Space to Innovate Campaign – Alpha Drop: Competition Document

1. Introduction

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Space Programme is seeking proposals that can aid UK Defence and Security to develop future space technologies. We are looking for innovative solutions that can address a series of challenges released in “drops” throughout 2021 and 2022. These challenges follow the output of various space themed activities; including Space to Innovate Phase 1 and the International Space Pitch Day.

The amount available for this campaign up to 31 March 2023 is expected to be up to £2m. This “campaign” approach enables varied contract values and durations to be undertaken as part of the competition, which provides larger and longer contracts for more mature technologies, whilst also enabling less mature innovations to be explored. The enduring campaign approach demonstrates Dstl’s ongoing commitment to funding and supporting space technology innovators.

The value of these contracts shall vary from £125k to £400k, with durations of 6 months to 18 months, with the most appropriate category decided by those submitting proposals. This concept then enables a cycle of new innovative ideas to be contracted as well as maturing existing technologies to a higher level.

Challenge drops will be open to applications from all innovators and not just those that submitted successful bids in previous ones. These “drops” will be named following the phonetic alphabet. The first “Alpha Drop” closes for applications on 4 August 2021. We expect to launch a second “Bravo Drop” later this year with another 2 challenges focused on Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA).

2. Campaign Scope

2.1 Background

The Dstl Space Programme is launching this Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) campaign to attract novel technological solutions from a broad range of innovators in order to alleviate some of the UK’s Defence and Security space challenges.

The space environment is becoming increasingly congested and contested. Satellites are becoming smaller and are being launched more frequently. This creates many challenges as well as opportunities for Defence and Security.

2.2 Scope

The objective of this campaign is to fund research into space technologies that may not otherwise be developed within the civil space industry. This will address a set of specific problems in the space domain, as outlined in the campaign challenges.

Funded projects are expected to achieve at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 (proof-of-concept) by the end of contract but can potentially reach up to TRL 6 (demonstration in a relevant environment) in later drops. Solutions currently at or above TRL 6 in a civilian environment may be eligible for funding where the technology requires development to operate in a Defence and Security environment (potentially lowering the TRL).

We welcome proposals from across the full range of innovators including academia, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies, from both the UK and overseas. We also welcome joint bids which bring together the strength of different industrial or academic partners.

The campaign is open to innovators from both the existing space sector and those who have not traditionally worked in this domain. Previous experience of Defence and Security work is not a requirement.

3. Alpha Drop Challenges

This drop has 2 challenges.

3.1 Challenge 1: Visualisation tools to enable space operators to exploit information gathered from multiple data sources

Contracts available for challenge 1: up to £125,000 (ex VAT) for 6 months, with contract completion before 31st March 2022. Projects are expected to reach TRL 3-6 at the end of the contract. We expect to fund 2 projects under this challenge.

This challenge is jointly funded by both the US Department of Defense and Dstl, under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two Departments. DSTL will share and permit use of Deliverables by US DOD under said MOU, in accordance with Clause 12(c) of Defcon 705.

Challenge 1 Description

Collating information from multiple data sources so it can be fully exploited and manipulated by the user, as well as enhancing their understanding, is important in an environment where decisions based on it are crucial. With the introduction of more satellites into regions such as low-Earth orbit (LEO), the amount of information accessible to users is only going to increase. Therefore we are interested in solutions that help to bring clarity to this problem space.

DASA is looking for novel solutions that could help to address issues such as:

• enhancing the situational awareness around an object

• understanding and monitoring manoeuvres and changes of objects in orbit

• streamlining ingestion issues with multiple data sources and different naming conventions

• using machine learning to enhance our understanding and interrogation of the data presented & make sense of results

• visualising uncertainty in data

3.2 Challenge 2: Novel methods for characterising objects in space and their intent

Contracts available for challenge 2:

• up to £125,000 (ex VAT) for 6 months, with contract completion by the 31st March 2022

• up to £200,000 (ex VAT) for 12 months (with a breakpoint at 6 months), with contract completion by 31st September 2022

• up to £400,000 (ex VAT) for 18 months (with a breakpoint at 6 months), with contract completion by the 31st March 2023

Projects are expected to reach TRL 3-6 at the end of the contract. We expect to fund 2-4 projects within this challenge.

Challenge 2 Description

Understanding the mission, capability, health status and intent of objects placed in orbit allows the UK to prepare for the future threat posed by potential adversaries. DASA is interested in novel techniques for characterising space objects, including the sensing of objects, signal processing and understanding long-term behaviours and warnings.

