Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name, addresses and contact point(s)
Specialist EOD&S, Exploitation and Countermeasures Team
DE&S, Abbey Wood, #8207 | Rowan 2C
Bristol
BS34 8JH
Contact
Danielle Mills
For the attention of
Mills Danielle
Email(s)
deslestsp-seec-commercial@mod.gov.uk
Telephone
+44 3001646473
Country
United Kingdom
Further information
Further information can be obtained from the above mentioned contact point(s)
one.2) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
one.3) Main activity
Defence
one.4) Contract award on behalf of other contracting authorities/entities
The contracting authority/entity is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities/entities:
No
Section two: Object
two.1) Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority/entity:
Application Development and Support
two.2) Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance
Services
Service category No 3: Defence services, military defence services and civil defence services
Main site or location of works, place of delivery or of performance
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
two.3) Information on framework agreement
The notice involves the establishment of a framework agreement: Yes
two.4) Short description of nature and scope of works or nature and quantity or value of supplies or services
The Specialist EOD, Exploitation and Counter Measures (SEEC) Delivery Team within Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) is preparing to initiate a competitive procurement for a contract for software development and support for the following:
- Development and continued availability of an application store.
- Development and delivery of multiple Android applications (apps) and integration onto the application store. Applications may be standalone or used to monitor information from in-service sensors and/or equipment.
- Integration of commercial off the shelf (COTS) applications onto the application store.
The suppliers will be required to support DE&S with rapid, insightful, and cost-effective decisions to ensure the sustainment of the UK defence operations.
Estimated value excluding VAT
£12,000,000
Lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.5) Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)
- 72231000 - Development of software for military applications
Additional CPV code(s)
- 72212000 - Programming services of application software
- 72212517 - IT software development services
- 72212983 - Development software development services
two.6) Scheduled date for start of award procedures and duration of the contract
Scheduled date for start of award procedures: 21 October 2024
Start date: 1 January 2026
Section six: Complementary information
six.1) Information about European Union funds
The contract is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
six.2) Additional information
1. Description
DE&S requires a contract for the development and continued availability of an application store and multiple apps (both bespoke and COTS). The number of bespoke apps is subject to change but is assumed to be around ~20 over the life of the contract. The applications are to be used by a small Military group only.
The core of the requirement, support and continued availability of a sub-set of apps and the application store, will be known at contract award. The supplier can use a DE&S defined interim application store solution until a bespoke solution is developed. The remainder of the requirement and deliverables shall be defined over the course of the contract to address emerging requirements and shall be contracted through a tasking procedure. This may include tasks such as the development and delivery of additional applications, procurement of hardware for the purpose of testing and maintaining software licences.
The classification of application development is up to and including OFFICIAL-SENSITIVE. However, some apps may require libraries up to an including SECRET UK EYES ONLY meaning that the supplier will be required to hold Facility Security Clearance.
2. Procurement Timescales & Contract Value.
The estimated value range of the Contract is £12M over a 7-year period with potential contract commencing January 2026.
3. Early Engagement and Market Intelligence
DE&S have an aim to identify the level of industry interest, gain feedback to further inform our requirement and understand what method industry deem most suitable for the delivery and running of this contract once awarded. A collaborative model is preferable. Please provide a brief of up to 1000 words answering the following to support DE&S with this procurement:
• Direction on the most suitable contract mechanism for delivery of the requirement detailed in section II.4 i.e. a multi supplier framework, a single prime contractor or other model with supporting explanation.
• An estimated cost for the following contract elements; development and maintainability of an application store and a bespoke Android application.
• Any licencing and/or other factors that must be considered when adding COTS software onto a bespoke platform.
• Any industry standards/processes that must be considered when developing bespoke software.
• Key risks, assumptions and dependencies DE&S should consider for this procurement.
• Any other information you believe DE&S should be aware of when preparing to initiate this contract.
Your brief should be addressed to deslestsp-seec-commercial@mod.gov.uk Please provide your brief no later than 1 July 2024.
This information shall not be used by the Authority to down select but shall help inform the development of the requirement and delivery route only. This is an opportunity for industry to help influence the procurement strategy, any feedback would be gratefully received. Any respondents will be kept updated on any future steps on this procurement.
4. Contract Notice and Pre-Qualification
Based on an estimated schedule, the Authority intends to publish a Contract Notice and initiate Supplier Selection in October 2024. Full details on how to express your interest in this requirement shall be published in the Contract Notice.
5. Further Information
You must not take this announcement to mean confirmation that MOD shall award a contract for this requirement. The MOD is publishing this announcement without any commitment to issue a tender or place a contract. Accordingly, any expenditure, work or effort undertaken before contract award is a matter solely for the commercial judgement of potential suppliers.