Planning

RFI - Future Maritime Combat System Interface Opportunities

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

25 Apr 2023 at 17:53

Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence has published a planning tender titled "RFI - Future Maritime Combat System Interface Opportunities" in the industry category of "Network interfaces". The tender aims to engage the supply chain in developing more agile and open combat systems. The engagement end date for this opportunity is set for 9th June 2023. The buying organisation is Ministry of Defence located at MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, England, with the contact person being Robert Stevens.

This procurement process presents an opportunity for businesses, particularly those involved in network interfaces and military electronic systems, to participate in shaping future maritime combat systems. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are highlighted as suitable for this opportunity. Vendors across all tiers of the supply chain are invited to identify Royal Naval/Maritime interfaces for third-party use and propose industry-recognised open standards to enhance the combat system's capabilities.

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Notice Title

RFI - Future Maritime Combat System Interface Opportunities

Notice Description

Request for Information - Future Maritime Combat System Interface Opportunities RFI published on the Defence Sourcing Portal through an Opportunity Listing available through the following link: https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=56171 RFI wording also included below: Modern Royal Navy Combat Systems are complex, involving the interaction of many systems, each of which generates, embodies and consumes highly specialised data. Historically, the interfaces between systems have been tightly constrained in order to meet reliability, safety and security requirements. The Royal Navy has declared its intention to move towards a more agile and open Combat System, exploiting to the maximum extent, data that currently resides within individual equipments or moves between member systems. This RFI represents a Combat System Design Authority led, joint endeavour by Maritime Combat Systems (MCS) and Innovation and Future Capability (IFC) teams within DE&S to engage with the supply chain. The Authority invites vendors across all tiers of the supply chain to identify existing Royal Naval/Maritime interfaces that would significantly benefit from being published for third party use from within the core Combat Management System (CMS) or individual Combat System equipments. The Authority would also like to understand, by way of appropriate supporting evidence, any additional industry recognised open standards (i.e OMG,NMEA) that vendors would wish to see the Authority embody in the current Shared Infrastructure or CMS products. If unable to identify specific interfaces, the Authority would like vendors to identify data that you believe should be exposed for use outside the system that owns it and the rationale for doing so. The Authority requires responses to be in tabular format, with (the minimum) columns highlighting the interface/data set, version, benefit to Authority, benefit to vendor. Please limit your response to no more than 10 interfaces or data sets that in your opinion provide the most enterprise opportunity. We request that you also include high level details of your company in the table, (key products/services, Point of Contact, whether you are an SME etc.) in order to support the Authority's review of responses. In the table, please describe the nature of the 'openness' that you seek, and the benefits (to both vendor and Authority), that making the interface 'open' will bring. Regarding data currently held privately within a member system, please describe the nature of this data (given that you will not necessarily have knowledge of the specific design of the owning system), and how you would exploit this data in order to deliver operational advantage for the Royal Navy. If known, please identify any restrictions, third party or otherwise, as well as potential challenges inherent to the data you are putting forward. RFI concluded in section 5, additional text. Additional information: RFI wording continued: The Authority requests no more than 8 pages, which includes any covering letter explaining your company and position with the market. Any data provided will be used primarily for early cost estimates, consideration of viable procurement routes and deepening the Authority's understanding of supply chain capacity and appetite to support the intended move towards a more agile and Open Combat System. Any information provided will be held in confidence and will not be disclosed to third parties. All of the information contained within this Request for Information (RFI) does not constitute, and should not be construed as, any commitment by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to proceed with any formal contract award for this activity. Please provide your response to the contact person listed within this RFI. Please refrain from supplying marketing or generic company information not relevant to the information sought in this RFI. The Authority may decide to contact you directly to clarify any points raised in your response. By providing a response to this RFI you consent to the Authority doing so.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-18bf6575-4fd1-4e8b-8ddf-109421e0b8b9
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/8d133827-6a14-43e5-b221-5598438f4b8e
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages

35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)


CPV Codes

30237110 - Network interfaces

35510000 - Warships

35511000 - Surface combatant

35511100 - Aircraft carriers

35511200 - Destroyers and frigates

35511300 - Corvettes and patrol boats

35511400 - Amphibious crafts and ships

35512400 - Unmanned underwater vehicles

35513000 - Mine warfare and auxiliary ships

35513100 - Mine hunter/minesweeper

35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles

35700000 - Military electronic systems

35710000 - Command, control, communication and computer systems

35712000 - Tactical command, control and communication systems

35722000 - Radar

35723000 - Air defence radar

35730000 - Electronic warfare systems and counter measures

38112100 - Global navigation and positioning systems (GPS or equivalent)

38115000 - Radar apparatus

38115100 - Radar surveillance equipment

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Apr 20232 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Jun 2023Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Robert Stevens
Contact Email
robert.stevens121@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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