Guidance

Novel Disruptive Science Impacting Future Defence and Security: FAQ

Updated 8 March 2024

1. Scope and Competition Details

Q: What is the TRL level expected to reach at the end of the project?

A: There is no expected TRL to be reached at the end of the project, but you have to start at TRL 1 or 2. Where you get to by the end of the project is up to you. We expect risky, novel ideas, and experimentation to progress them. As we are looking at novel ideas, we fully expect some things not to work. Some may not progress at all, but in terms of the project we will be happy as long as you can demonstrate you have done the work. We are looking to push novel ideas forward, and see how disruptive they might be to defence in the future.

Q: Can you expand on some element of experimentation, modelling, trials i.e. it’s not entirely clear what level or type is expected at these low TRL levels?

A: I’ve included those words to explain that you must generate new data, and do something new. We can be flexible about what that means, but we really want to exclude literature reviews. As long as in some way your bid generates new data through trialling, modelling or simulation, then we will be happy to accept it. We don’t want literature reviews. If there is a small amount of review which generates new data, that is absolutely fine.

Q: Define ‘Novel’ and ‘Disruptive’

A: We have a definition of disruptive in the competition document: “disruptive impact is something that radically alters how we do things, this can be positive or negative”.

For novel we mean something that is new unfamiliar to Defence and/or Security. We are looking for new ideas - things that are low TRL and that we haven’t seen before.

Q: Is the idea expected to work? Or are high risk - high reward ideas valued, even if that might have a higher fail rate

A: We are expecting to have lots of high risk proposals submitted. Yes - high risk, high reward ideas - you don’t get real novelty without chance of failure. We are expecting research and progress and if this doesn’t work, we want to know that you’ve tried and done the research.

Q: Is there a list of past winners of this call available?

A: You can see the names of the proposals which were funded through the 2022 version of this competition on this GOV.UK page.

Q: How many proposals (Phase 1 and 2) do you expect to fund?

A: 15 proposals will be funded in Phase 1; Phase 2 is more uncertain. We may fund any number of them, but it will only be from that pool of 15 successful bids from Phase 1. We have £750K (ex VAT) for each phase, £50k (ex VAT) will be awarded to each successful proposal in Phase 1. A further £150k (ex VAT) will be available to successful bids in Phase 2. We expect to fund 5 Phase 2 proposals, however this is not certain at this stage.

Q: If a proposal narrowly misses out on receiving funding from the £750k (ex VAT) set aside for Phase 1 projects is there any prospect that it will be funded through another source?

A: The Dstl Futures Programme has the ability to fund 15 proposals from its budget. Bids are assessed as either ‘Fundable’ or ‘Not Fundable’, and the Futures Programme will pay for the top 15 of those deemed fundable.

Any fundable proposals not in the top 15 can be funded by other sources (Dstl, or wider government). Many proposals in the 2022 version of this competition were funded through alternative means; as long as it is considered fundable, there is a chance it will be picked up elsewhere. However it should be emphasised that this is not guaranteed and it may be that no proposals beyond the top 15 are funded.

Q: Is the potential Phase 2 work also for a fixed duration, and will the expectations be set depending on project status at end of Phase 1?

A: Phase 2 will be for 1 year. The elements on which you will be evaluated are how your project progresses in Phase 1, and the proposal you submit into Phase 2.

Q: Do you consider a proof of concept and/or a non-literature review journal paper as acceptable outcomes (i.e. to show contribution to knowledge/science)?

A: As long as you can demonstrate some new knowledge has been gained over the course of the project then that is acceptable. If your bid is purely a literature review, an assessment of literature and pulling together other people’s information, then we are not interested in this.  If you get new novel ideas, then that is fine. If the data has been already been collected and has been written up as a journal paper, then this would not be acceptable.

Q:  Are the only expected outputs from a proposal the final report and presentation? Will there be any other development?

