R-Cloud Framework Renewal

Tender description

Other additional information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.The Authority reserves the right to amend any condition related to security of information to reflect any changes in national law or government policy. If any contract documents are accompanied by instructions on safeguarding classified information (e.g. a Security Aspects Letter), the Authority reserves the right to amend the terms of these instructions to reflect any changes in national law or government policy, whether in respect of the applicable protective marking scheme, specific protective markings given, the aspects to which any protective marking applies, or otherwise. The link below to the Gov.uk website provides information on the Government Security Classification. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-security-classifications Advertising Regime OJEU:- This contract opportunity is published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU),the MoD Defence Contracts Bulletin and www.contracts.mod.uk The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), which is part of the UK Ministry of Defence, wishes to renew it's commercial framework for Science and Technology (S&T) research contracts, known as R-Cloud (Research Cloud). Dstl places extensive fundamental, experimental and applied research with industry and academic suppliers and wants to broaden access for this supply base, reducing the cost of trading with Dstl and enabling agile contracting. R-Cloud complements Dstl's other contracting mechanisms and academic and industry suppliers of S&T research will be invited to pre-qualify onto it to join Dstl's research supplier community. The ownership of any intellectual property generated will remain with the suppliers. Although this requirement is exempt from the Procurement Regulations as it is for Research activities, Dstl is advertising and competing for new participants. For existing R-Cloud suppliers further information and guidance about this renewal process will be published on the R-Cloud portal https://rcloud.dstl.gov.uk/ . AS A RESULT OF DSTL BECOMING AN EXECUTIVE AGENCY OF THE MOD, ADDITIONAL INTERNAL GOVERNANCE & APPROVAL PROCESSES NEED TO BE COMPLIED WITH. THIS HAS IMPACTED ON THE REFRESH ACTIVITY AND AS A CONSEQUENCE THE CURRENT R-CLOUD FRAMEWORK HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO 28 FEBRUARY 2018. NO ACTION IS REQUIRED BY EITHER EXISTING SUPPLIERS OR THOSE SUPPLIERS WHO HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN REGISTERING. SHOULD SUPPLIERS WISH TO REGISTER FOR THE CURRENT FRAMEWORK THEY SHOULD DO SO VIA AN EMAIL TO dstlrcloud@dstl.gov.uk . This call relates to a series of R-Cloud frameworks covering eight Capability Areas as follows: • Command, Control, Communication & Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) • Chemi