---
title: "Use of Synthetic Biology for the Manufacture of Advanced Energetic Materials"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-c41c09e3-74f5-4099-97d0-4101f61355ad"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-c41c09e3-74f5-4099-97d0-4101f61355ad"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c41c09e3-74f5-4099-97d0-4101f61355ad.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c41c09e3-74f5-4099-97d0-4101f61355ad.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY"
published: "2022-05-31"
---

# Use of Synthetic Biology for the Manufacture of Advanced Energetic Materials

Buyer: DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-c41c09e3-74f5-4099-97d0-4101f61355ad

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## Summary

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.

## Notice

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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/bfbd0336-b812-414c-880b-fc137dec65d8 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 31 May 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 22 Apr 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 25 May 2022 |
| Contract period | 25 May 2022 - 1 Oct 2024 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £914,704 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £914,704 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY |
| 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 31 May 2022 at 15:48 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/bfbd0336-b812-414c-880b-fc137dec65d8

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/bfbd0336-b812-414c-880b-fc137dec65d8
  31st May 2022 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/e072ab51-892f-45a3-9d31-06d3444d092d
  RCloud Tasking Order Form Part A
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/79656a72-8ce1-4452-bb07-5ea4b6742149
  RCloud Tasking Order form Part B (SoR)
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/ee4920cb-9c44-49f9-89a6-c6b7880a2d3d
  RCloud tasking Order Form Part C, Bidder's summary.

## Provenance

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