Procurement description
Project UBIQUITY: System Integrator Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
1. Introduction. The Authority is inviting expressions of interest from industry to provide a ‘System Integrator’ (SI) Role for Project UBIQUITY.
2. Overview. Project UBIQUITY is to provide an evolving Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver capability through iterative spirals, initially focussing on multi-domain hardware to provide the End User a platform which allows for future growth.
3. UBIQUITY spirals are all beholden to the Standards for Integrated C5ISR/EW Systems (STICS), where the key driver is the adoption of the Open Component Portability Infrastructure (OpenCPI) software standard to ensure efficiency and coherency across the fleet, focussing on delivering a minimal training burden for the End User.
4. The SI is a key element of Project UBIQUITY, providing a single interface to enable the design, development and integration of all elements of the Project. The SI shall also be responsible for ongoing In-Service support and management.
5. The SI Role is notably to utilise industry SQEP to facilitate technical discussions with the Authority on suggested designs to meet the System Requirement Specification. Upon agreement of design, the SI shall liaise with the Authority who shall be utilising a Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Framework Agreement (RM6393); which shall be managed and maintained by the Authority, to support Authority competitions to select the best of breed components that meet the agreed design. However, if the CCS Framework Agreement is deemed an unsuitable route, the SI may be asked to source the best of breed components on the Authorities behalf. Both routes will be assessed on a case-by-case basis dependent on the requirement being delivered.
6. Roles and Responsibilities. To provide some context to what is required from the SI, Roles and Responsibilities (R&R) have been created that describe the top-level expectations to be delivered throughout the life of the Contract. The R&R will grow, and a full breakdown will be provided upon application of Invitation to Tender (ITT) stage:
a. System Requirements Finalisation. Assist the Authority in finalising Measures of Performance within the project System Requirements Document (SRD) to ensure they are valid and also consider future technical advancements.
b. System Design and Delivery. Generate technical designs and assessments based on the generated SRD (as per para 5.a.). Additionally, overarching responsibility for capability delivery and the Through Life Support against spiral requirements is also a key aspect of the SI.
c. Requirements Tracking. Whether from End User input or Spiral feedback, future Spiral Requirements will be improved from feedback on previous iterations. The SI is required to help inform these discussions when applicable.
d. Contract an Enabler. Set up, manage, and maintain an independent company (also known as the ‘Enabler’) who is able to integrate commercially sensitive aspects within the System Solution. See Para 6 for more information.
e. Integration. Platform Integration across multiple domains is necessary to ensure seamless connectivity physically between Platforms and the System Solution.
f. Resource Management. Set up, manage, and maintain a Core Support Project Team to provide a baseline resource. Additionally, be able to generate a ‘surge’ team on a Spiral Specific basis to care for specific needs as and when they are required. In each team, appropriate Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (SQEP) must be maintained.
7. Enabler. Whether subcontracted, part of a consortium, or through alternate means, a separate entity must be contracted by the SI to deliver software, firmware or other integration of sensitive information / source code. Determined as the ‘Enabler’ role, at minimum this company must:
a. Hold & maintain Facilities Security Clearance (FSC) & appropriate SQEP for the duration of the contract.
b. Have no linkage (parent or subsidiary) to the SI.
c. Be independent from the SI.
8. Security Measures. The SI Role must hold and maintain (FSC) for the duration of the Contract.
9. Procurement Procedure. The Authority intends to follow the principles of the Competitive Flexible Procedure under the new Procurement Act 2023, that went live on 24 Feb 25. Utilising this Procedure will allow for a multi-staged Tender process.
10. A Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) (previously known as a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ)), is intended to be issued by the Authority in Q2 of FY 25/26. This PSQ will enable the Authority to down select a number of suppliers to invite to Tender. The PSQ will be published with a marking scheme against all questions, including mandatory pass/fail.
11. Market Engagement. An Industry Day will be held post PSQ responses where the Authority will be providing additional Project information prior to ITT issue. The indicative Contract Award date for this Project is Q2 of FY26/27, this is subject to change and approvals.
RM6393 Find a Tender Notice: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013811-2025