701551801 - Provision of Exploitation of Tactical Data Links within Land Information Manoeuvre

Tender description

Summary of the work Army HQ require a team with specialist knowledge of the implementation of Tactical Data Links to transform/augment and harmonise their future TDL investment. The Cyber Risk Assessment is RAR-145520556 (Very Low) Statement of Requirement can be obtained from pauline.hewish662@mod.gov.uk Split of weightings: Essential-40% Nice-to-Have-10% Written Proposal-15% Cultural-5% Social Value-10% Price-20% Expected Contract Length Outcome to be delivered by end January 2023 Latest start date Monday 16 May 2022 Why the Work is Being Done An initial phase 1 study commissioned in 2021 identified the key issues involved in introducing TDL-based capabilities into the Land domain. Further technical clarity is required for those areas already highlighted to inform future decision-making, and to add context and detail to the recommendations made or those already taken. TDLs such as Link 16 support the near real-time exchange of information relating to the Battlespace Management (BM), Situational Awarenesss (SA) and Command & Control (C2) functions. The next phase needs to focus on specific technical aspects of the introduction of such TDLs whilst remaining cognisant of the LETacCIS, MORPHEUS and TRINITY sub-programmes and their sub-ordinate projects (such as NIOBE, BEARERS and DSA) along with the capabilities defined within the Land ISTAR programme Problem to Be Solved The Land Domain users recognise the importance of TDLs as a key enabler of the future coherent battlespace. In seeking to establish a pathway from stove-piped, legacy Tactical Communication System for the Land Domain such as BOWMAN and LEAPP, Army HQ is seeking to transform, augment and harmonise their TDL investment. With new Land Domain capabilities (e.g. APACHE, AH-64E, CHINOOK CH-47 Extended Range (ER), LEAPP mid-life upgrade, SKYSABRE and DJFI), in the acquisition pipeline due to arrive pre-equipped with TDL capabilities and the continuing development and delivery of the LETacCIS Programme capabilities, it is essential to bring coherence to Army HQ's understanding of TDLs and how they can enhance Land and Joint operations. Building on the outputs of the phase 1 TDL study conducted in 2021, the requirement is to deliver a more detailed study on the technicalities and practical implementation of a TDL network architecture within the Land Domain that can complement current and future LETacCIS and Land ISTAR capabilities (and other multi-domain links) Who Are the Users The users are represented from varying areas of the Land Domain (Aviation, Air, GBAD, ISTAR, Fires) and will be deployed in a tactical environment. Utilising TDLs to provide enhanced Shared Situational Awareness and Command and Control Work Already Done A Phase 1 TDL Study was completed in 2021 and will be made available to suppliers as GFE Existing Team The existing team consists of SO1 IS Cap Dev and SO3 IS Cap Dev with representation across varying stakeholders from within the Land Domain Current Phase Discovery Skills & Experience • Deep technical knowledge of NATO standardised Technical Data Links and their current or planned integration within LAND or related platforms (7.5%) • Deep technical knowledge of US Variable Message Format (VMF), Message Text Format (MTF) and Symbology domains (7.5%) • Understanding of the integration of Tactical Data Links within LAND environment operational CIS (5%) • Deep technical and operational knowledge of the issues associated with Air-Land Integration (5%) • Operational experience in the use of Tactical Data Links in the Land environment (5%) • Operational experience in the use of Tactical Data Links in UK national and Coalition contexts for SSA and support to Land Forces (5%) • Deep technical knowledge of NATO and US ISTAR Data Links and their current or planned integration with LAND or related platforms (5%) Nice to Haves • Thorough understanding of the current and proposed use of TDLs in the Land environment including LEAPP/GBAD, AH64E, CH47, Lightning II, Digitally aided CAS, Armed UAS, Shadow and future AFVs (5%) • Technical knowledge of LE TacCIS C2 systems (5%) Work Location Army Headquarters, Blenheim Building, Marlborough Lines, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8HJ Working Arrangments Army HQ is based at Andover. However, provided List X status is held and access to suitably cleared CIS up to Official-Sensitive including RLI-email access can be guaranteed, Army HQ are not prescriptive about where the work should be undertaken. There will, though, be a need for the supplier to attend meetings at Army HQ and possibly DE&S Abbey Wood (Bristol) and Defence Digital (Corsham) to meet with specific platform and capability stakeholders. Access to MODNET would be very advantageous Expenses will be in accordance with MOD Travel policy Security Clearance SC required for the duration of the requirement, the specialist(s) must already hold a minimum of SC clearance level. Additional T&Cs DEFCON 5J Unique Identifiers; DEFCON 76 Contractors Personnel at Government Establishments; DEFCON 129J The Use of Electronic business Delivery Form; DEFCON 513 Value Added Tax; DEFCON 516 Equality ; DEFCON 518 Transfer; DEFCON 531 Disclosure of Information; DEFCON 532B Protection of Personal Data; DEFCON 534 Subcontracting/Prompt Payment; DEFCON 537 Rights of Third Parties; DEFCON 539 Transparency; DEFCON 550 Child Labour/Employment Law; DEFCON 566 Change of control of contractor; DEFCON 642 Progress Meetings; DEFCON 658 Cyber; DEFCON 659A Security Measures; DEFCON 660 Official-Sensitive Security Requirements; DEFCON 694 Accounting for Property of the Authority No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 10 Proposal Criteria • Technical solution; approach and methodology; How the approach or solution meets user needs (5%) • How you have identified risks and dependencies and offered approaches to manage them (5%) • Provide team structure (5%) Cultural Fit Criteria • Work as a Team within our organisation and with other suppliers (2.5%) • Previous experience of working within a Defence environment (2.5%) • Social Value - Describe how you will consider Equal Opportunity - Reduce the disability employment gap in the provision of this service (5%) • Social Value - Describe how you will consider Equal Opportunity - Tackle workforce inequality in the provision of this service (5%) Payment Approach Fixed price Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 65% Cultural fit 15% Price 20% Questions from Suppliers 1. Can the Authority confirm whether the 'Shadow' they are referring to in Q8 is the RAF Shadow R1 or a UAS variant (eg US RQ-7) The Authority can confirm that the 'Shadow' capability we are referring to is the RAF Shadow R1 2. Are the requirements of this study task a direct replacement for the Serapis task LOT 3 DSTL/AGR/SERAPIS/AII/01? Some of the requirements are asking for the same output, so are there any initial results of the Serapis task that can be furnished, to enhance the understanding of scope and effort for this study? This requirement is loosely similar to the Serapis task, which was never formally on contract and was not started due to lack of time in the financial year. Therefore, there are no outputs to share