DASA is looking for novel solutions that could help to address issues such as:

• detecting changes of state (e.g. translational manoeuvres, transmissions, attitude changes, form factors, spawned objects, ‘active / inactive’) and predicting future changes

• exploiting non-traditional sensor configurations including bi- or multi-static configurations and the repurposing of existing facilities

• technologies that allow resolution of individual features on an observed satellite, inferring information regarding payloads

• observing the interaction and cooperation between satellites in formation in LEO or geostationary Earth orbit (GEO)

• satellite overflight warning of Earth observation missions (featuring electro-optical, synthetic aperture radar, electronic intelligence or other technologies) primarily in LEO

• asset protection for high value satellites operating in GEO

3.3 Clarification of what we want

We want novel ideas to benefit users working in UK Defence and Security. Your proposal should include evidence of:

• theoretical development, methodological advancement or proof of concept research which can demonstrate potential for translation to practical demonstration in later phases

• an innovative or a creative approach

• a clear demonstration of how the proposed work applies to any Defence and Security context

3.4 Clarification of what we don’t want

For this drop we are not interested in proposals that:

• constitute consultancy or literature reviews which just summarise the existing literature without any view of future development

• are an identical resubmission of a previous bid to DASA or MOD without modification

• present more than one bid with the same technical idea amended for the different contract lengths

• offer demonstrations of off-the-shelf products requiring no experimental development (unless applied in a novel way to the challenge)

• offer no real long-term prospect of integration into UK defence and security capabilities

• offer no real prospect of out-competing existing technological solutions

• do not fall clearly into one challenge as outlined above

• need an extensive requirements development phase.

For space-specific aspects, we are not interested in:

• technologies or systems relating to space launch

• space technologies where the commercial market is already strongly invested (e.g. general satellite communications)

• proposals relating to human spaceflight and exploration

• proposals which could be considered an irresponsible use of space (e.g. generating unnecessary debris, or violating international treaties)

• areas which constitute research into the specific areas of: inter-satellite links; Quantum Key Distribution (QKD); security and encryption of optical communications; general object tracking & reentry warning

4. Exploitation

It is important that over the lifetime of DASA competitions, ideas are matured and accelerated towards appropriate end users to enhance capability. How long this takes will be dependent on the nature and starting point of the innovation. Early identification and appropriate engagement with potential end users during this campaign is essential in order to develop and implement an exploitation plan.

All proposals to DASA should articulate the expected development in technology maturity of the potential solution over the lifetime of the contract and how this relates to improved operational capability against the current known (or presumed) baseline. Your deliverables should be designed to evidence these aspects with the aim of making it as easy as possible for potential collaborators/stakeholders to identify the innovative elements of your proposal in order to consider routes for exploitation. Longer term studies may not be able to articulate exploitation in great detail, but it should always be clear that there is some credible advantage to be gained from the technology development.

The outputs of this research will feed back into the Dstl Space Programme which will look to mature successful DASA bids through mission-specific projects, bringing in wider Defence stakeholders as required. The Dstl Space Programme may then seek to further develop the technologies in demonstrator missions, both in-space and elsewhere, for the benefit of future defence and security space programmes and procurement activities. The exploitation of Challenge 1 will be pursued by both the UK and US, which may lead to future opportunities being made available.

5. How to apply

Proposals for funding to meet these challenges must be submitted by 4 August 2021 at midday via the DASA submission service for which you will be required to register.

The total funding for this campaign is expected to be £2m, split over multiple challenge drops. The value of the contracts in alpha challenge drop shall vary from £125k to £400k (ex VAT), with durations of 6 months to 18 months (with a breakpoint at 6 months).

Further guidance on submitting a proposal is available on the DASA website.

5.1 What your proposal must include

The proposal should focus on the Alpha Drop’s requirements but must also include a brief (uncosted) outline of the next stages of work required for exploitation.

Proposals (including any PDF attachments) must be an appropriate length that it will take our reviewers no more than 90 minutes to assess (as a guide, this is about 5000 words or 10 pages, if copied from a Word document). When submitting a proposal, you must complete all sections of the online form, including an appropriate level of technical information to allow assessment of the bid and a completed finances section. Completed proposals must comply with the financial rules set for this challenge drop.

