UK Ministry of Defence – Heavylift 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
two.1.5) Estimated total valueII.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £20,000,000
two.1.6) Information about lotsII.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
Tenders may be submitted for one lot only
two.2) DescriptionII.2) Description
two.2.1) TitleII.2.1) Title
20,000,000
Lot No
1 & 2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73000000 – Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performanceII.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK – United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurementII.2.4) Description of the procurement
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.
two.2.5) Award criteriaII.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing systemII.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
End
22 August 2025
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variantsII.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about optionsII.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union FundsII.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical informationSection III. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participationIII.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standingIII.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
three.1.3) Technical and professional abilityIII.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
Section four. ProcedureSection IV. Procedure
four.1) DescriptionIV.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedureIV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing systemIV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
Framework agreement with several operators
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative informationIV.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participateIV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
26 July 2021
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submittedIV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tenderIV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tendersIV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
26 July 2021
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary informationSection VI. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrenceVI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflowsVI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic payment will be used
six.4) Procedures for reviewVI.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review bodyVI.4.1) Review body
Ministry of Defence
Bristol
Country
United Kingdom
