--- title: "The Rapid Innovation Cell (RIC) - UK MOD Open Architecture and Testing Approach for C-sUAS (Counter Drone) Systems" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-f88734e0-705e-4804-a1e4-a47ada962712" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-f88734e0-705e-4804-a1e4-a47ada962712" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-f88734e0-705e-4804-a1e4-a47ada962712.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-f88734e0-705e-4804-a1e4-a47ada962712.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, ISTAR, JOINT SENSOR AND ENGAGEMENT NETWORKS TEAM (JSENS)" published: "2020-08-27" --- # The Rapid Innovation Cell (RIC) - UK MOD Open Architecture and Testing Approach for C-sUAS (Counter Drone) Systems Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, ISTAR, JOINT SENSOR AND ENGAGEMENT NETWORKS TEAM (JSENS) Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-f88734e0-705e-4804-a1e4-a47ada962712 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-f88734e0-705e-4804-a1e4-a47ada962712) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-f88734e0-705e-4804-a1e4-a47ada962712.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence's ISTAR, Joint Sensor and Engagement Networks Team (JSENS) is conducting a tender titled "The Rapid Innovation Cell (RIC) - UK MOD Open Architecture and Testing Approach for C-sUAS (Counter Drone) Systems." This procurement falls within the services category, specifically focusing on sensor technologies, and is located in the South West of the United Kingdom. The tender was published on 27th August 2020, with bids due by 21st September 2020. The contract period is intended to commence on 21st September 2020 and run until 20th September 2021. This tender presents exciting growth opportunities for businesses involved in the development and provision of mature counter-drone systems, particularly those offering static, land-based integrated C-sUAS systems and passive RF detection sensors. Suppliers will benefit from participating in a structured testing cycle, which will assess their products' performance, potentially enhancing their visibility in the defence sector. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly encouraged to apply, as the tender is designed to foster innovation and competition within this vital industry. ## Notice The misuse of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) represents a significant and growing risk to operations and day-to-day Defence activity both in the UK and overseas. The Rapid Innovation Cell (RIC), endorsed by the Military Capability Board, has been established as part of the UAS Capability Development Centre (UASCDC) to test and evaluate (T&E) mature C-sUAS capabilities and generate a managed Defence database of available capabilities. Through a regular programme of T&E events, the RIC will establish the efficacy of commercially available capabilities. It will also increase broader awareness of the C-sUAS market and support a more agile method of delivering capability to the front line. To prevent capability gaps and ensure interoperability, it is intended that Defence C-sUAS systems will use the 'SAPIENT' open architecture. This will also ensure that our systems can evolve at the component level enabling the spiral development of capability. RIC Test Cycle #1 The RIC has established a series of Test Cycles. Each Test Cycle will focus on a particular subset of C-sUAS systems. Test Cycles will be scheduled for every six months, nominally in the autumn and spring of each year. Suppliers of mature C-sUAS products are invited to apply to have their product's performance assessed by the RIC. To apply you must complete the appropriate online questionnaire for your product. The product questionnaires will be available from 11:00am Monday 24th August, 2020, and responses must be fully completed and submitted by 11:00am Monday 21st September, 2020. Please complete a separate product questionnaire for each product that you wish to put forward for assessment. Test Cycle #1, will focus on two types of system: 1. static, land-based, integrated C-sUAS systems (consisting of a minimum two types of sensors and an RF jammer, integrated with C2) 2. static, land-based, passive RF detection sensors Your response to the product questionnaire will be carefully evaluated. Your product will be eligible for the next phase of testing (Factory Tests) if it meets our maturity requirements and is clearly within the scope of the two types of system described above. A full set of guidance and testing criteria are provided on the UK C-sUAS Defence Portal. Additional information: To view this notice, register as a supplier here: http://www.contracts.mod.uk/delta/signup.html?userType=supplier and search for the notice with reference 'UK-Bristol: Sensors.'. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/da7ec240-f7b0-4988-9198-7e69e291b207 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 27 Aug 2020 | | Submission deadline | 20 Sep 2020 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 20 Sep 2020 - 20 Sep 2021 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £2 | | 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, ISTAR, JOINT SENSOR AND ENGAGEMENT NETWORKS TEAM (JSENS) | | 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 ### Codes - 35125100 - Sensors ## Release History - 27 Aug 2020 at 09:00 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/da7ec240-f7b0-4988-9198-7e69e291b207 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/da7ec240-f7b0-4988-9198-7e69e291b207 27th August 2020 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder ## Notice URLs - http://www.contracts.mod.uk/delta/signup.html?userType=supplier ## 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-f88734e0-705e-4804-a1e4-a47ada962712. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-f88734e0-705e-4804-a1e4-a47ada962712.json.