The upper-limit for this challenge drop is £400k (ex VAT). Proposals will be rejected if the financial cost exceeds this capped level. You must include a list of other current or recent government funding you may have received in this area if appropriate, making it clear how this proposal differs from this work. A project plan with clear milestones and deliverables must be provided, with the final deliverable provided at least 10 working days prior to the contract end date. This is to allow for formal review and acceptance before the contract end date.

Deliverables must be well defined and designed to provide evidence of progress against the project plan and the end-point for this phase; they must include a final report. You should also plan for attendance at a kick-off meeting at the start of the Alpha Drop, an event at the end of your project, as well as regular reviews with the appointed Technical Partner and Project Manager. Your proposal should assume these to be physical events held in the UK, but should circumstances dictate DASA may choose to hold these remotely as webinars. DASA will also look to have a showcase event after contract end, this will be voluntary and at your own cost.

Your proposal must demonstrate how you will complete all activities/services and provide all deliverables within the campaign timescales (6-18 months). Proposals with any deliverables (including final report) outside the campaign timeline will be rejected as non-compliant.

A resourcing plan must also be provided that identifies, where possible, the nationalities of those proposed research workers that you intend working on this phase. In the event of proposals being recommended for funding, the DASA reserves the right to undertake due diligence checks including the clearance of proposed research workers. Please note that this process will take as long as necessary and could take up to 6 weeks in some cases for non-UK nationals.

You must identify any ethical / legal / regulatory factors within your proposal and how the associated risks will be managed, including break points in the project if approvals are not received. MODREC approvals can take up to 5 months therefore you should plan your work programme accordingly. If you are unsure if your proposal will need to apply for MODREC approval, then please contact DASA for further guidance.

Requirements for access to Government Furnished Assets (GFA), for example, information, equipment, materials and facilities, should be included in your proposal. DASA cannot guarantee that GFA will be available and where a proposal is reliant on GFA this will result in your proposal being rejected.

Bidders’ proposals must include a fully costed Option for work they propose to undertake past an initial six month period (i.e. 31st March 2022), which will act as a break point in the Contract. Decisions on whether Options are approved shall be made by 31st March 2022.

Bidders must provide proposals that break out their work packages / deliverable plan into (a) Item 1 – FY21/22 (which MUST be completed by 31st March 2022) work to include a report deliverable and (b) a further option under Item 2 – FY22/23 work (to include participation in trial / demonstration event and final report deliverables). The total duration across both items should be no more than 18 months.

Failure to provide any of the above listed will automatically render your proposal non-compliant.

5.2 Export control

Contracts awarded as a result of this challenge drop will fall under an extant memorandum of understanding between the UK MOD and US Department of Defense. This will facilitate the unimpeded exchange of proposals, prototypes and associated information between the UK and US governments. However, this effective exemption from export controls only applies to the UK and US, not to third countries, and all bidders must therefore abide by the export control requirements of their originator country.

All relevant export control regulations will apply if a company ultimately wants to sell a developed solution to a foreign entity. All bidders must ensure that they can obtain, if required, the necessary export licences for their proposals and developments, such that they can be supplied to the UK and US. If you cannot confirm that you can gain the requisite licences, your proposal will be sifted out of the challenge drop. Additionally, if we believe that you will not be able to obtain export clearance, additional checks may be conducted, which may also result in your proposal being sifted out of the challenge drop.

5.3 Cyber risk assessment

DASA has completed a Cyber Risk Assessment (CRA) for this challenge drop. In order to submit to this competition innovators are required to work towards cyber resilience. If selected for funding, the innovators must prove cyber resilience before a contract will be awarded.

Innovators must complete a Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ) here , using the DASA Risk Assessment Reference (RAR) for this competition: RAR-XF6WBQWH and answer questions for risk level “Very Low”.

The Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP) will review your SAQ submission and respond with a reference number within 2 working days. The completed SAQ form and resulting email response from DCPP must be downloaded and included within the DASA submission service portal when the proposal is submitted. Please allow enough time to receive the SAQ reference number prior to competition close at midday on 4 August 2021.

If the proposal is being funded, the SAQ will be evaluated against the CRA for the challenge drop, and it will be put it into one of the following categories:

1. Compliant – no further action

2. Not compliant – if successful in competition and being funded, the innovator will be required to complete a Cyber Implementation Plan (CIP) before the contract is placed, which will need to be reviewed and agreed with the relevant project manager

Innovators can enter a proposal without all controls in place, but are expected to have all the cyber protection measures necessary to fulfil the requirements of the contract in place at the time of contract award, or have an agreed Cyber Implementation Plan (CIP). The CIP provides evidence as to how and when potential innovators will achieve compliance. Provided the measures proposed in the Cyber Implementation Plan do not pose an unacceptable risk to the MOD, a submission with a Cyber Implementation Plan will be considered alongside those who can achieve the controls.

