--- title: "Heavy Lift Challenge" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-39a062eb-c2af-4748-8d1f-bea291d04217" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-39a062eb-c2af-4748-8d1f-bea291d04217" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-39a062eb-c2af-4748-8d1f-bea291d04217.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-39a062eb-c2af-4748-8d1f-bea291d04217.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2021-06-24" --- # Heavy Lift Challenge Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-39a062eb-c2af-4748-8d1f-bea291d04217 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-39a062eb-c2af-4748-8d1f-bea291d04217) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-39a062eb-c2af-4748-8d1f-bea291d04217.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence is inviting tenders for the "Heavy Lift Challenge," a procurement initiative aimed at accelerating the development of autonomous Heavy Lift Uncrewed Air Systems for maritime and other applications. This project falls under the category of electrical machinery, with an estimated value of £20 million and an open procurement method. Tenders must be submitted by 26th July 2021, before contract performance begins on 14th September 2021, lasting until 13th September 2025. The tender aims to increase market options for delivery-ready platforms to support the Royal Navy and facilitate product development. This tender presents a significant opportunity for businesses in the sectors of transportation equipment, IT services, and research and development. Companies specialising in autonomous systems, air transport solutions, or relevant software development would be particularly well-suited to compete. Small and medium-sized enterprises are encouraged to participate, as the procurement framework is designed to foster collaboration and innovation, ultimately enhancing the capabilities for beyond visual line of sight payload delivery in maritime contexts. ## Notice Heavy Lift Challenge (Contract Number: 701570378) The Heavy Lift Challenge (HLC) Framework (the Framework) has been created by the Authority in order to accelerate the development of a range of autonomous Heavy Lift Uncrewed Air Systems 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 uses for of such autonomous systems. The Authority will facilitate accelerated development of a number of Supplier Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) to meet or exceed the requirements of an Authority defined Minimum Viable Product. 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 HLC Framework is therefore to support and inform the development of Maritime operating concepts and enable assessment, analysis, exploration and evaluation of the use of un-crewed air systems (UAS) for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) payload delivery. The Framework is designed specifically to: i) provide Sponsor / User confidence in the potential for UAS systems to provide recoverable, adaptable, 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 requirement (the Minimum Viable Product or "MVP") within the times stated, iii) provide the Authority with a mechanism for end users to potentially acquire for further evaluation or other use those solutions which demonstrably meet or exceed the MVP. Cyber Risk Profile: Not Applicable Cyber Risk Assessment Reference: 927478142 ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a0648a01-227a-4280-90f7-8f4c988f73fb | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure (above threshold) | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 24 Jun 2021 | | Submission deadline | 26 Jul 2021 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 13 Sep 2021 - 13 Sep 2025 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £20,000,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE | | Locality | BRISTOL | | Post town | Bristol | | Postcode | BS34 8JH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England | | ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire | | Local authority | South Gloucestershire | | Electoral ward | Stoke Park & Cheswick | | Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting - 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation - 48 - Software package and information systems - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 31000000 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting - 34000000 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation - 48000000 - Software package and information systems - 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 24 Jun 2021 at 16:00 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a0648a01-227a-4280-90f7-8f4c988f73fb ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a0648a01-227a-4280-90f7-8f4c988f73fb 24th June 2021 - Opportunity 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-b5fd17-39a062eb-c2af-4748-8d1f-bea291d04217. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-39a062eb-c2af-4748-8d1f-bea291d04217.json.