Competition Document: Open Call for Innovation
Updated 26 September 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-and-security-accelerator-dasa-open-call-for-innovation/open-call-competition-document
1. What is the Open Call?
The Open Call is one of the funding competition mechanisms DASA uses to find proposals that address challenges faced by government stakeholders. It gives bidders the opportunity to present their ideas to defence and security stakeholders at any time, without waiting for a relevant Themed Competition.
2. What are we looking for?
The Open Call is looking for innovative ideas to improve the defence and security of the UK. Your idea could be a concept, technology or service. We currently run two distinct submission sections under the Open Call; Defence Rapid Impact and Innovation Focus Areas, details of each are given in the dedicated sections below.
DASA has a team of Innovation Partners that can provide you with support in working with DASA. If you’re interested in working with DASA, wonder if your idea may be relevant, want to discuss a specific competition, or need some guidance on how to submit a proposal, we encourage you to speak to your local DASA Innovation Partner.
Please note that DASA reserve the right to consider any proposal submitted under any of the submission sections if the proposal is viewed as more applicable to another section than that to which it was originally submitted.
It is expected that some proposals will be relevant to both defence and security.
3. Defence Rapid Impact
The Defence Rapid Impact Open Call for Innovation funded by the Defence Innovation Fund opens and closes for a number of cycles during the year. Previously, the Call has always been open to new innovation ideas being submitted by Innovators.
Suppliers may submit proposals into the Defence Rapid Impact section which address any defence challenge in line with the following requirements.
Defence Rapid Impact Innovations are viewed as those which will deliver a technology model or prototype demonstration at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or 7. This demonstration should be at a limited scale, in the hands of end users, and in the context or environment in which it is expected that the solution would be used. To be successful it will also have to provide evidence of how other MOD/Security business and capability requirements, such as the Defence Lines of Development (DLOD), could be satisfied should the project to be taken forward after the pilot.
Your project should have a realistic prospect of achieving an impact within a 3 year time frame from the completion of the project. Proposals will therefore only be funded if there is a strong customer requirement and capability need for the idea. Proposals could be pre-sifted from the competition prior to full assessment if user need is not explained.
No funding limit is specified, however we would typically expect to fund bids between £100K - £250K. Proposals that demonstrate value for money will be viewed favourably. Please see examples of previous funded work here.
Defence Rapid Impact proposals are contracted under the Innovation Standard Contract. Please review the DASA terms and conditions before submitting your proposal.
4. Security Rapid Impact
The Security Rapid Impact Open Call will not reopen before December 2024. In the meantime, we have a range of security focused competitions launched and in the pipeline so please keep an eye on the DASA website for further information.
Please follow the link to the previous Security Rapid Open Call Competition Information for previous cycles for reference only.
5. Innovation Focus Areas
While DASA are interested in funding a broad range of projects within the Open Call, we also seek proposals to address more specific enduring challenges faced by our defence and security customers. These are called Innovation Focus Areas (IFAs). Unlike DASA Themed Competitions, these are often broad in scope and will always be open for a minimum of two Open Call cycles.
If you are interested in any of the Innovation Focus Areas, please select the relevant IFA unique identifier number when creating your submission within the Innovation Focus Areas selection choices. Please note that both defence and security IFAs can be submitted under the Innovation Focus Areas section of Open Call.
6. What should be included in your proposal?
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. It is also helpful to 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. 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 project and a close down meeting at the end of project. Your proposal must demonstrate how you will complete all activities/services and provide all deliverables within the timescales. 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 to work on the project. In the event of proposals being recommended for funding, 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 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 so please propose a substitute if available.
Failure to provide any of the above listed will automatically render your proposal non-compliant.
6.1 Public facing information
When submitting your proposal, you will be required to include a proposal title, short abstract and Proposal Value Proposition Statement (PVPS). The title, abstract and PVPS 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 and included in documentation such as brochures.
