--- title: "Universal Heavy-lift UAV Carriage System" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-1db3438f-2a14-4e9a-8426-27a58ef4bd22" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1db3438f-2a14-4e9a-8426-27a58ef4bd22" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1db3438f-2a14-4e9a-8426-27a58ef4bd22.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1db3438f-2a14-4e9a-8426-27a58ef4bd22.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2024-02-21" --- # Universal Heavy-lift UAV Carriage System Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-1db3438f-2a14-4e9a-8426-27a58ef4bd22 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1db3438f-2a14-4e9a-8426-27a58ef4bd22) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1db3438f-2a14-4e9a-8426-27a58ef4bd22.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence is planning a tender for a Universal Heavy-lift UAV Carriage System in the military defence services category. The engagement end date for this planning stage is set for 15th March 2024. The system must have a combined carriage capacity of 150-200kg and be easily attachable and detachable by ground personnel for swift delivery of payloads. The procurement process is currently in the planning stage, and interested parties are encouraged to express their interest for potential participation. This tender by the Ministry of Defence presents an opportunity for businesses involved in developing universal carriage systems for Heavy-lift UAVs. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprise organizations (VCSEs) would be well-suited to participate. The desired system must be capable of carrying logistic, equipment support, and medical items to be used primarily in land and littoral domains. Businesses with experience in UAV technologies and military equipment development are likely to find this tender relevant and beneficial for their growth. ## Notice We desire a universal carriage system for Heavy-lift UAVs that is platform agnostic. We aim to: Draw on the knowledge and experience of industry to develop and optimize such a system; Inform its emerging doctrinal applications; and better understand the balance of both systemic and situational risk factors associated with its use. To date, experimentation and development of UAV carriage-of-equipment has largely been focused on individual UAV platforms and the attachment of various items direct to the platform. However, this has generally required the UAV to land; has proven to be relatively slow in reconfiguration; and has required various additional safety restrictions to ensure personnel interacting with the system are at ALARP risk. Direct attachment of unproven loads may also compromise the in-flight stability/agility of the UAV. Initial requirements for the desired universal carriage system: - Optimized for combined carriage capacity of 150-200kg. - Easily configured to carry a selection of Logistic, Equipment Support and Medical items (e.g. water, ammunition, food, batteries, fuel, medical supplies etc.) and usable in multiple domains (primarily Land and Littoral) for the sub-unit resupply and recovery of these items. - Capable of rapid reconfiguration to evacuate casualties in emergency circumstances, while mitigating as many risks to those individuals as possible. To note, while the system is not intended for use as a casualty extraction method, there is an expectation that ground forces may want to use it for this purpose in extremis. - Fast and safe interaction with the UAV - The carriage system must be easily attachable and detachable by ground personnel for the swift delivery or recovery of different payloads. This should also enable the interchange of multiple carriage systems if located at different points in the battlespace. The attachment point must be robust to mitigate the risk of unintended detachment, ideally with a secondary lock as an additional safety measure. The system should be attachable and detachable both when the UAV hovers above or if it is on the ground. It is intended that the Authority will hold a supplier day in the near future. Additional information: Please register your expression of interest in solving this problem by emailing Maj G Harvey (graham.harvey618@mod.gov.uk) with your desired contact details and a very brief summary of your experience and interest on this subject. At the closing date of this Open Early Engagement, details of a supplier day will be shared using these contact details to provide all interested parties with the opportunity to ask questions and discuss in more detail. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/18a7e05e-9772-4f30-ad1b-9da9e842f5c9 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 21 Feb 2024 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 15 Mar 2024 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | West London | | Postcode | W12 7RZ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI33 Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham | | Local authority | Hammersmith and Fulham | | Electoral ward | College Park & Old Oak | | Westminster constituency | Ealing Central and Acton | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 75 - Administration, defence and social security services ### Codes - 75221000 - Military defence services ## Release History - 21 Feb 2024 at 11:35 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/18a7e05e-9772-4f30-ad1b-9da9e842f5c9 - 21 Feb 2024 at 09:18 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3539c5ae-cad5-4b65-9f10-f5a8351f5232 - 16 Feb 2024 at 10:00 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/306c0758-20b0-44a3-9b94-0958353543f3 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/18a7e05e-9772-4f30-ad1b-9da9e842f5c9 21st February 2024 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/3539c5ae-cad5-4b65-9f10-f5a8351f5232 21st February 2024 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/306c0758-20b0-44a3-9b94-0958353543f3 16th February 2024 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1db3438f-2a14-4e9a-8426-27a58ef4bd22. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1db3438f-2a14-4e9a-8426-27a58ef4bd22.json.