RM1043.8 Research and development task for MSC2 project

Description

Summary of work Machine Speed Command and Control: Intelligent Software Agent Development Dstl must explore new ways of working and examine novel technologies that might be developed and adopted for operational use by the UK military. These insights empower MOD to decide how to make best use of the opportunities that technological developments offer at a pace to provide a perpetual edge over adversaries. Dstl's Machine Speed Command and Control (MSC2) project aims to gather such evidence by exploring Generation-After-Next C2 concepts and processes through a prototype C2 Human Agent Collective (C2 HAC), a type of Human-Machine Team, that combines human insights with AI at the operational-level of command. The MSC2 project is conducting research into Generation-After-Next operational planning through concept development and experimentation with a prototype Human Agent Collective where AI-based agents interact with military planners. Dstl requires an Agile delivery partner to provide a team of AI experts to research and develop agents to meet the needs of our novel C2 concepts. The broad team will have experience and expertise in designing and delivering AI-components that support planning responses to complex problems. Some AI-components may not be code-able yet require design. We welcome bids from partnered suppliers to collectively provide the required capabilities, including non-traditional defence suppliers. Where the supplied staff will work North East England Where the supplied staff will work North West England Where the supplied staff will work Yorkshire and the Humber Where the supplied staff will work East Midlands Where the supplied staff will work West Midlands Where the supplied staff will work East of England Where the supplied staff will work London Where the supplied staff will work South East England Where the supplied staff will work South West England Where the supplied staff will work Scotland Where the supplied staff will work Wales Where the supplied staff will work Northern Ireland Why the work is being done The MSC2 project is conducting research into Generation-After-Next operational planning through concept development and experimentation with a prototype Human Agent Collective where AI-based agents interact with military planners. Dstl requires an Agile delivery partner to provide a team of AI experts to research and develop agents to meet the needs of our novel C2 concepts. The broad team will have experience and expertise in designing and delivering AI-components that support planning responses to complex problems. Some AI-components may not be code-able yet require design. We welcome bids from partnered suppliers to collectively provide the required capabilities, including non-traditional defence suppliers. The users of the work are Dstl to explore the military viability of the C2 HAC in operational planning. To position the outcomes in military context, "as a military user doing operational planning, I need to cooperate with trustworthy, robust, and safe AI systems, to analyse large data volumes found in diverse artefacts that I use in new planning processes so I can gain critical insights, improve situational awareness, and enhance the effectiveness of my decision-making whilst confidently leveraging the benefits of increasingly sophisticated technology. These support problem understanding and planning human-interpretable responses to complex operational problems at pace." The business problem The supplier will be working with the MSC2 project's Technical Working Group (a mixed team of Dstl specialists and contracted industrial partners) delivering the C2 HAC vision, and the key PoC is a member of the TWG who acts as the Technical Partner for the work. The supplier is expected to cooperate with other industry / academic teams working on various MSC2 activities: Realising C2 improvements in a C2 HAC; Realising a data-driven C2 HAC; Data collection; Simulation of C2; Exploring C2 Concepts via AI-based Commercial Games; Argumentation and Rationale, and Human-Agent Interaction and Ontology. The supplier must partner with Dstl and industry / academic task leads to deliver the C2 HAC vision, including attending TWG meetings; however, most work will be done at their site. Agility is required to respond to new concept solutions generated by the C2 Improvements activity, subjecting them to feasibility assessments, and identifying required data and potential AI technology. They should expect requirements to change while also being able to abandon concepts that are not useful, more complex, or unfeasible. They must align with the C2 HAC framework which provides interfaces for data and AI agents to communicate with users. The people who will use the product or service User type: AI Services Definition: The supplier will be working with the MSC2 project's Technical Working Group (a mixed team of Dstl specialists and contracted industrial partners) delivering the C2 HAC vision, and the key PoC is a member of the TWG who acts as the Technical Partner for the work. The supplier is expected to cooperate with other industry / academic teams working on various MSC2 activities: Realising C2 improvements in a C2 HAC; Realising a data-driven C2 HAC; Data collection; Simulation of C2; Exploring C2 Concepts via AI-based Commercial Games; Argumentation and Rationale, and Human-Agent Interaction and Ontology. Any pre-market engagement done This was sent via email due to technical issues with Dos 6 platform. sent to all LOT 1 suppliers notifying of tender release. No agent development has taken place. This