RM1043.8-1- AI and Autonomy for the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Enterprise - Project Office partner

Description

Summary of work The AI and Autonomy for the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Enterprise (A²ISR) Project Office will enable the delivery and integration of generation after next science and technology to release capacity and maximise understanding in the future UK ISR enterprise in order to realise a state of Information Advantage. This project seeks to release capacity (of analysts and systems) and maximise understanding in our ISR enterprise in order to maintain Information Advantage over our adversaries. Specifically it will demonstrate generation-after-next (GAN) in: 1) ISR capability, closely coupling ‘exploit’ and ‘collect’ throughout the ISR hierarchy, enabling collection tasking to be created dynamically and opportunistically, and AI enhanced PED from the core to the edge; 2) data-led and AI-enabled Intelligence Analysis function constrained by the available data, algorithms and computational power, rather than capacity of human operators; and the 3) demonstration of technologies to enable Defence to undertake 'ISR' of the sub-threshold information domain (sub-threshold, often referred to as the ‘grey zone’, where states and non-state actors compete in a hostile manner using a variety of tactics but below the threshold of war) Where the supplied staff will work No specific location (for example they can work remotely) Why the work is being done Developing the Science & Technology required to enable distributed analytics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on edge computing platforms (from servers to embeded devices) in adversarial and degraded communications environments and with partners (including international). The work contributes to addressing the core capability challenge of “pervasive, full spectrum, multi domain Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)” identified in the 2020 MOD Science and Technology Strategy, and seeks to work with cutting edge and innovative suppliers in industry and academia. It is focused on maturing emerging concepts (TRL 2-4+); and must be completed within 2 years. The business problem The supplier team will work with Dstl to lead the delivery and integrate generation after next science and technology. The project office will provide the capability to initiate and partner research with industrial and academic suppliers, integrate the research against stated outcomes (including in a project office delivered and managed 'test and simulation environment') and provide critical services such as benefits definition and management, stakeholder engagement and demonstration. Dstl requires a partner to provide a multi-disciplinary team (drawn from a range of suppliers) with experience of research and integration in ISR and intelligence science and technology. The people who will use the product or service User type: Defence Scientist Definition: As a Defence scientist I need to bring together the technical and functional expertise required to deliver generation after next science and technology so that I can equip future UK ISR and Intelligence capability with battle winning technology that supports an enduring state of Information Advantage User type: Military User Definition: As a military user, I need to be able to understand how to exploit generation after next science and technology so that I can equip future UK ISR and Intelligence capability with battle winning technology that supports an enduring state of Information Advantage Work done so far Three phases (~30 months) of an A²ISR project office will have completed by end September 2023. The following services have been delivered and an overview will be provided in support of Phase 2 bids: 1) Strategy - strategic planning, engagement, communications and benefits realisation, Project office governance, research lifestyle definition; 2) Delivery - research delivery, project office planning and controls, information management and assurance; 3) Capability - standards, process and methods, best practice, organisational development, 18 months of development (alongside earlier design work) will also have been completed for the A²ISR test and simulation environment, which will be made available as GFX at the start of the contract. The current ways of working should not limit thinking and design of the future project office. Current emphasis of work is on delivery and assurance; in FY2425 the emphasis of the project will move to benefits and exploitation of the research. Changes may also be needed in response to changes by our owning programme. Which phase the project is in Live Existing team The supplier will be working with a mixed team of Dstl specialists, stakeholders from across defence and other contracted parties under the A²ISR project. Principal engagement on this task will be with the Dstl Project Manager, Dstl Project Technical Authority, Dstl Cross cutting concept leads, Dstl Lead Technical Reviewer, Military Advisor and Work package leads (Dstl, or other organisations), External stakeholders in Defence and other Dstl projects. Address where the work will be done Largely remote but with regular and frequent attendance at Dstl Porton Down (SP4 0JQ) and regular travel to stakeholders and suppliers around the UK. Working arrangements It is expected that the whole project office (supplier and Dstl team) will come together face-to-face at least once a month for collaborative working at a suitable Dstl or supplier site. This has generally alternated between Dstl and a site supplied by the project office. Face-to-face meetings at work package level are also expected in addition to visits to supplier venues. Day-to-day engagement, including a weekly 'stand-up' will be virtual. We required a collaborative working area for file sharing (up to Official-Sensitive) to be supplied by the project office, alongside joint MS Team chat rooms. For research tasks delivered within the project office, integration activities and the development of the test and simulation environment, Agile working practices are expected. In September it is expected that there will be at least two two-day hand over meetings at a suitable Dstl/ supplier site, which the majority of the new project office staff will be expected to attend in person. Security and vetting requirements Security Check (SC) Security and vetting requirements Developed Vetting (DV) More information about the Security requirements: Security Check level of clearance is required for majority of team. Some personnel with DV clearance would be advantageous. 