--- title: "UAS Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) Framework Reopening #1" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-03c859" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03c859" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03c859.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03c859.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" published: "2023-05-12" --- # UAS Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) Framework Reopening #1 Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-03c859 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-03c859) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03c859.json) ## Summary The Ministry of Defence is seeking suppliers to join the UAS Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) Framework Reopening #1. This opportunity aims to accelerate the development of autonomous Heavy Lift UAS for maritime use. The contract value is £95,000,000 GBP with a duration of 1200 days. The tender period ends on 23rd June 2023, and the procurement method is selective with a restricted approach. This tender by the Ministry of Defence presents a lucrative opportunity for businesses involved in military research and technology, particularly those specializing in unmanned combat aerial vehicles and other related services. Suppliers who can enhance the Heavy Lift UAS market with cutting-edge technologies are encouraged to apply. The framework allows for collaborative development to meet the defined Minimum Viable Products and supports the acquisition of systems for evaluation or other maritime uses. ## Notice This Opportunity Listing is a chance to join the extant UASHLC Framework: The Uncrewed Air Systems Heavy Lift Capability (UASHLC) Framework (the Framework) has been created by the Authority to accelerate the development of a range of autonomous Heavy Lift UAS 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 operational uses for such Uncrewed systems. The Authority will facilitate accelerated development of one or more Supplier UAS to meet or exceed the requirements of Authority defined Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), along with complementary and underpinning technologies that will enhance UAS operational capabilities. 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 UASHLC Framework is therefore to support and inform the development of Maritime operating concepts and enable assessment, analysis, exploration and evaluation of the use of UAS for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) payload delivery and broader UAS capabilities. The Framework is designed specifically to: i) provide Sponsor / User confidence in the potential for UAS systems to provide recoverable, adaptable, Autonomous/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 requirements (the MVPs) within the timescales stated, iii) provide the Authority with a mechanism for end users to potentially acquire systems for further evaluation or other use. The framework is open to all Industry Partners who can articulate how their technology/capability can enhance the Heavy Lift UAS market, thereby not constraining the framework to only Platform providers, as underpinning and novel UAS related technologies and capabilities are also in scope. These underpinning and novel technologies and capabilities can encompass (but aren't restricted to) payloads, fuels, software, and Counter UAS technologies (ground or platform based). The first tasking within the framework will be based around two confirmed sprints as articulated below, with scope for an additional three sprints as the programme develops (Authority requirement and funding dependent). ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013609-2023 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Selective | | Procurement method details | Restricted | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 May 2023 | | Submission deadline | 23 Jun 2023 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £95,000,000 | | 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 | | 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 - 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 - 12 May 2023 at 13:03 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013609-2023 ## Notice URLs - https://www.contracts.mod.uk/go/4354643201880FFEAC95 ## 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-03c859. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-03c859.json.