Home
Digital Outcomes opportunities
Procurement details

Procurement details: Development of Maritime Experimentation Lab (MarExLab)

4

Applications submitted

£300000

Indicative Budget

Outside scope

Off-payroll status

30 March 2023

Application Closing Date

1. Context and requirements

Work done so far: A SE has been developed to host and stimulate a number of 3rd party applications for testing and assessment purposes. The SE is currently constructed from VBS (providing scenario control), ODIN (providing underwater elements), SADM (providing above water elements) and Carmenta (providing visual output). Representative operational displays have also been produced to replicate functionality to enable user interaction using Carmenta and NEREUS software. The tracks from the SE are then distributed via a Data Distribution Service to installed applications which then process and feedback into the SE through DDS messages. See attached diagram for more detail. All previous source code and technical documentation will be provided on contract award.
Which phase the project is in: Live
Existing team: The existing Dstl team for the SE consists of a technical lead and a junior software developer, as well as the programme delivery team. The supplier may be required to work with 3rd party suppliers providing apps for assessment in the SE.
Address where the work will be done: The selected supplier is free to work at home to undertake the development work; However, the interim software drops and all supportive briefs/presentations, and the final installations will be at Dstl Portsdown West, Fareham, Hampshire
Working arrangements: The supplier is free to work at home for the development work; However, they will need to work closely with Dstl and shall provide interim update demonstrations in Dstl Portsdown West using Dstl IT, minimum of 3 software drops demonstrating the progress of the enhancements to the simulation environment and entities over the contract period. The key deliverables consist of the management progress reports, software drops, briefs and reports, interim technical reports explaining the development work and a final report.
Provide more information about your security requirements: Security Check (SC)
Provide more information about your security requirements (optional): Security Clearance (SC) Cleared Personnel Only
Latest start date: 2023-05-03
Enter the expected contract length: 2 years
Extension period: 1 year
Special terms and conditions: Call-Off Schedule 17 (MOD Terms) DEFCON 76 - Contractor's Personnel at Government Establishments
Write the term or acronym: SE
Write the term or acronym: M&S
Write the term or acronym: S&T
Write the term or acronym: TRL
Explain the term or acronym: Synthetic Environment
Explain the term or acronym: Modelling & Simulation
Explain the term or acronym: Science & Technology
Explain the term or acronym: Technology Readiness Level
Are you prepared to show your budget details?: Yes
Indicative maximum: 300000
Indicative minimum: 250000
Provide further information: Based on 220 working days per year
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: Dstl requires a senior software developer to: 1) Develop the existing Synthetic Environment and required simulation components in a VBS3/4 Simulation Engine environment 2) Enhance the Combat Management System (CMS) Emulator linked to the Simulation Engine by developing operator GUI outputs to display maritime CMS-like information, consisting mainly of low fidelity sensor detection information, and controls 3) Work with internal and external teams for undertaking experiments using the SE 4) Generate progress and technical reports of all development work 5) Maintain a log of bug fixes 6) Support the architecture and interoperability of the capability using open interfaces such as DIS protocols to allow operation with other SEs or datalinks. 7) If required, support the building of a larger software development team to meet the growth expectations of MarExLab
Where the supplied staff will work: South East England
Why the work is being done: A maritime Command & Control Simulation Environment (SE) has been developed at Dstl Portsdown West, which enables tactical and technical initiatives to be developed, integrated and tested in a MOD owned, low cost environment. The SE has been built using the VBS simulation engine to generate and run underwater and above water warfare scenarios. Further development of the SE is required to build a comprehensive experimentation environment with new capabilities such as simulation of additional platforms, user displays and services and connection to other SEs, to allow the testing of new S&T concepts to provide low TRL validation prior to further testing and trials
The business problem you need to solve: Dstl conducts research on behalf of the RN into maritime combat systems including the development and assessment of novel decision aids and visualisation techniques for potential use in RN maritime systems. The SE will enable the rapid development and testing of Generation After Next (GAN) maritime concepts to support the maturing of the TRLs of the systems.
First user type: Dstl SMEs
First user type: 3rd Party suppliers
Enter more details about this user type: Evaluation of novel apps using MarExLab
Enter more details about this user type: Development and evaluation of novel apps using MarExLab

