Award

AWARDED CONTRACT: Project Black Opal

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

19 Feb 2024 at 13:43

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence has awarded a contract titled "Project Black Opal" to Montvieux Limited. This project, managed by the Army Futures Directorate, seeks to leverage artificial intelligence and data exploitation to enhance the British Army's capabilities and strategic advantage. The total contract value is £3,792,769.95 GBP. The procurement method used was selective, involving a call-off from a framework agreement. The tender period ended on 22nd January 2024, with the contract period running from 12th February 2024 to 30th August 2024. The procurement falls under the main procurement category of services in the IT and research sectors.

This awarded contract offers business opportunities for companies specializing in IT services, consulting, software development, and research. As the project focuses on leveraging AI and data analytics, businesses with expertise in these areas would be well-suited to compete. The Ministry of Defence, serving as the buyer, aims to work with SMEs and encourage collaboration between commercial solutions and military applications. The contract presents an opportunity for businesses to contribute to national strategic priorities and support the British Army in adapting to emerging technologies.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

AWARDED CONTRACT: Project Black Opal

Notice 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

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-6db9eb9c-012a-4ee2-8208-c61ea6ba37fb
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ad9b557f-d0c8-4add-9470-ec90636491bd
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

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

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,792,769 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£3,792,769 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Feb 20242 years ago
Submission Deadline
22 Jan 2024Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
9 Feb 20242 years ago
Contract Period
12 Feb 2024 - 30 Aug 2024 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
ANDOVER
Postcode
SP11 8HJ
Post Town
Salisbury
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ36 Central Hampshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Test Valley
Electoral Ward
Andover Millway
Westminster Constituency
North West Hampshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

MONTVIEUX

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-b5fd17-6db9eb9c-012a-4ee2-8208-c61ea6ba37fb-2024-02-19T13:43:54Z",
    "date": "2024-02-19T13:43:54Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-b5fd17-6db9eb9c-012a-4ee2-8208-c61ea6ba37fb",
    "language": "en",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "tender": {
        "id": "710168450",
        "title": "AWARDED CONTRACT: Project Black Opal",
        "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",
        "status": "complete",
        "classification": {
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "id": "72000000",
            "description": "IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support"
        },
        "additionalClassifications": [
            {
                "scheme": "CPV",
                "id": "73110000",
                "description": "Research services"
            }
        ],
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amount": 3792769.95,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "procurementMethod": "selective",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Call-off from a framework agreement",
        "tenderPeriod": {
            "endDate": "2024-01-22T17:00:00Z"
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
            "startDate": "2024-02-12T00:00:00Z",
            "endDate": "2024-08-30T23:59:59+01:00"
        },
        "suitability": {
            "sme": true,
            "vcse": false
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
    },
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-SRS-sid4gov.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/7U7AuvS7",
            "name": "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE",
                "scheme": "GB-SRS",
                "id": "sid4gov.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/7U7AuvS7"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Army HQ",
                "locality": "Andover",
                "postalCode": "SP11 8HJ",
                "countryName": "England"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "Katie Hunter",
                "email": "ArmyComrcl-Innov-ARIEL-Mailbox@mod.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ]
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-06444463",
            "name": "Montvieux Limited",
            "identifier": {
                "legalName": "Montvieux Limited",
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "06444463"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Great Barn by Avon Mill Street Tewkesbury Gloucestershire GL20 5SB United Kingdom"
            },
            "details": {
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ]
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-SRS-sid4gov.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/7U7AuvS7",
        "name": "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "ocds-b5fd17-6db9eb9c-012a-4ee2-8208-c61ea6ba37fb-1",
            "status": "active",
            "date": "2024-02-09T00:00:00Z",
            "datePublished": "2024-02-19T13:43:54Z",
            "value": {
                "amount": 3792769.95,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-06444463",
                    "name": "Montvieux Limited"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2024-02-12T00:00:00Z",
                "endDate": "2024-08-30T23:59:59+01:00"
            },
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "description": "Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder",
                    "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/ad9b557f-d0c8-4add-9470-ec90636491bd",
                    "datePublished": "2024-02-19T13:43:54Z",
                    "format": "text/html",
                    "language": "en"
                },
                {
                    "id": "2",
                    "documentType": "contractDraft",
                    "description": "Redacted G-Cloud 13 contract for Black Opal",
                    "url": "https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/7e804167-8100-4488-b2c2-6b0bf77fa9a0",
                    "format": "application/pdf"
                }
            ]
        }
    ]
}