A final check will be made to ensure cyber resilience before the contract is placed. Commercial staff cannot progress the competition / procurement without it. This process does not replace any contract specific security requirements.

Further guidance for completing this process can be requested by emailing accelerator@dstl.gov.uk.

Additional information about cyber security can be found at DCPP: Cyber Security Model industry buyer and supplier guide.

5.4 Public facing information

When submitting your proposal, you will be required to include a proposal title and a short abstract. The title and abstract you provide will be used by DASA, and other government departments, to describe the project and its intended outcomes and benefits. It will be used for inclusion at DASA events in relation to this campaign and included in documentation such as brochures. The proposal title will also be published in the DASA transparency data on GOV.UK, along with your company name, the amount of funding, and the start and end dates of your contract.

5.5 How your proposal will be assessed

At Stage 1, all proposals will be checked for compliance with the campaign document and may be rejected before full assessment if they do not comply. Only those proposals who demonstrate their compliance against the campaign scope and DASA mandatory criteria will be taken forward to full assessment. Failure to achieve full compliance against Stage 1 will render your proposal non-compliant and will not be considered any further:

Proposals that pass Stage 1 will then be assessed against the standard DASA assessment criteria (Desirability, Feasibility and Viability) by subject matter experts from the MOD (including Dstl), other government departments and front-line military commands. You will not have the opportunity to comment on assessors comments.

DASA reserves the right to disclose on a confidential basis any information it receives from bidders during the procurement process (including information identified by the bidder as Commercially Sensitive Information in accordance with the provisions of this competition) to any third party engaged by DASA for the specific purpose of evaluating or assisting DASA in the evaluation of the bidder’s proposal. In providing such information the bidder consents to such disclosure. Appropriate confidentiality agreements will be put in place.

Further guidance on how your proposal is assessed is available on the DASA website.

After assessment, proposals will be discussed internally at a Decision Conference where, based on the assessments, budget and wider strategic considerations, a decision will be made on the proposals that are recommended for funding.

Proposals that are unsuccessful will receive brief feedback after the Decision Conference.

5.6 Things you should know about DASA contracts

Please read the DASA terms and conditions which contain important information for innovators. For this competition we will be using the Innovation Standard Contract (ISC), links to the contract here: Terms and Schedules. We will require unqualified acceptance of the terms and conditions, therefore if applicable please ensure your commercial department have provided their acceptance.

Funded projects will be allocated a Project Manager (to run the project) and a Technical Partner (as a technical point of contact). In addition, the DASA team will work with you to support delivery and exploitation including where appropriate introductions to end-users and business support to help SMEs develop their business.

DASA also collects information from projects after the project has concluded and you should expect to be contacted once your project has completed for measurement purposes.

We will use deliverables from DASA contracts in accordance with our rights detailed in the contract terms and conditions.

The total funding for this campaign is expected to be £2m. There may be occasions where additional funding from other funding lines may subsequently become available to allow us to revisit those proposals deemed suitable for funding but where limitations on funding at the time prevented DASA from awarding a subsequent contract. In such situations, DASA reserves the right to keep such proposals in reserve. In the event that additional funding subsequently becomes available, DASA may ask whether you would still be prepared to undertake the work outlined in your proposal under the same terms.

6. Challenge Alpha Drop Dates

6.1 Supporting events

29 June 2021 – A virtual ‘Your Questions Answered’ event providing further detail on the problem space and a chance to ask questions in an open forum. You will be able to submit questions in advance, these will be moderated before the event. If you would like to participate, please register on the Eventbrite page.

6 & 14 July 2021 – A series of 15 minute one-to-one teleconference sessions, giving you the opportunity to ask specific questions. If you would like to participate, please register on the Eventbrite page.

7. Help

Campaign queries including on process, application, commercial, technical and intellectual property aspects should be sent to accelerator@dstl.gov.uk, quoting the campaign title. If you wish to be added to the contact list on ECS please email a request into the accelerator inbox, this will ensure you receive future updates on this campaign.

While all reasonable efforts will be made to answer queries, DASA reserves the right to impose management controls if volumes of queries restrict fair access of information to all potential innovators.