2. Assessment Criteria
About assessment criteria: test
Select your pricing model: Time and materials
Additional assessment methods: Interview
Additional assessment methods: Work history
Create your scoring criteria: 3
How many suppliers to evaluate: 3
Technical competence: 60
Cultural fit: 10
Social value: 10
Price: 20
Essential skills and experience: 40
Nice-to-have skills and experience (optional): 20
Technical questions: 40
Describe the essential skill or experience:: Development of gaming engine and or modelling/simulation environments and real-time displays
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Describe the essential skill or experience:: Experience of using open simulation interface protocols used to link with other real-time / synthetic emulators and simulation engines, including DIS, DDS, google protocol buffers and HLA
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Describe the essential skill or experience:: Knowledge and experience of configuring synthetic environment and entities.
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Describe the essential skill or experience:: Using VBS SDK (Software Development Kit) and modular C plug-in architecture.
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Describe the essential skill or experience:: Programming & build software engineering - using appropriate design approaches, development tools & coding standards, expertise in C++
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Describe the essential skill or experience:: Systems Design & Integration
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Describe the essential skill or experience:: Planning & leading development
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Describe the essential skill or experience:: Working with other disciplines to understand what needs to be built
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Describe the essential skill or experience:: Coaching and mentoring more junior colleagues
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Describe the essential skill or experience:: Finding ways to improve system robustness, resilience and stability
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Describe the nice-to-have skill or experience:: Previously developed military operator GUIs for decision making HMI experiments.
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 40
Describe the nice-to-have skill or experience:: Basic knowledge and understanding of maritime C2 systems and a typical RN warship's Combat Management System.
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 40
Describe the nice-to-have skill or experience:: Knowledge of Carmenta and ODIN and SADM models
Enter a weighting for this skill or experience in whole numbers, for example 30: 20
Explain the technical question:: Describe how you identify risks and dependencies and outline approaches to managing them while developing a digital service
Enter a weighting for this technical question in whole numbers, for example 30: 10
Explain the technical question:: From your knowledge of using or developing gaming engines and / or modelling and simulation environment, how you would use open data standards to connect multiple real time simulation models and keep them synchronised.
Enter a weighting for this technical question in whole numbers, for example 30: 30
Explain the technical question:: What tools and methods would you use to develop representative displays of real systems that allow display of a variety of data inputs and user controls?
Enter a weighting for this technical question in whole numbers, for example 30: 30
Explain the technical question:: What are the potential issues with working with 3rd party suppliers to integrate their software and how would you manage the risks?
Enter a weighting for this technical question in whole numbers, for example 30: 30
Your question: How do you challenge the status quo to drive the best outcomes for a project?
Enter a weighting for this question: 20
Your question: How will you share knowledge and experience with other members of the team?
Enter a weighting for this question: 30
Your question: How will you adapt your approach to work with teams or individuals with low technical expertise?
Enter a weighting for this question: 30
Your question: What will be your approach to demands for your time from multiple teams or other suppliers?
Enter a weighting for this question: 20
Explain the social value question: Policy Outcome: Increase supply chain resilience and capacity Award Criteria: Support innovation and disruptive technologies throughout the supply chain to deliver lower cost and/or higher quality goods and services. Using a maximum of 2,500 characters describe the commitment your organisation will make to ensure that opportunities under the contract deliver the Policy Outcome and Award Criteria. Please include: ● your ‘Method Statement’, stating how you will achieve this and how your commitment meets the Award Criteria, and ● a timed project plan and process, including how you will implement your commitment and by when. Also, how you will monitor, measure and report on your commitments/the impact of your proposals. You should include but not be limited to: ○ timed action plan ○ use of metrics ○ tools/processes used to gather data ○ reporting ○ feedback and improvement ○ transparency ● how you will influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities through the delivery of the contract to support the Policy Outcome, e.g. engagement, co-design/creation, training and education, partnering/collaborating, volunteering. Model Response Guidance for tenders can be found: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0620-taking-account-of-social-value-in-the-award-of-central-government-contracts
Enter a weighting for this question: 30
Explain the social value question: Policy Outcome: Increase supply chain resilience and capacity Award Criteria: Support the development of scalable and future-proofed new methods to modernise delivery and increase productivity. Using a maximum of 2,500 characters describe the commitment your organisation will make to ensure that opportunities under the contract deliver the Policy Outcome and Award Criteria. Please include: ● your ‘Method Statement’, stating how you will achieve this and how your commitment meets the Award Criteria, and ● a timed project plan and process, including how you will implement your commitment and by when. Also, how you will monitor, measure and report on your commitments/the impact of your proposals. You should include but not be limited to: ○ timed action plan ○ use of metrics ○ tools/processes used to gather data ○ reporting ○ feedback and improvement ○ transparency ● how you will influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities through the delivery of the contract to support the Policy Outcome, e.g. engagement, co-design/creation, training and education, partnering/collaborating, volunteering. Model Response Guidance for tenders can be found: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0620-taking-account-of-social-value-in-the-award-of-central-government-contracts
Enter a weighting for this question: 30
Explain the social value question: Policy Outcome: Increase supply chain resilience and capacity Award Criteria: Demonstrate action to identify and manage cyber security risks in the delivery of the contract including in the supply chain. Using a maximum of 2,500 characters describe the commitment your organisation will make to ensure that opportunities under the contract deliver the Policy Outcome and Award Criteria. Please include: ● your ‘Method Statement’, stating how you will achieve this and how your commitment meets the Award Criteria, and ● a timed project plan and process, including how you will implement your commitment and by when. Also, how you will monitor, measure and report on your commitments/the impact of your proposals. You should include but not be limited to: ○ timed action plan ○ use of metrics ○ tools/processes used to gather data ○ reporting ○ feedback and improvement ○ transparency ● how you will influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities through the delivery of the contract to support the Policy Outcome, e.g. engagement, co-design/creation, training and education, partnering/collaborating, volunteering. Model Response Guidance for tenders can be found: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-0620-taking-account-of-social-value-in-the-award-of-central-government-contracts
Enter a weighting for this question: 40

3. Timeline
Publication of stage 1: March 8, 2023, 12:00 AM
Clarification period closes: March 22, 2023, 1:00 PM
Deadline for suppliers to submit their stage 1 responses: March 30, 2023, 1:00 PM

Clarification questions and responses

There are no questions and clarifications relating to this opportunity.

Help

You can contact us by email, phone or using the enquiry form (opens in a new tab) .

Email:

info@crowncommercial.gov.uk

Telephone:

0345 410 2222

CCS customer services team is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Cookies on Contract Award Service (CAS)