RM1043.8-1-Defence AI Centre Agile Delivery Partner

Description

About adding context and requirements test Work done so far DAIC-X was established in 2021, and in partnership with the successful bidder on another DOS contract (https://www.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk/digital-outcomes-and-specialists/opportunities/15410) has delivered multiple AI and AS concepts. This has established ways of working, infrastructure and processes which will be used and built on for this opportunity. IP of previous work is owned by MOD so can be re-used for future concepts. Which phase the project is in Not applicable Existing team Throughout concept delivery, the supplier will be working with a mixed team of MOD stakeholders, Dstl specialists and other contracted partners delivering DAIC-X. The principal engagement on this task will be with: DAIC-X lead for AI Concept Development & Experimentation DAIC-Ops leads for product development Concept product owners DAIC-X concept technical partners There will also be significant engagement with the wider DAIC team in Dstl, Defence Digital and other parts of MOD. Address where the work will be done Dstl Porton Down (SP4 0JQ), Dstl Portsdown West (PO17 6AD), with regular travel to stakeholders around the UK, and remote working opportunities. Some international travel may be required. Working arrangements We would like the supplier to become a partner integrated into DAIC. This will requires some presence at MOD sites, though remote working is encouraged where feasible. Working at MOD/Dstl sites will be required for classified elements of the work, and there will be a need to travel to conduct research and development activities at the user's locations. This may include international travel to support International Research Collaboration meetings and exercises. Reasonable expenses may be claimed in line with Dstl's expenses policy and will require prior approval. Provide more information about your security requirements: Security Check (SC) Provide more information about your security requirements: Developed Vetting (DV) Provide more information about your security requirements (optional): Security Check level of clearance is required for majority of team. Some personnel with DV clearance would be highly advantageous. Some elements of the work will require UK nationals only (no dual nationals or non-UK nationals). The supplier is expected to process and hold their own clearances. Clearances can be managed by 3rd parties. The authority will not hold or sponsor clearances. Latest start date 2023-08-01 Enter the expected contract length: 2 years Extension period: 1 year Special terms and conditions DEFCON 703 shall apply throughout. Are you prepared to show your budget details?: Yes Indicative maximum: 25000000 Indicative minimum: 1200000 Provide further information: Total Limit of Liability is £25M (ex VAT), evenly spread over FY23/24 and FY24/25. This contract provides Dstl the ability to place up to £25M worth of work with the chosen supplier. This amount however is not guaranteed to be spent. Within this overarching contract, Dstl wishes to be able to agree individual tasks with the supplier, which will set out the specific deliverables, team composition and expected costs. The initial task to be let under this contract is for the first concept development task in FY23/24 and has a budget of £1.2M. We will be evaluating the price based on this first task, with supplier responses to this forming the rate card for the duration of the contract so the hourly/day rates will remain firm for the duration of the contract. There could be an option to increase in value to a maximum Limit of Liability of £45M total. This could be in conjunction to an extension to the duration of the contract. Confirm if you require a contracted out service or supply of resource Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply Summary of work The Defence AI Centre (DAIC) requires an Agile Delivery Partner to provide multi-disciplinary teams at all stages of the agile life-cycle (https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/agile-delivery) to develop novel AI concepts to meet the needs of our users. Where the supplied staff will work South East England Where the supplied staff will work No specific location (for example they can work remotely) Why the work is being done AI can be defined as a family of general-purpose technologies, any of which may enable machines to perform tasks normally requiring human or biological intelligence, especially when the machines learn from data how to do those tasks. As the National AI Strategy notes, these technologies have huge potential to rewrite the rules of whole industries, drive substantial economic growth and transform all areas of life. Harnessing the potential of AI will be essential to Defence modernisation, enhancing capability across the whole organisation and enabling us to maintain strategic advantage. MOD has established the Defence AI Centre (DAIC) to catalyse the integration and adoption of these critical and ubiquitous capabilities at near-development speed for enduring technological superiority. This opportunity is for two DAIC components: the Defence AI Centre Experimentation hub (DAIC-X) and Defence AI Centre Operations (DAIC Ops). Led by Dstl, DAIC-X accelerates the adoption of the next generation of AI and AS technologies for Defence, including through the conduct of rapid AI and AS concept development and experimentation. DAIC Ops, led by Defence Digital and DE&S, integrates and scales AI and AS systems into operational use. The business problem you need to solve DAIC requires an Agile Delivery Partner to provide multi-disciplinary teams at all stages of the agile life-cycle (https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/agile-delivery) to develop novel AI concepts to meet the needs of our users. These teams will have experience and expertise in developing AI components of digital and physical systems, and deploying these onto platforms e.g. as a cloud-hosted application, or onto a physical system. We would be very keen to receive bids from partnered suppliers who can collectively provide the required capabilities, including non-traditional defence suppliers and small and medium-sized enterprises. First user type: military user First user type: back-office user First user type: any user of AI in Defence Enter more details about this user type: As a military user, I need to be able to develop and exploit AI to augment my ability to analyse and gain insight from large volumes of diverse data, so I can improve situational awareness and enhance decision making across a wide variety of military tasks. As a military user, I need to be able to exploit the benefits of increasingly autonomous systems, so that I can deliver the operational outputs required of me in a range of military tasks. Enter more details about this user type: As a back-office user, I need to be able to exploit the benefits of AI so I can deliver a wide range of business tasks more efficiently and effectively. Enter more details about this user type: As any user of AI in Defence, I need to be confident that AI-enabled capability is delivered and used in a safe and responsible manner, as per to MOD's approach to the delivery of AI-enabled capability in Defence (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ambitious-safe-responsible-our-approach-to-the-delivery-of-ai-enabled-capability-in-defence)