--- title: "Long Reach UAV - RFI" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-c8e7b54d-e495-4721-af2d-4974ce5e209a" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-c8e7b54d-e495-4721-af2d-4974ce5e209a" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c8e7b54d-e495-4721-af2d-4974ce5e209a.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c8e7b54d-e495-4721-af2d-4974ce5e209a.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2022-07-06" --- # Long Reach UAV - RFI Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-c8e7b54d-e495-4721-af2d-4974ce5e209a [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-c8e7b54d-e495-4721-af2d-4974ce5e209a) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c8e7b54d-e495-4721-af2d-4974ce5e209a.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence is initiating a Request for Information (RFI) titled "Long Reach UAV - RFI," aimed at assessing available technologies for a long-range Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). This procurement is in the Planning stage, with a crucial engagement deadline set for 12th July 2022. The project is classified under the CPV code for "Unmanned combat aerial vehicles" and relates to military research and technology, with delivery expected in the South West region of England, specifically Bristol (BS34 8JH). This RFI presents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in UAV technology, particularly those with capabilities to develop long-range systems with a minimum payload of 50kg and operational ranges of at least 300 nautical miles. Companies that possess expertise in autonomous flight systems, secure communication protocols, and precision payload delivery mechanisms will find this opportunity particularly relevant. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to engage, as they may provide innovative solutions to meet the specified operational requirements. ## Notice Long reach Inter-theatre lift UAV - Request for information (RFI) A potential capability gap has been identified within Defence for a long-range Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). Consequently the Authority is seeking to engage with industry to establish what technologies are currently available in the market to potentially fulfil this requirement. The purpose of this RFI is to gather information about current market offerings for the provision of long reach, inter-theatre lift UAV, capable of carrying a minimum 50kg payload over a range of at least 300 nautical miles with as a minimum, a waypoint-based level of Autonomy. The aircraft must be able to fly First Person View [FPV] with a minimum 50km LOS comms & AES 256 encryption and with an assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) data source. The platform would also require the ability deliver a payload whilst in flight mode. If your company would be interested in potentially bidding for this requirement, please provide responses to the following questions: 1. What is the aircraft's maximum payload weight? 2. What is the aircraft's maximum range (in distance) without refuelling/recharging? 3. What type of autonomy is incorporated into your system? (E.g., Waypoint based/Task based). 4. Is the aircraft able to fly in GPS denied environments? (E.g., ability to fly FPV / using SLAM or similar capability via waypoints). 5. What type of command-and-control functionality does the system operate? (E.g., 50km LOS comms & AES 256 encryption / 100km LOS, plus SATCOM). 6. What is the in-flight payload delivery mechanism? (E.g., basic flight drop / ability to safely release and delivery a payload such as via parachute or similar) 7. What is the Payload Delivery Accuracy from altitude of c120m? [E.g., Within circle of 50m diameter / Within circle of 25m diameter 8. Does the aircraft have an assured PNT data source? 9. What type of fuel/energy does you aircraft use? 10. Does the system have collision avoidance capabilities? If so, what are they? (E.g., Organic (to platform) Sense to Avoid capability / integration capability into recognised air picture) 11. What Categorisation / clearances, if any, does your aircraft have? (E.g., CAA / EASA / national civil clearances / UK / NATO country military categorisations in place / in process) Please note that this is a Request For Information only and is not a request to submit tenders and nor is there any guarantee that tenders will be invited for this requirement. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4a2ef716-87fa-4172-ad6a-8697c854a83e | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 6 Jul 2022 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 12 Jul 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 | 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 | TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 35613100 - Unmanned combat aerial vehicles - 73410000 - Military research and technology ## Release History - 6 Jul 2022 at 09:56 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4a2ef716-87fa-4172-ad6a-8697c854a83e - 24 Jun 2022 at 14:58 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/26614394-0a3c-442d-822c-8b8863ea517d ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4a2ef716-87fa-4172-ad6a-8697c854a83e 6th July 2022 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/26614394-0a3c-442d-822c-8b8863ea517d 24th June 2022 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=54295 Link to PIN - https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=54317 Link to PIN ## 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-c8e7b54d-e495-4721-af2d-4974ce5e209a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c8e7b54d-e495-4721-af2d-4974ce5e209a.json.