Future opportunity

Metal Additive Manufacturing as a Service Challenge

  • Ministry of Defence - UK Strategic Command

F01: Prior information notice (prior information only)

Notice reference: 2022/S 000-009600

Published 11 April 2022, 11:56am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

Ministry of Defence - UK Strategic Command

Bristol

Email

Mark.Bartlett105@mod.gov.uk

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UK - United Kingdom

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=53830

one.2) Information about joint procurement

The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body

one.3) Communication

Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address

Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at

https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=53830

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Ministry or any other national or federal authority

one.5) Main activity

Defence


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Metal Additive Manufacturing as a Service Challenge

Reference number

703280451

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73421000 - Development of security equipment

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The Authority seeks to establish a Buy and Try at Scale Operational (BATSO) Framework Agreement. The Framework will provide funding to accelerate the maturity of Metallic Additive Manufacturing (AdM) technologies to better exploit the technology within the end-to-end support chain, deliver a more agile response to demand for parts, and begin to generate the inherent efficiencies that this technology promises within an MOD.

two.1.5) Estimated total value

Value excluding VAT: £5,000,000

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.2) Description

two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)

  • 35421100 - Engines and engine parts for military vehicles
  • 35422000 - Electronic and electrical spare parts for military vehicles
  • 35611400 - Military transport aircrafts
  • 35612300 - Support helicopters
  • 35612400 - Military transport helicopters
  • 35631100 - Communication satellites
  • 35631300 - Navigation satellites
  • 35642000 - Electronic and electrical spare parts for military aerospace equipment
  • 35811300 - Military uniforms
  • 35813100 - Helmet covers
  • 50111110 - Vehicle-fleet-support services
  • 50610000 - Repair and maintenance services of security equipment
  • 50620000 - Repair and maintenance services of firearms and ammunition
  • 50630000 - Repair and maintenance services of military vehicles
  • 50640000 - Repair and maintenance services of warships
  • 50650000 - Repair and maintenance services of military aircrafts, missiles and spacecrafts
  • 50660000 - Repair and maintenance services of military electronic systems
  • 73410000 - Military research and technology
  • 73422000 - Development of firearms and ammunition
  • 73423000 - Development of military vehicles
  • 73424000 - Development of warships
  • 73425000 - Development of military aircrafts, missiles and spacecrafts
  • 73426000 - Development of military electronic systems
  • 73431000 - Test and evaluation of security equipment
  • 73432000 - Test and evaluation of firearms and ammunition
  • 73433000 - Test and evaluation of military vehicles
  • 73434000 - Test and evaluation of warships
  • 73435000 - Test and evaluation of military aircrafts, missiles and spacecrafts
  • 73436000 - Test and evaluation of military electronic systems
  • 75221000 - Military defence services
  • 98362100 - Marine-base support services

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UK - United Kingdom

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The Authority’s potential procurement intends to select Suppliers to:

• Produce certified metallic parts for the Defence Inventory, for which the print files are transmissible over the Defence infrastructure;

• Collect and share learning with The Authority and collaborative MOD/ industry working groups regarding the process to fit the parts onto In-Service platform/ equipments (conducted under extant support contracts with The Authority);

• Facilitate collaborative working to generate the underlying processes that will enable rapid scaling across further ranges of inventory;

• Achieve Industry, DE&S and FLC engagement, increased interest and commitment regarding the use of Additive Manufacturing within the UK Defence Supply Chain.

Following on from the initial task to produce a non-safety critical metallic NSN, a series of further spirals are envisaged that will seek to incrementally address increasing degrees of complexity as set out below:

• Spiral 2 - a safety critical metallic NSN, produced in the Industrial base, certified by the producer

• Spiral 3 - a non-safety critical metallic (or polymer) NSN, produced in a location remote from the Industrial base, certified by the producer

• Spiral 4a - a safety critical metallic (or polymer) NSN, produced in a location remote from the industrial base, certified by the producer

• Spiral 4b - a non-safety critical metallic (or polymer) NSN, produced in a location remote from the Industrial base, certified by the producer and where access to Design Rights is required

two.2.14) Additional information

Industry Day

The Authority intends to hold a virtual Engagement Event, on 27 April 2022. The Authority will take 30-60 minutes outlining the background to the task and expectations, providing a further 30 minutes for clarification questions. Please submit clarification questions, via the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP): https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=53830

two.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice

31 May 2022


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes