Award

Use of Synthetic Biology for the Manufacture of Advanced Energetic Materials

DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

31 May 2022 at 15:48

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) is conducting a tender process titled "Use of Synthetic Biology for the Manufacture of Advanced Energetic Materials." This initiative falls under the research and development services industry category and is aimed at addressing various defence challenges through innovative biology applications. Located in Porton Down, Salisbury, the procurement process is in the Award stage, with the contract value set at £914,704.75. The contract commenced on 26 May 2022 and is set to conclude on 1 October 2024. The procurement method utilised is selective, specifically a call-off from a framework agreement, with the tender period having ended on 22 April 2022.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses, particularly those involved in synthetic biology, chemistry, and advanced material manufacturing. Companies capable of innovating or enhancing energetic materials, such as explosives and propellants, may find this contract aligns well with their expertise. Firms focusing on environmentally friendly production methods or novel synthesis techniques will be especially well-suited to compete, as the project aims to explore alternative and emerging technologies to meet Defence and Homeland Security needs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Use of Synthetic Biology for the Manufacture of Advanced Energetic Materials

Notice Description

ITT via DSTL RCloud v.4 portal Synthetic biology aims to design and engineer novel biologically-based parts, devices and systems, as well as redesign existing natural biological systems for useful purposes. Dstl is interested in the use of Synthetic Biology to address a range of different defence challenges - one of these areas is how advances in synthetic biology can support the development of advanced energetic materials. The Advanced Energetic Materials project aims to accelerate the discovery and delivery of new explosives and energetic materials for future use by UK Defence and Homeland Security. With ever-increasing demands on energetics to meet tougher mission requirements, perform safely and have a lower environmental impact, the UK requires new materials that are able to meet these challenges. This high technical risk, low technology readiness level (TRL) research programme aims to harness new and under-exploited technologies for the purposes of identifying new energetic materials, as well as to find new synthesis pathways - both to those new energetic materials, and to existing ones for which significant barriers to production currently exist . As a critical, underpinning technology, new energetic materials (propellants, explosives and pyrotechnics) are required for a wide range of defence and security applications. Novel energetic molecules, for use in warhead (explosives) and propulsion (propellants) formulations, are the strategic focus for this very low technology readiness level (TRL) research. Energetic materials (or 'energetics') are metastable stores of chemical energy which can be rapidly released upon demand. Foremost amongst these are explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics, with additional examples including energetic additives in the form of binders, plasticisers or bonding agents. Dstl are keen to use the developments made in synthetic biology to assist in the development of new energetic materials or the improved manufacture of key existing materials. Synthetic Biology has the possibility to develop synthesis pathways that are either not possible through standard chemistry routes or have the ability to be simpler, cheaper and/or more environmentally friendly. Synthetic biology also has the potential to develop completely new materials that could not currently be made through traditional chemistry routes. The aim of this research stream is to address the need for new energetic materials and mitigate associated risks by exploring alternative and emerging technologies in the synthetic biology domain. In this way, the project aims to discover and deliver advanced energetic materials (and potentially valuable new precursors to known materials), and enable their production on-demand to meet tightly-defined production and performance criteria.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-c41c09e3-74f5-4099-97d0-4101f61355ad
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/bfbd0336-b812-414c-880b-fc137dec65d8
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£914,704 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£914,704 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
31 May 20223 years ago
Submission Deadline
22 Apr 2022Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
25 May 20223 years ago
Contract Period
25 May 2022 - 1 Oct 2024 2-3 years
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
DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SALISBURY
Postcode
SP4 0JQ
Post Town
Salisbury
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK72 Wiltshire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Wiltshire
Electoral Ward
Winterslow & Upper Bourne Valley
Westminster Constituency
Salisbury

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY

Further Information

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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