Metal Additive Manufacturing as a Service Challenge

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. Lot 1: 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 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