Notice

Competition document: metasurfaces for defence and security phase 2

Published 5 September 2019

1. Introduction

This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition is seeking proposals for novel and innovative technologies and approaches that translate recent breakthroughs in metasurface science into practical demonstrational products. This will enable the military and wider government to harness a revolution in electromagnetic hardware.

We are interested in both novel metasurfaces and/or the manufacturing technologies to integrate them into platforms. We wish to better understand the benefits that current and future metasurface technology can bring to front-line capability. This covers applications across the electromagnetic spectrum (from radio frequencies to the ultraviolet), intended to improve the long-term tactical advantage for the UK military. Following on from Phase 1 of the competition, where the focus was on proof of concept demonstrators at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2+, Phase 2 seeks more mature demonstrations at TRL 3+.

Please note this is the second phase of funding for a multi-phase competition. It is not compulsory to have been involved in previous phases to apply. You should however make yourself aware of the previous competition, metasurfaces for defence and security phase 1, and our transparency data. Work for this phase will need to reach higher maturity than work funded in Phase 1.

Phase 2 of this competition has up to £500k to fund multiple proof of concept proposals. Additional funding may be available for further phases of this competition to develop the technology to a higher TRL. DASA will be encouraging and facilitating collaboration between organisations throughout the competition phases.

The competition will close at midday GMT on 31 October 2019.

2. Competition scope

2.1 Background

Emerging from the broader field of bulk 3D metamaterials, metasurfaces have made a huge academic impact by demonstrating both conventional and novel functions whilst being sub-wavelength in thickness. The 2D form of metamaterials makes them better suited to real world applications, often reducing fabrication demands compared to bulk metamaterials, even when complex topology is employed. Advanced metasurfaces may be capable of extended bandwidth, be dynamically reconfigurable, or have other beneficial properties.

Fundamental research has shown metasurfaces to be more capable than initially expected, in terms of bandwidth and reconfigurable effects, and how the surface can modify the fundamental characteristics of electromagnetic waves through reflection, refraction, attenuation and scattering. This is combined with them being easier to manufacture and to potentially integrate into existing platforms than bulk (volumetric) metamaterials.

The electromagnetic environment is critical to future defence and security operations, and it is anticipated that this environment will become ever more contested and congested. We would like to advance the role of metasurfaces to enhance military capability within this challenging space.

2.2 Scope

For the purpose of this competition we regard a metasurface as ‘a man-made 2D (or quasi-2D) surface with properties defined by the spatial arrangement (topology) of specific materials on subwavelength scales’. The surfaces may comprise more than 1 material, have a finite thickness and comprise 1 or more layers. The properties of the surface may be enhanced by the topology operating in concert with the inherent properties of 1 or more material(s) located within the metasurface.

The focus of development can be on either: studying the metasurface topology and associated properties, or research into a known added material selected to offer enhanced performance, or both. We are interested in metasurface advances of direct relevance to applications (both defence and security, and potential wider civilian applications). Our primary focus though is on electromagnetic and acoustic metasurfaces which have potential defence or security applications, and we would like applicants to highlight any dual-use relevance.

Whilst we are interested in metasurface advances of direct relevance to real world applications (both defence and security, and potential wider civilian applications), our primary focus is on electromagnetic and acoustic metasurfaces which have potential in defence or security applications. We would like applicants to highlight any dual-use or cross-sector relevance.

3. Competition challenges

3.1 Challenges

The key challenge is to demonstrate novel, relevant concepts for application of metasurfaces. This includes technical performance of metasurfaces (such as increased bandwidth, greater efficiency or improved dynamic control) and also includes metasurfaces which can be more easily incorporated onto platforms.

We would like bidders to focus on experimental demonstrations of the novel technology, but with some consideration given to the practical steps required to support any final application(s), including: manufacturing, integration, testing, and through life resilience.

Ultimately, the outcomes we are hoping to inspire include::

• enabling of new capabilities through the use of novel technology
• maximising capabilities within mass constraints (for example, through multi-functionality, miniaturisation or being conformal)
• improved interoperability within and across platforms
• compatible pan-, multi- and hyperspectral system operation
• setting the path towards long-term cost reduction through technology advances and improved modular integration

Phase 2 proposals should be focused towards specific applications and should inform the viability of achieving 1 or more of these key technical outcomes and progressive maturation from TRL 3+.

3.2 Clarification of what we want

We are primarily interested in metasurfaces that operate in the electromagnetic spectrum. We have particular interest from 100 MHz to 100 GHz (loosely labelled as ‘radio frequency and microwave’) and from the far infrared to the ultraviolet (15THz to 1 PHz, or 0.3 to 20 μm, loosely labelled as ‘electro-optical’).

We are secondarily interested in considering compelling proposals for analogous metasurface concepts applied to sound, vibration, and other dynamic thermo-mechanical effects in structures where the defence relevance is made clear. The case for this technology would need to be compelling over alternative electromagnetic approaches.

A recent Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) review provides good insight to previous metamaterials research. We are seeking proposals beyond this previous work and a key test will be if it is ready for accelerated TRL maturation in the context of our stated needs.

Your proposal should include:

• innovation and creativity
• novel ideas for defence and/or security
• advances beyond narrow band passive metasurfaces
• a clear pathway to future exploitation
• clear demonstration of how the proposed work builds on existing published or open knowledge

We wish to promote the translation of relevant metasurface science into technology concepts through experimental demonstrators. To this end, ideally we are seeking to promote collaborations between organisations in order to deliver the required demonstrators.

