Scope
Description
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Agence de l'innovation de défense (AID) are jointly launching a call for expressions of interest (EOI) aimed at identifying French Universities and Public Laboratories and British Universities who can address scientific questions raised in the field of 4D printing. The aim is to accelerate the use of intelligent 3D printed materials through design, manufacturing and modelling to provide intelligent or animated components for self-adaptive platforms. Despite the potential benefits of 4D printing, many challenges remain before it can be widely applied.
Commercial tool
Establishes an open framework
Total value (estimated)
- £1,300,000 excluding VAT
- £1,560,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029
- 3 years
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Framework
Open framework scheme end date (estimated)
31 March 2029
Maximum number of suppliers
Unlimited
Maximum percentage fee charged to suppliers
0%
Framework operation description
No business whatsoever is guaranteed under any resulting Framework Agreement or contract indeed there is no guarantee that any Framework Agreement or contract will be put in place in relation to this notice. No compensation etc will be paid if a tender or resulting Framework Agreement is withdrawn for any reason. Bidders should take part in this process only on the basis that they fully understand and accept this position.
Award method when using the framework
Without competition
Contracting authorities that may use the framework
Establishing party only
Submission
Submission type
Requests to participate
Deadline for requests to participate
24 October 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
The ITT will be published on https://contracts.mod.uk/ following receipt of EOI forms.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
1 April 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Type |
|---|---|
| TBC | Cost |
Weighting description
Award criteria will be published in the invitation to tender.
Other information
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
The Authority will use the response to the criteria in the EOI documention to create a shortlist of tenderers who:
(1) are eligible to participate;
(2) best meet the selection criteria set out in this notice and the EOI documentation.
An invitation to tender will then be published through the Defence Sourcing Portal, inviting eligible tenderers to participate that responded to the EOI.
Details of the negotiation and award criteria will be available in the tender documentation.
Justification for not publishing a preliminary market engagement notice
A notice has previously been published regarding this requirement - 2024/S 000-002086.
Documents
Associated tender documents
20250924_EOI_FUURI_Project _English_Version.pdf
Your reply to this EOI should be emailed to FUURI@dstl.gov.uk
Deadline for submissions is 24th October 2025 (at 12:00 GMT)
Contracting authority
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDDM-1961-MTLN
Porton Down
Salisbury
SP4 0JQ
United Kingdom
Email: FUURI@dstl.gov.uk
Region: UKK15 - Wiltshire CC
Organisation type: Public authority - central government