Notice

SBRI competition brief: metal detection for fast parcels

Updated 12 October 2016

This notice was withdrawn on 21 September 2017

This competition is no longer open. Search current funding opportunities.

1. Dates and deadlines

Competition opens	Monday 19 September 2016
Application clinic	Wednesday 5 October 2016
Registration deadline	Noon on Wednesday 5 October 2016
Application deadline	Noon on Wednesday 12 October 2016

2. The competition scope

The aim of this competition is to fund the development of a metal detector. It must activate an alarm when detecting threat items. The techniques should be suitable for the conveyor systems used at fast parcel depots. Proposals should be suitable for the fast parcel environment. They should focus on either of the following activities:

• modifying existing equipment to activate an alarm when threat items are detected. The project should produce a demonstration prototype with user instructions. Home Office staff will trial this prototype by testing it against a set of representative threats in a non-operational scenario
• developing novel detection techniques that will activate an alarm when threat items are detected. The output should be a lab demonstration of the device and a detailed project report

Range of items to be detected

A full list will be made available when the contract is awarded. This will include a range of metallic, combined metallic and some non-metallic threat items, in a range of sizes. The Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) can provide controlled access to the representative detection environment and threats. Please state clearly in your proposal what you would like CAST to provide.

Representative detection environment for the lab demonstration

• threat items will be concealed in various parcels measuring up to 750mm x 750mm x 750mm
• parcels will represent items passing through a fast parcel hub. They will contain a range of other objects and materials. These will include organic materials such as fabric and paper, and inorganic materials including a range of other metal objects. It is expected that the device will detect threat items from among these items
• solutions are expected to identify threat items when other metals are in close proximity
• parcels will be on a conveyor belt 800mm wide. The belt will run at speeds up to 1 metre per second
• threat items should be detected in all possible orientations
• the system should be capable of scanning multiple objects on the conveyor at once

3. Projects that we won’t fund

In this competition we are not funding projects solely focused on:

• the detection of explosives
• detection of metallic threat items using x-ray
• trace detection

4. Find out if you are eligible to apply

The Home Office is seeking to fund the development of innovative products by industry and academia.

To lead a project, you must:

• be a UK-based business or university
• carry out your project in the UK

5. Funding and project details

The Home Office has allocated up to £150,000 to fund innovation projects in this competition.

We will award funding across several contracts. We expect contracts to range in size from total costs of £30,000 to £50,000, depending on the type of project. All contracts must be completed by 31 March 2017.

6. How to apply

To apply:

• register online
• read the guidance for applicants
• attend the application clinic in central London on 5 October 2016
• complete and submit your online application form on our secure server

We will not accept late submissions. Your application is confidential.

A panel of independent experts will assess your proposal. We will then choose the best proposals from those that meet the aims of this competition.

7. Background and further information

The Home Office continues to play a vital role in securing our borders from smugglers of prohibited and restricted goods. The Home Office is involved in projects developing next-generation detection technologies suitable for a range of operational environments. As part of this, the Home Office is seeking to fund the development of innovative products by industry and academia.

The UK government runs a number of competitions to stimulate innovation in detection. Each competition focuses on different threats, detection technologies and operational environments. The competitions for this year are listed below.

	Detection technology	Operational environment	Threats
Firearms automatic threat detection (July 2016)	X-ray	All	Firearms
Future aviation security solutions (July 2016)	All	Aviation: people and baggage screening	Explosives and firearms
Innovative research call for explosives and weapons detection (September 2016)	All	Non-aviation: buildings and areas goods people and/or their possessions vehicles	Explosives and firearms
Metal detection call (September 2016)	Metal detection	Fast parcels	Firearms

About SBRI competitions

SBRI provides innovative solutions to challenges faced by the public sector. This can lead to better public services and improved efficiency and effectiveness. SBRI supports economic growth and enables the development of innovative products and services. It does this through the public procurement of research and development (R&D). SBRI generates new business opportunities for companies and provides a route to market for their ideas. It also bridges the seed funding gap experienced by many early-stage companies.

Applications must have at least 50% of the contract value attributed directly and exclusively for R&D services. R&D can cover solution exploration and design. It can also include prototyping and field-testing the product or service. R&D does not include:

• commercial development activities such as quantity production
• supply to establish commercial viability or to recover R&D costs
• integration, customisation or incremental adaptations and improvements to existing products or processes

Further help and information

Directions on how to enter this competition can be found in the Invitation to Tender document (ref: SBRI_HO_334_001) which is available on the secure FTP site after you register for the competition.

If you need more information, contact the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 or email us at support@innovateuk.gov.uk.