--- title: "Request For Information - UK RF Experimental Lab Capabilities" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-41a49267-1089-4135-bee2-2bf3af0f61ce" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-41a49267-1089-4135-bee2-2bf3af0f61ce" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-41a49267-1089-4135-bee2-2bf3af0f61ce.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-41a49267-1089-4135-bee2-2bf3af0f61ce.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2022-02-02" --- # Request For Information - UK RF Experimental Lab Capabilities Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-41a49267-1089-4135-bee2-2bf3af0f61ce [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-41a49267-1089-4135-bee2-2bf3af0f61ce) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-41a49267-1089-4135-bee2-2bf3af0f61ce.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Request For Information - UK RF Experimental Lab Capabilities." This initiative aims to explore the availability of Radio Frequency (RF) Experimental Laboratory capabilities within the United Kingdom, particularly for use in the Security and Counter Terrorism sectors. Key milestones include an engagement end date set for 18 March 2022. The procurement falls under the laboratory services category, and the specific location associated with this tender is Salisbury, England (postal code SP4 0JQ). This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses with existing RF laboratory capabilities, especially those in the scientific and technological sectors. Companies that can provide detailed information on their capabilities in maintaining a secure experimental environment, as well as those offering laboratory services, will be well-positioned to engage with the Ministry of Defence. Particularly, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary community social enterprises (VCSEs) may find this a valuable opportunity to expand their operations within a government context, while ensuring compliance with UK legislation on electromagnetic fields. ## Notice Dstl's Counter Terrorism and Security (CTS) Division (hereinafter referred to as the Authority), is investigating the availability of Radio Frequency (RF) Experimental Laboratory Capabilities within the United Kingdom. These RF facilities are critical to ensuring the Authority is able to deliver customer requirements in a safe and secure way by: 1) ensuring experiments can be conducted without impedance from outside signals; 2) protect the outside world from interference that may be caused by our experiments; 3) allow the Authority to conduct experiments in a manner compliant with UK legislation (Control of EM Fields at Work Regulations 2016, Wireless Telegraphy Regulations 2005); 4) provide a low passive intermodulation and low metal environment within the chamber; 5) provide a PC-controllable, high-resolution turntable within the chamber; 6) provide at least a 3 m x 3 m working area inside the chamber; 7) allow RF sensing measurements from 500 MHz to 100 GHz; 8) provide space, power and network connection outside the chamber for control computers, oscilloscopes and network analysers; 9) provide up to 5 work benches with soldering stations for preparing experiments; 10) be available within 1 weeks' notice and used for durations of between several days per week, to several weeks at a time; 11) allow experimentation with targets classified up to Secret; 12) allow unescorted access. The Authority is issuing this Request for Information to understand the capacity and capabilities of existing RF Experimental Lab Capabilities within the United Kingdom, across both Industry and Academia, in particular whether your capabilities/capacity meet some/all of the requirements set out above. The Authority is seeking responses from economic operators that cover/provide information on your capacity and capability in respect of the above requirements. Information you provide to us in response to this RFI, that is not already available to us from other sources, will be handled in-confidence. By submitting a response to this RFI you are giving us permission to keep and use the information for our internal purposes, and to provide the information onwards, in-confidence, within UK Government. We will not use or disclose the information for any other purpose, without first requesting permission to do so. This RFI is not a commitment to subsequently launch a formal procurement procedure thereafter. Additional information: Economic Operators are requested to note that the Authority is not seeking manufacturers or suppliers of RF Labs/Equipment. We are looking for responses from economic operators who already have pre-existing RF Laboratory capability (and potential spare capacity) in the UK. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/eee140c0-22e9-4a1a-9729-9833d31115e1 | | 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 | 2 Feb 2022 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 18 Mar 2022 | | 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 | SALISBURY | | Post town | Salisbury | | Postcode | SP4 0JQ | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire | | ITL 3 | TLK72 Wiltshire | | Local authority | Wiltshire | | Electoral ward | Winterslow & Upper Bourne Valley | | Westminster constituency | Salisbury | | Delivery location | TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 71900000 - Laboratory services - 73430000 - Test and evaluation ## Release History - 2 Feb 2022 at 13:53 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/eee140c0-22e9-4a1a-9729-9833d31115e1 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/eee140c0-22e9-4a1a-9729-9833d31115e1 2nd February 2022 - 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-b5fd17-41a49267-1089-4135-bee2-2bf3af0f61ce. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-41a49267-1089-4135-bee2-2bf3af0f61ce.json.