7. Competition process and assessment
Open Call proposals will be subject to the full competition process and assessed using the criteria as detailed on the Competition process and assessment page.
DASA reserves the right to disclose on a confidential basis any information it receives from you during the procurement process, which includes the full proposal, to any third party engaged by DASA for the specific purpose of evaluating or assisting DASA in the evaluation of your proposal. In providing such information you consent to such disclosure. Appropriate confidentiality agreements will be put in place.
Where a proposal meets the fundable requirements for a competition, but is not funded, DASA will continue to seek funding from partners across government and shall consider your proposal fundable for 12 months from the date of the decision release. We will share the abstract, PVPS and title of your proposal with any other UK government departments that may express an interest in funding the proposal through DASA, in accordance with the competition document. If a budget holder within the MOD wishes to read the full proposal to decide if they will fund it, we will share it with them under these circumstances. If it is within 60 days of the original NOT FUNDED decision release date, we will share the full proposal with them without seeking your permission. If it is over 60 days since the original NOT FUNDED decision we will seek your permission before sharing the full proposal with them.
For other potential funders, we will seek your permission before sharing the full proposal regardless of the number of days since the original NOT FUNDED decision release.
In the event that funding becomes available, DASA may ask whether you would still be prepared to undertake the work outlined in your proposal under the same terms. Your official DASA feedback will indicate if your proposal was deemed fundable, but not awarded funding at the time.
Competition results are normally released on or shortly after the decision date.
7.1 Cyber risk assessment
On receipt of a ‘Fund’ decision, successful suppliers must submit a Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ). The SAQ allows suppliers to demonstrate compliance with the specified risk level and the corresponding profile in Def Stan 05-138, the levels of controls required will depend on this risk level.
Successful Suppliers will be emailed a Risk Assessment Reference (RAR) number and corresponding risk level, and must use this to complete a SAQ here. The completed SAQ form and resulting email response from Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP) must be downloaded and returned to DASA. Further guidance can be found at: DCPP: Cyber Security Model industry buyer and supplier guide.
If the SAQ reveals deficiencies then a Cyber Implementation Plan (CIP) is needed and requires approval before a contract can be awarded.
If you any questions please contact accelerator@dstl.gov.uk
8. Competition closing dates
The Open Call for Innovation runs throughout the year. Assessment starts the day after the competition cycle closing date.
A list of the cycle closing dates for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 are shown below. Proposals must be submitted through the DASA Submission Service by midday (UK time) on the closing date given.
For upcoming Innovation Focus Areas, please check the Competition Pipeline on the homepage. Cycle dates are below.
The Defence Rapid Impact Open Call for Innovation funded by the Defence Innovation Fund opens and closes for a number of cycles during the year. Previously, the Call has always been open to new innovation ideas being submitted by Innovators.
If you would like to work on a proposal ahead of Defence Rapid Impact re-opening, please use the offline template to prepare your information.
8.1 2023/2024
| Cycle | Competition opens at midday | Competition closes at midday | Decision released by | Feedback released by |
| 5 | 29 November 2023 | 6 March 2024 | 5 June 2024 | 12 June 2024 |
8.2 2024/2025
| Cycle | Competition opens at midday | Competition closes at midday | Decision released by | Feedback released by | |
| 1 | (Defence Rapid Only) | 6 March 2024 | 14 May 2024 | 23 August 2024 | 6 September 2024 |
| 1 | (IFAs Only) | 23 April 2024 | 11 June 2024 | 23 August 2024 | 6 September 2024 |
| 2 | (IFAs Only) | 11 June 2024 | 3 September 2024 | 15 November 2024 | 22 November 2024 |
| 3 | (Defence Rapid and IFAs) | 3 September 2024 | 19 November 2024 | 28 February 2025 | 7 March 2025 |
| 4 | (Defence Rapid and IFAs) | 19 November 2024 | 25 February 2025 | 9 May 2025 | 16 May 2025 |