3.3 Clarification of what we do not want

For this competition we are not interested in proposals for:

• any work that offers only a written report including consultancy, paper-based studies, literature reviews, mathematical models of innovative metasurfaces or solely theoretical research
• solutions that do not offer significant benefit to defence or security
• that only demonstrate feasibility to TRL <3
• solutions that cannot demonstrate feasibility within the Phase 2 timescale
• minor improvements in existing high TRL (TRL 5+) technologies
• demonstrations of off-the-shelf products requiring no experimental development
• identical resubmission of a previous bid to DASA or MOD without modification
• narrow-band passive metasurfaces
• solutions which offer no real long-term prospect of integration into defence capabilities
• solutions with no real prospect of out-competing existing technological solutions

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 the competition and subsequent phases are 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. DASA Innovation Partners are available to support you with defence and security context.

You may wish to include some of the following information, where known, to help the assessors understand your exploitation plans:

• the intended defence or security users of your final product and whether you have previously engaged with them, their procurement arm or their research and development arm
• awareness of, and alignment to, any existing end-user procurement programmes
• the anticipated benefits (for example, in cost, time, improved capability) that your solution will provide to the user
• whether it is likely to be a standalone product or integrated with other technologies or platforms
• expected additional work required beyond the end of the contract to develop an operationally deployable commercial product (for example, ‘scaling up’ for manufacture, cyber security, integration with existing technologies, environmental operating conditions)
• additional future applications and markets for exploitation
• wider collaborations and networks you have already developed or any additional relationships you see as a requirement to support exploitation
• how your product could be tested in a representative environment in later phases
• any specific legal, commercial or regulatory considerations for exploitation

5. How to apply

Phase 2 proposals for funding to meet these challenges must be submitted by 12 midday (GMT) on 31 October 2019 via the DASA submission service for which you will be required to register.

The funding of £500k (ex VAT) is expected to fund at least 2 proposals. Individual proposals cannot exceed £250K (ex VAT) but we welcome bids lower than this amount. If successful, Phase 2 contracts will be awarded for a maximum duration of 12 months.

Additional funding for subsequent phases to increase TRL further towards exploitation may be available. Any further phases will be open to applications from all suppliers and not just those that submitted Phase 2 successful bids.

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

5.1 What your proposal must include

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 Phase 2 proposals must comply with the financial rules set for this competition. The upper-limit for this competition is £250k (ex VAT). Proposals will be rejected if the financial cost exceeds this capped level. It is also helpful to include a list of other current or recent government funding you may have received in this area if appropriate (excluding Phase 1 funding), making it clear how this proposal differs from this work.

Your proposal must demonstrate how you will complete all research and development activities/services and provide all deliverables within the competition timescales (12 months). A project plan with clear milestones and deliverables must be provided. 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 Phase 2, a mid-project event and an end of project event at the end of Phase 2, as well as regular reviews with the appointed Technical Partner and Project Manager; all meetings will be in the UK. Proposals with any deliverables (including final report) outside the competition 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.

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 3 months therefore you should plan your work programme accordingly. Further details are available in the DASA guidance. If you are unsure if your proposal will need to apply for MODREC approval, then please contact DASA for further guidance.

In addition, requirements for access to Government Furnished Assets (GFA) should be included in your proposal. DASA cannot guarantee that GFA will be available.

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

5.2 Public facing information

When submitting your proposal, you will be required to include a proposal title and a short abstract. If your proposal is funded, the title and abstract you provide will be used by DASA, and other government departments as appropriate, to describe the project and its intended outcomes and benefits. It will be used for inclusion at DASA events in relation to this competition and included in documentation such as brochures for the event. Your 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.

5.3 How your proposal will be assessed

At Stage 1, all proposals will be checked for compliance with the competition document and may be rejected before full assessment if they do not comply. Only those proposals who demonstrate their compliance against the competition 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:

Mandatory Criteria

The proposal outlines how it meets the scope of the competition.	Within scope (Pass) / Out of scope (Fail)
The proposal fully explains in all three sections of the DASA submission service how it meets the DASA criteria	Pass / Fail
The proposal clearly details a financial plan, a project plan and a resourcing plan to complete the work proposed in Phase 2	Pass / Fail
The proposal identifies the need (or not) for MODREC approval	Pass / Fail
The proposal identifies any GFA required for Phase 2	Pass / Fail
Maximum value of proposal is £250k (ex VAT)	Pass / Fail
The proposal demonstrates how all R&D activities/services (including delivery of the final report) will be completed within 12 months from award of contract (or less)	Pass / Fail
The bidder confirms unqualified acceptance of the terms and conditions of Contract.	Pass/Fail

Proposals 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.

5.4 Things you should know about DASA contracts

Please read the DASA terms and conditions which contain important information for suppliers. For this competition we will be utilising the Standardised Contracting (SC) Innovation Contract, links to the contract here: Terms and Schedules. We will require unqualified acceptance of the terms and conditions. For the avoidance of any doubt, for this Themed Competition we are NOT using the DASA Short Form Contract (SFC).

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.

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

For this phase, £500k is currently available to fund proposals. There may be occasions where additional funding from other funding lines (including from within MOD, from other government departments and from other public bodies) 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.

Phase 2 competition opens	5 September 2019
Dial-in	12 September 2019
Pre bookable 1-1 telecom sessions	12 September 2019
Competition closes	31 October 2019
Contracting	Aim to start mid-February 2020 for 1 year

6. Supporting events

12 September 2019 – A dial-in session providing further detail on the problem space and a chance to ask questions in an open forum. If you would like to participate, please register on the Dial In Eventbrite page.

12 September 2019 – A series of 20 minute 1-1 teleconference sessions, giving you the opportunity to ask specific questions. If you would like to participate, please register on the 1-1 Eventbrite page.

7. Help

Competition queries including on process, application, technical, commercial and intellectual property aspects should be sent to accelerator@dstl.gov.uk, quoting the competition title. 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 suppliers.