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 4 September 2023 Expected contract length Contract length: 1 years 6 months 27 days Special terms and conditions special term or condition: Work is to be delivered under DOS Framework. DEFCON 703 shall apply throughout with all data, methods, interfaces and full workings to be supplied as necessary under DEFCON 703. To enable sharing with future suppliers, other government departments and internationally. A full Cyber Risk Assessment (DCPP) will be required prior to contract. Budget Indicative maximum: £5350000 Indicative minimum: The contract value is not specified by the buyer Further information: Total Limit of Liability is £5.35M (ex VAT), comprising FY23/24: £3.25M, FY24/25: £2.1M. This contract provides Dstl the ability to place up to £5.35m worth of work with the chosen supplier. This amount represents a limit of liability cap and is therefore not guaranteed to be spent. Dstl will be evaluating the price based on supplier responses to this task. This price will form the rate card for the duration of the contract so the hour/day rates will remain firm for the duration of the contract. Option 1 – expanding TSE capacity (within FY2425) As detailed above in requirement 2b: Provision of sustained capacity to the TSE in the last 6 months of the contract (October 2024 – March 2025). Option 2 – expanding capacity (within FY2425) Subject to future funding decisions, please provided costed options to increase capacity in FY2425 by up to 50% of FY2425 Limit of Liability; in order to continue maturing the research and providing ongoing technical demonstrations. Option 3– extending capacity (beyond current contract) Please provide an estimated Limit of Liability for extending the life of the project office beyond 31st March 2024 by 25% (~ 4 months timescale) and 50% (~ 9 months, timescale), in order to surge the work to increase the pace of exploitation or support additional research activity. The current A²ISR project office is in place until end September 2023. The new project office contract will need to start up no later than the 4th September for a month handover period and to transfer documentation from the current joint sharepoint (owned by the current supplier). A²ISR Project currently has funding until 31st March 2025. Contracted out service or supply of resource? Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply Terms and acronyms Term or acronym: AI Definition: Artificial Intelligence Term or acronym: ISR Definition: Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Term or acronym: GAN Definition: Generation after next Term or acronym: A²ISR Definition: Autonomy and AI for the Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (Enterprise) Term or acronym: PED Definition: Processing Exploitation and Dissemination Questions and Clarifications 1. Your ITT states "Dstl requires a partner to provide a multi-disciplinary team (drawn from a range of suppliers...) " How are the 'range of suppliers' intended to be sourced within this ITT? As a SME, we would be interested in assisting but are unclear exactly on how we can do this? It is expected that the bidder will bring together this team. This would be through their own network and links. Last Updated : <strong>26/05/2023</strong> 2. Hi Team, as it is a Bank Holiday on Monday 29 May and also half term for a lot of people, please can we request an extension to the submission deadline for Stage 1 to 8 June? Thanks Unfortunately we cannot amend the timeline of phase 1 as the CCSDOS 6.0 framework has a mandated 2 week period for responses. Last Updated : <strong>26/05/2023</strong> 3. The Essential Criteria 4 appears to be a partial sentence in Attachment 1 and 3. 4. Demonstrable relevant expertise in the past five years of algorithms to support bidding and optimisation, goal decomposition in… Please could the Authority provide the complete Essential Criteria 4? “in relation to AI or Autonomous systems.” Last Updated : <strong>26/05/2023</strong> 4. *For reference attachments refer to the bid packs, this was emailed to all suppliers but contains everything that the portal has 1. In Attachment 1 and Attachment 3, in relation to requirements, under ‘nice-to-have skills and experience’, what differentiates ‘additional experience’ as compared with the same requirement topic under ‘essential skills and experience’? Is it that it is ’essential’ to provide evidence of military capability *or related techcology*, but it is ‘nice to have’ evidence of military capability itself? 2. In Attachment 1 and Attachment 3, in relation to requirements, under ‘essential skills and experience’, in question 4, the sentence isn’t completed. Should it read ‘…in relation to to AI or autonomous systems”? 3. In Attachment 1 and Attachment 3, under ‘essential skills and experience’, question 1 refers to ‘military capability or related technology’, but under ‘nice-to-have skills and experience’ question 1 relates purely to ‘military capability’. Should ‘nice-to-have’ also be for ‘military capability *or related technology*’? 4.Could you please provide information which would enable sizing or capacity estimation in the provision of the Project Office Service Catalogue? 5. In Attachment 1, Technical Requirement 2a is concerned with the provision of the A2ISR Test and Simulation Environment (TSE); what further size, user need and operation information will be provided as input to supplier solution design and costing? 6. In the introduction to Attachment 3, the first paragraph states "If you wish to participate in this procurement you must respond to the Essential and Nice-to-have criteria", a later paragraph states, "You must be able to respond to all Essential skills and experience for your application to be considered". Please can you clarify how both apply? 1.The “essential” is to provide evidence of working in the technology areas. The “nice to have” is working in the technology areas in the context of military capability/system. 2.“in relation to AI or Autonomous systems.” 3.“Essential” is running project office services in relation to the military capability. The “nice to have” is applying the specific technical area in a military capability/system. 4.Technical: The team, at the current phase of work, for the different functions listed in the service catalogue equates to: • Technical: 69% • Project: 8% • Business: 23% Although this is as a guide and may need to change as the project moves to its final phase and the focus changes to exploitation. 5. Further details will be provided in a briefing at Phase 2 of the competition. This brief will cover the current technology baseline, capability and examples of usage. It will also provide a high level forward plan for future development. 6. You must be able to show experience for each question in the ‘Essential skills and experience’ section to progress to stage 2. ‘Nice to have’ has lower weighting and if suppliers do not have experience in this area it will not preclude the supplier from progressing to stage 2. Last Updated : <strong>26/05/2023</strong>