--- title: "Heavy Lift Challenge" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02bff5" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02bff5" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bff5.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bff5.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2021-06-24" --- # Heavy Lift Challenge Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02bff5 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02bff5) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bff5.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence is currently conducting the Heavy Lift Challenge, aimed at advancing autonomous Heavy Lift Uncrewed Air Systems primarily for maritime applications. This procurement process, classified under research and development services, is active and is being undertaken via an open procedure. The tender will close on 26 July 2021, and contracts are expected to run until 22 August 2025, with a total budget of £20,000,000. All submissions must be made electronically, and the addressing region for delivery is the UK. This opportunity presents significant potential for businesses specialising in uncrewed aerial systems and related consultancy services. Companies can demonstrate current capabilities, outline product development strategies, and collaborate with the Ministry of Defence to expedite the development and deployment of innovative payload delivery solutions. Businesses that are adaptable, possess experience in maritime operations, or have a track record of delivering complex technological solutions will be well-positioned to compete effectively for this contract. ## Notice Heavy Lift Challenge 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. Risk Assessment Reference: 927478142 Cyber Risk Profile: Not Applicable ### Lot Information 20,000,000 Heavy Lift Challenge 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. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014466-2021 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | 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 | Not specified | | 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 | Active | | 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 - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ## Release History - 24 Jun 2021 at 21:45 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/014466-2021 ## Notice URLs - https://www.contracts.mod.uk/web/login.html - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence ## 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-h6vhtk-02bff5. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02bff5.json.