A: The minimum output is the report (5000-7000 words plus any supporting images and diagrams) and a mandated 20 minute presentation to a MoD Board. Although we are happy to receive deliverables in other formats, these would be in addition to the report and presentation.

Q: Is a demonstration required in Phase 1?

A: Demonstration is not required, although we will need you to show how you have generated new data relating to your novel idea.

Q: Are there any changes that you’ve made this year based on lessons learned from the previous iteration of this competition this time last year?

A: The first change is that we will have a Phase 2 to this competition; last year we didn’t have the option to continue progressing the proposals with most potential. We have also expanded the competition to include Security-focused proposals. We have changed the assessment criteria as the standard DASA criteria were not completely applicable last year. The proposal form has been updated to make it easier for you to bid, and for MOD to assess.

Q: Do you accept multidisciplinary research?

A: Yes, we are happy to accept multidisciplinary work.

Q: Will ideas that are applicable to Defence and/or Security and also have a broader application be considered?

A: If an idea or concept has a dual-use application then yes, that is fine.

Q: Would it be possible to publish the low TRL outcomes of a Phase 1 project?

A: Yes, but If you want to publish in a journal, you would need to go through Dstl’s Permissions Board who would then grant you permission to do so. This permission would only not be given for a very significant reason. Your Technical Partner will help you with the process.

2. Applying to DASA

Q: The competition document mentions a Supplier Assurance Questionnaire (SAQ). Do I have to provide details including my reference number and proof of a response from the DCPP?

A: We welcome innovators to have considered cyber risks ahead of submitting a proposal. If you do not have a SAQ or DCPP reference number at time of submitting you will not be penalised during assessment. If you do have this information and are chosen for funding in Phase 1 then it will make the contracting process more efficient. You can include any relevant information in the Additional Supporting Data section of the proposal submission template.

Q: Can outputs be at a higher classification than OFFICIAL, especially when describing ‘Disruptiveness’ and application? 

A: We only allow OFFICIAL on our submission form. If your project is funded and progresses beyond that classification level, then we will be able to work to higher classification levels.

Q: Please could you outline what the benefits would be to a business in applying for the themed competition compared to the Open Call?

A: This themed competition is focused on very low TRL. Open Call projects have to finish at TRL 6/7 within two years. Depending on your technology, it can be very difficult to progress very low TRL ideas up to TRL6 in this timeframe.

This competition allows you to think about low TRL ideas and do some work that is novel and high risk. It also provides a potential Phase 2 for further progression to a higher TRL. If you think you can reach TRL6 in 2 years, you should contact your Innovation Partner­ who will be able to advise further

Q: How are proposals evaluated and who does the evaluation?

A: We have a specialised set of criteria linked here. These are similar to the typical DASA assessment criteria. There a few changes that reflect that we are focused on low maturity and high risk ideas, where a concrete exploitation path is not clear at this point.

Proposals are assessed by subject matter experts across multiple disciplines following these criteria. They will be mostly from Dstl, however DASA can reach out to experts in the UK Government for assessments depending on the need.

Q: How long will each expert spend assessing my proposal?

A: Assessors will spend 30 minutes assessing each proposal. Multiple assessors and a moderator will evaluate every proposal that meets our mandatory criteria.

Q: Do you prefer a proposal from a solo organisation, or a collaboration between multiple organisations?

A: There is no preference at all.

Q:  Is there a limit on the number of applications you can make?

A: No, we are happy for you to submit multiple proposals. Note that if more than one of your proposals is good enough to fund, we will expect you to be able to complete all the work within the timeline. It is inadvisable to over commit yourself, and find yourself unable to complete all the work.

Q: Can university research laboratories apply as lead participants?

A: Yes.

Q: Will you accept proposals from innovators or organisations that are from or are currently based outside of the UK?

A: Yes, we accept proposals from outside the UK, and people inside UK who are not UK citizens.

