---
title: "TWiSTED Phases 2 & 3"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03c80b"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03c80b"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03c80b.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03c80b.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY"
published: "2023-05-11"
---

# TWiSTED Phases 2 & 3

Buyer: DEFENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03c80b

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## Summary

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), part of the UK Ministry of Defence, has completed an award stage for a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract with Xi Systems Limited for TWiSTED Phases 2 & 3. This contract, valued at up to £1,000,000.00 (EX VAT), involves enhancing operational equipment used in challenging scenarios. The contract aims to improve the power control mechanism through research and development services. Key dates: Contract awarded on 11th May 2023.

This tender, awarded through a negotiated procedure without prior publication, presents an opportunity for businesses in the military research and technology sector. Companies with expertise in developing innovative solutions for operational equipment in demanding environments are well-suited to compete. The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) serves as the contracting authority for this project, ensuring continued support and enhancement of the Phase 1 system through technical assistance, bug fixes, and software updates.

## Notice

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract valued at up to PS1,000,000.00 (EX VAT) with Xi Systems Limited ("the Contractor") to carry out additional research and development services and supplies on TWiSTED Phases 2 & 3, whereby the research requirement seeks to replace traditional magnetically operated changeover reed switches, often used as the main power control mechanism for a range of plastic enclosed operational equipment used in support to operations in challenging operational scenarios. Phase 1 successfully delivered a miniaturised solution in FY22/23. The Phase 2 & 3 research objective is focused on further enhancement to the capability by conducting research to increasing the operational range and upgrading the power handling capability of the switch. Subject to successful further development the Authority may procure a limited quantity of prototype systems. It is considered that this Contract can be placed using the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication of a contract notice pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(c) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for the provision of Research and Development services, to which these Regulations apply. Any prototype systems to be purchased under this contract are not pre-production prototypes, and are to be manufactured solely for the purposes of research and development and are not being purchased for quantity production to establish commercial viability or to recover research and development costs. This proposed new contract will enable the Authority to ensure continued access to research and development services which enable exploitation of the Phase 1 system, including support of the Phase 1 system so that it can be exploited through rapid response tasks (RRTs) delivered through Dstl. Research and Development services are forecast to include technical services to research and resolve bug fixes, app maintenance and software and firmware updates. Research and Development services shall further look into the operational capability and feasibility in the context of next generation capability to ensure continued improvement.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract valued at up to PS1,000,000.00 (EX VAT) with Xi Systems Limited ("the Contractor") to carry out additional research and development services and supplies on TWiSTED Phases 2 & 3, whereby the research requirement seeks to replace traditional magnetically operated changeover reed switches, often used as the main power control mechanism for a range of plastic enclosed operational equipment used in support to operations in challenging operational scenarios. Phase 1 successfully delivered a miniaturised solution in FY22/23. The Phase 2 & 3 research objective is focused on further enhancement to the capability by conducting research to increasing the operational range and upgrading the power handling capability of the switch. Subject to successful further development the Authority may procure a limited quantity of prototype systems. It is considered that this Contract can be placed using the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication of a contract notice pursuant to Regulation 16(1)(c) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011 for the provision of Research and Development services, to which these Regulations apply. Any prototype systems to be purchased under this contract are not pre-production prototypes, and are to be manufactured solely for the purposes of research and development and are not being purchased for quantity production to establish commercial viability or to recover research and development costs. This proposed new contract will enable the Authority to ensure continued access to research and development services which enable exploitation of the Phase 1 system, including support of the Phase 1 system so that it can be exploited through rapid response tasks (RRTs) delivered through Dstl. Research and Development services are forecast to include technical services to research and resolve bug fixes, app maintenance and software and firmware updates. Research and Development services shall further look into the operational capability and feasibility in the context of next generation capability to ensure continued improvement.

### Procurement Information

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), part of the UK Ministry of Defence intends to award a Single Source Non-Qualifying Defence Contract with Xi Systems Limited ("the Contractor"). It is considered that this Contract can be placed using the Negotiated Procedure Without Prior Publication of a contract notice pursuant to Article 28(1)(e) of Directive 2009/81/EC (Regulation 16(1)(c)) of the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011) for the provision of Research and Development services not excluded under the Regulation 7(1)(l) R&D Exclusion. Xi Systems Limited successfully participated and won in a previous competitive tender process for the development of a Phase 1 prototype device. Through the contract previously placed for Phase 1, Xi Systems Limited own the IPR for TWiSTED and this contract now seeks to further develop the technology.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013478-2023 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Negotiated without publication of a contract notice |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 11 May 2023 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 10 May 2023 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £1,000,000 |

## Status

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

## 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 | TLK South West (England) |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | XI SYSTEMS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73410000 - Military research and technology

## Release History

- 11 May 2023 at 13:52 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013478-2023

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-science-and-technology-laboratory

## 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-03c80b. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03c80b.json.