aug 2024, 17:00 BST

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

Ministry of Defence

Contracting authorityCentral GovernmentDefence MOD Abbey Wood South, 1261, Spruce 2B, Bristol, BS34 8JHContact name, email

Official documents & specifications

Official links; attachments are not copied

No document links were published on the notice.