Procurement details: RM1043.8-1-Software Development of Maritime Experimentation Lab (MarExLab)

• Term or acronym:

  SE

• Definition:

  Synthetic Environment

• Term or acronym:

  M&S

• Definition:

  Modelling & Simulation

• Term or acronym:

  S&T

• Definition:

  Science & Technology

• Term or acronym:

  TRL

• Definition:

  Technology Readiness Level

• Summary of work:

  Dstl requires a software developer to: 1) To assist in developing and maintaining an existing Synthetic Environment and required simulation components. 2) Enhance and maintain 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 and DDS protocols to allow operation with other SEs or datalinks.

• Where the supplied staff will work:

  South East England

• Why the work is being done:

  Maritime Command & Control Simulation Environments for above and below water have been developed at Dstl Portsdown West, which enable tactical and technical initiatives to be developed, integrated and tested in a MOD owned, cost effective setting. The SE’s have been built using various simulation engine types (including VBS) to generate and run underwater and above water warfare scenarios. Further development of the SE’s is required to build a comprehensive experimentation environment with new capabilities such as simulation of additional platforms, user displays and services and enable connection to other SEs, to allow the testing of new S&T concepts in order to provide low TRL validation prior to further testing and trials

• The business problem:

  Dstl conducts research on behalf of the RN into future maritime combat systems. The SE’s will be developed further to provide the ability to represent novel sensors and system concepts and work will be required to develop and assess 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

• User type:

  Dstl Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and Military Advisors

• Definition:

  SMEs and MAs

• User type:

  3rd party suppliers

• Definition:

  When undertaking development of technologies, apps and solutions for evaluation

• User type:

  Dstl researchers

• Definition:

  And experiment participants

• Work done so far:

  SE’s have been developed to host and stimulate a number of 3rd party applications for testing and assessment purposes. The SE’s are currently constructed from various Simulation Engines including VBS (providing scenario control), ODIN, Dangerous Waters and SEII (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. Bespoke modules supplied as Virtual Box instantiations have also been produced. Future expansion will look toward using such simulation engines as MACE and VR-FORCES. The tracks from the SE’s are distributed via a Data Distribution Service to installed applications which then process and feedback into the SE through DDS messages.

• Which phase the project is in:

  Live

• Existing team:

  The existing Dstl team for the SE consists of a technical lead and a senior 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:

  Although the selected supplier is free to work at home to undertake some of the development work, some elements of the work will involve access to classified systems (UK [S]) located at Dstl PDW. 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 much of the development work. Some elements of the work will however involve access to classified systems (UK [S]) located at Dstl PDW. 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

• Security and vetting requirements:

  Security Check (SC)

• More information about the Security requirements:

  SC is required. Preference for contractors to already hold SC clearance, however we would be willing to sponsor the SC clearance process. For team submission - One person in the team must have SC clearance.

• Latest start date:

  21 February 2024

• Contract length:

  1 years 4 months 0 days

• Optional extension:

  0 years 8 months 0 days

• special term or condition:

  Call-Off Schedule 17 (MOD Terms)

• special term or condition:

  DEFCON 76 - Contractor's Personnel at Government Establishments

• Indicative maximum:

  £1000000

• Indicative minimum:

  £350000

• Further information:

  Core 16 months budget range £350k – £650k. Optional 8 month extension budget range £175k – £350k

• Contracted out service or supply of resource?:

  Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply

• How many suppliers to evaluate:

  3

• Technical Competence:

  60%

• Cultural fit:

  10%

• Social values:

  10%

• Price:

  20%

• Essential skills and experience:

  40%

• Nice-to-have skills and experience:

  20%

• Technical questions:

  40%

• Description:

  Programming & build software engineering - using appropriate design approaches, development tools & coding standards, expertise in C++ and C#

• Weighting:

  30%

• Description:

  Systems Design & Integration

• Weighting:

  20%

• Description:

  Working within a development team

• Weighting:

  15%

• Description:

  Working with other disciplines to understand what needs to be built

• Weighting:

  15%

• Description:

  Coaching and mentoring more junior colleagues

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Finding ways to improve system robustness, resilience and stability

• Weighting:

  10%

• Description:

  Development of gaming engine and or modelling/simulation environments and real-time displays

• Weighting:

  30%

• Description:

  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

• Weighting:

  20%

• Description:

  Knowledge and experience of configuring synthetic environment and entities

• Weighting:

  20%

• Description:

  Using VBS (or other similar simulators), with skills in configuration, scripting and mission editing. Simulation SDK experience beneficial.

• Weighting:

  15%

• Description:

  Previously developed military operator GUIs for decision making HMI experiments

• Weighting:

  5%

• Description:

  Basic knowledge and understanding of maritime C2 systems and a typical RN warship's Combat Management System

• Weighting:

  5%

• Description:

  Knowledge of Carmenta and ODIN and SADM models.

• Weighting:

  5%

• Question:

  Describe how you identify risks and dependencies and outline approaches to managing them while developing a digital service

• Weighting:

  10%

• 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.

• Weighting:

  30%

• 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

• Weighting:

  30%

• Question:

  What are the potential issues with working with 3rd party suppliers to integrate their software and how would you manage the risks?

• Weighting:

  30%

• Question:

  How do you challenge the status quo to drive the best outcomes for a project?

• Weighting:

  20%

• Question:

  How will you share knowledge and experience with other members of the team?

• Weighting:

  30%

• Question:

  How will you adapt your approach to work with teams or individuals with low technical expertise?

• Weighting:

  30%

• Question:

  What will be your approach to demands for your time from multiple teams or other suppliers?

• Weighting:

  20%

• Question:

  MAC 3.2: Support innovation and disruptive technologies throughout the supply chain to deliver lower cost and/or higher quality goods and services.

• Weighting:

  30%

• Question:

  MAC 3.3: Support the development of scalable and future-proofed new methods to modernise delivery and increase productivity

• Weighting:

  30%

• Question:

  MAC 3.5: Demonstrate action to identify and manage cyber security risks in the delivery of the contract including in the supply chain

• Weighting:

  40%

• Pricing model:

  Time and materials

• Additional assessment methods:

  Interview

  Work history

• Question and answer session details:

  Not applicable

• Level:

  Exceeded

• Score:

  3

• Description:

  The response exceeds requirements, providing detail that minimises risks to delivery. The response is comprehensive and unambiguous, demonstrating a thorough understanding of the requirements and providing details of how the requirement will be met in full without additional support from the Contracting Authority, other than that outlined within the Statement of Requirements.

• Level:

  Met

• Score:

  2

• Description:

  The response is acceptable and meets all the basic requirements. However, the response is not sufficiently detailed to minimise risk and / or the proposed approach may require additional support (in addition to that outlined in the Statement of Requirements) from the Contracting Authority to meet its deliverables.

• Level:

  Partially met

• Score:

  1

• Description:

  The response has met some, but not all elements of the requirement, which poses risk that the proposal will not meet the deliverables required. The response does not demonstrate a full understanding of the requirement posing major concerns.

• Level:

  Not met

• Score:

  0

• Description:

  The response does not meet any of the requirements or no response has been provided. An unacceptable and / or non-compliant response with serious reservations, demonstrating no understanding of the requirement.

• Publication of stage 1:

  11/12/2023

• Clarification period closes:

  20/12/2023 17:00

• Deadline for suppliers to submit their stage 1 responses:

  2024-01-15T17:00:00Z

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