work must align with related activities to create integrated C2 HAC demonstrations. This includes devising new socio-technical concepts for transforming operational-level planning (which will identify potential agents for research and development), creating a data-driven framework for a C2 HAC into which agents would need to be inserted, collecting real and simulated data for C2 in military environments, using commercial games to explore the role of AI in new C2 concepts, investigating ways to represent and process reasoning for machine-speed planning, and exploring human-agent language and interaction styles for effective communication in C2 environments. Work done so far No agent development has taken place. This work must align with related activities to create integrated C2 HAC demonstrations. This includes devising new socio-technical concepts for transforming operational-level planning (which will identify potential agents for research and development), creating a data-driven framework for a C2 HAC into which agents would need to be inserted, collecting real and simulated data for C2 in military environments, using commercial games to explore the role of AI in new C2 concepts, investigating ways to represent and process reasoning for machine-speed planning, and exploring human-agent language and interaction styles for effective communication in C2 environments. Which phase the project is in Not started Existing team The supplier will be working with the MSC2 project's Technical Working Group (a mixed team of Dstl specialists and contracted industrial partners) delivering the C2 HAC vision, and the key PoC is a member of the TWG who acts as the Technical Partner for the work. The supplier is expected to cooperate with other industry / academic teams working on various MSC2 activities: Realising C2 improvements in a C2 HAC; Realising a data-driven C2 HAC; Data collection; Simulation of C2; Exploring C2 Concepts via AI-based Commercial Games; Argumentation and Rationale, and Human-Agent Interaction and Ontology. The supplier must partner with Dstl and industry / academic task leads to deliver the C2 HAC vision, including attending TWG meetings; however, most work will be done at their site. Agility is required to respond to new concept solutions generated by the C2 Improvements activity, subjecting them to feasibility assessments, and identifying required data and potential AI technology. They should expect requirements to change while also being able to abandon concepts that are not useful, more complex, or unfeasible. They must align with the C2 HAC framework which provides interfaces for data and AI agents to communicate with users. Address where the work will be done At supplier's site in any UK location Majority of the work will be done at the supplier's own site. Occasional visits to Dstl might be needed to Dstl Porton Down (SP4 0JQ). Regular task coordination meetings are expected with the TWG (nominally QinetiQ, Bristol) and bilateral meetings with other task leads may be needed at either the supplier's or other task leads' locations. Working arrangements Majority of the work will be done at the supplier's own site. Occasional visits to Dstl might be needed to Dstl Porton Down (SP4 0JQ). Regular task coordination meetings are expected with the TWG (nominally QinetiQ, Bristol) and bilateral meetings with other task leads may be needed at either the supplier's or other task leads' locations. The supplier will be working with the MSC2 project's Technical Working Group (a mixed team of Dstl specialists and contracted industrial partners) delivering the C2 HAC vision, and the key PoC is a member of the TWG who acts as the Technical Partner for the work. The supplier is expected to cooperate with other industry / academic teams working on various MSC2 activities: Realising C2 improvements in a C2 HAC; Realising a data-driven C2 HAC; Data collection; Simulation of C2; Exploring C2 Concepts via AI-based Commercial Games; Argumentation and Rationale, and Human-Agent Interaction and Ontology. Security and vetting requirements Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Security and vetting requirements Security Check (SC) More information about the Security requirements: if no SC clearance Personal Particulars - Research Workers & Dstl Sponsored PhD Students will have to be populated. Completion of this form is required to enable Dstl to conduct the Dstl and MOD administrative checks necessary to place a Research Contract with a Contractor or to sponsor a PhD Student. Latest start date 1 July 2023 Expected contract length Contract length: 1 years 0 months 0 days Optional extension: 0 years 6 months 0 days Special terms and conditions special term or condition: Work is to be delivered under DOS Framework. DEFCON 703 shall apply throughout. Budget Indicative maximum: £1400000 Indicative minimum: The contract value is not specified by the buyer Further information: The Limit of Liability for the agent research and development contract is £1.4M (ex VAT) for the initial tranche of work, with optional work available in FY24/25. The intent is to agree individual tasks with the supplier. Dstl will agree on specific deliverables, team composition, and expected costs for each agent research and development task. The hourly/day rates will remain firm for the duration of the contract based on the supplier's response to the first tranche of tasks. There is an option to increase the contract's LoL if required, subject to additional funding becoming available, but it is without commitment. Contracted out service or supply of resource? Supply of resource: the off-payroll rules may apply