Q: Which service category (e.g. Themed, Open Call, etc.) should we choose for this competition?

A: On ECS, click on Themed Competitions to find this call. You cannot apply to Phase 2 at this point. Phase 2 will only be open to those who have successfully presented their work to the MoD board at the end of Phase 1.

Q: Will you have a dedicated proposal template for this call?

A: Yes we have a special template for this competition. It should take less time to fill out than a normal DASA proposal.

Q: Is there an offline version of the proposal form to show the format?

A: The application for this competition is different to the normal DASA application form, although there are some similarities. There is an offline PDF of the normal form, but not of this competition specific form. It is simple to go on the online portal and have a look at the application, save your progress and come back to it later on. You don’t have to fill it in all at once.

Q: If a proposal was rejected from Open Call for its low TRL and Novel nature can these be resubmitted here?

A: It depends on what stage the proposal was rejected. If you were rejected at pre-sift and your idea was not assessed, you will be able to submit a bid to this competition as long as it fits into the requirement. But if it was assessed and given a ‘No Fund’ decision, then it cannot be resubmitted unless you have been specifically invited to revise and resubmit (this is quite rare). If you’re unsure, you should have a conversation with you Innovation Partner. This link can be used to find your local Innovation Partner, who will be able to help you decide if you’re able to resubmit.

Q: Is it possible to know if my proposal is successful earlier than March 2024?

A: The Competition closes at midday (GMT) on 5th December 2023, and the timeline is set such that that all proposals can be assessed, moderated and challenged by our experts. The relevant dates are listed here. If it is possible to speed up these stages we will try to do so, but it is unlikely. You should write your proposal on the assumption that the timeline listed in the competition document will be followed.

3. Commercial and Regulatory

Q: What if the project cost is below £50K (ex VAT), what is the rounding up margin?

A: You should put £50K (ex VAT) for your total costs, ensuring it is a reasonable sum for what you plan to do. If your work plan is costed to below that amount you should add in some additional research to make it £50K (ex VAT). It you request less or more than exactly £50k, your application will be rejected and will not be assessed.

Q: Is there some flexibility in the start date of the project?

A: We’re expecting to be on contract April 2024 and finish September 2024, ready to brief the MOD Board by the end of September 2024.

Q: Can the project be shorter than 5 months in duration?

A: You should plan for 5 months work, but if you finish work in (for example) August rather than September then that’s acceptable.

Q: Is the project a commercial contract?

A: It is a contract, so we can only pay for work (deliverables) completed.

Q: Are catch up calls and interim reporting required?

A: The competition document states that there will be meetings with the Project Manager (PM) and Technical Partner (TP). No formal interim reports are required, but it will be beneficial to have regular catch up meetings and engage with the PM and TP closely.

Q: If my idea concerns countering a chemical or biological weapon of mass destruction, am I required to show that this research doesn’t contravene the biological weapons convention?

A: The research must comply with the law, whether that law relates to chemical or biological weapons, or anything else. Please also note that this competition is up to OFFICIAL only, and as a result some subject matters and information may not be appropriate.

Q: Can we resell to governments of allied nations (e.g. Five-Eyes partners) or are you going to share the outcomes with allies such as the USA?

A: DASA will not pay for work other organisations are already paying for. If you’re applying for both at the same time, then this must be acknowledged in the proposal. If two pieces of work are connected and rely on each other, you would need to tell us how you intend to progress with the work if funding from another source isn’t granted. You may be better off only applying for one of the competitions. We have transparency info on our landing page, where we publish online the name of the supplier, project name and funding received. So you might need to have a think about that.

Under DEFCON 705 the Contractor shall retain ownership of all IP funded under the project however Dstl/MOD shall retain certain rights of use of the technical deliverables provided under the Contract which could include sharing with other governments under MOUs.

Q: Do we need a NATO number to submit?

A: No, but you must tell us about previous funding related to your idea including any from NATO.