Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2017-08-18
Buyer: Ministry of Defence, Information Systems and Services, BATCIS Delivery Team
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Negotiated procedure
CPV classification: 42961000
Estimated value: 10000000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2017-09-18
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Command and control system. The MORPHEUS Battlefield Management Application (BMA) will form a key part of the MORPHEUS Sub-Programme and will deliver a field-able BMA solution which is capable of being integrated with the Evolve to Open System (EvO). MORPHEUS is a £3.2Bn JFC / Army Sub-Programme within the LE TacCIS programme. It will deliver a core component of the next generation of Tactical Communication and Information Systems (TacCIS) capability and will enable Evolutionary Capability Development (ECD).
The first stage of MORPHEUS is EvO which will replace BOWMAN with a modular system using an open system architecture; this allows individual components to be commercially competed separately and gives complete ownership of the capability to the MOD. MORPHEUS will then deliver Defence-driven (rather than industry-driven) rapid spiral development of applications and regular technology updates to incrementally improve capability. The EvO System will utilise a Tactical Integration Framework (TIF), further information on this is available at II.2.1) below.
The BMA solution will deliver functionality including Geo-Spatial Services, Operating Picture, Mission Planning and Execution, and ORBAT/Task Org Editor. Further information on this functionality can be found below at II.2.1) below. The BMA will support commanders at all levels to achieve a common operating picture including situational awareness relevant to the ‘local’ commander and enable local commanders to plan and execute missions.
The Authority is seeking to undertake a collaborative development approach to the BMA in order to optimise the chosen provider's solution within the wider EvO System. This will involve collaborative interaction with the User, the MORPHEUS Coordinating Design Organisation and General Dynamics UK Ltd. The Authority considers a willingness to undertake this development work a key part of the delivery of the BMA.
The BMA solution will need to comply with the six MORPHEUS Architecture Principles, which an be found below at II.2.1) below.
As well as delivering the BMA during the initial term of the Contract the supplier will be required to provide an associated Training Package for the First of Type Trials (FOT) and other Training Artefacts. The Authority is also seeking to include options for further support after a Main Gate Business Case. These options include In-service Software Support, Scaling to a Fielded Operational Capability and Post Design Services.
The BMA is to be a scalable and lean suite of applications/services accessed via an intuitive front end interface that is developed in collaboration with Army HQ and TP. The BMA will be a capability that provides improved battle-winning potential within the jurisdictions of a more effective and efficient Mission Planning and Execution tool, a superior Geospatial provision aiding a clearer Operational and Situational Awareness Picture. A solution that both supplies and consumes enterprise services and is extensible through open APIs and SDKs.
In providing both applications and services, the BMA must support the concept of distributed command with users being located in either, fixed or deployed headquarters, mobile platforms (vehicles) or dismounted (on the soldier). Computing platforms/devices will vary from well performing PCs through to laptops, tablets and smaller mobile devices. Network infrastructure that the BMA will rely upon will include high and low bandwidth (wired and wireless) bearers utilising the HF, VHF and UHF bands. The BMA (along with being a core service provider) shall be developed to take full, but appropriate, advantage of the services provided by the Enterprise Service Bus delivered by the Evolve to Open (EvO) Tactical Integration Framework (TIF) to optimise operation over a constrained network and to make use of other common core services.
The aim of the TIF is to build a common services platform to avoid the need for individual applications within the system producing their own iterations of services such as messaging or email. The TIF will also enable enhanced integration and performance through its adherence to the MORPEHUS Architectural Principles. The BMA will be expected to both draw upon the TIF and provide the Geographical Information Service and the Symbology Service into the TIF.
Licencing. Under the initial term of the Contract the Authority is seeking sufficient licences to support an estimated 600 devices of the EvO System. An option will be included in the Contract to scale the solution up to the Full Operational Capability (FOC).
The Authority will be defining and accepting the BMA utilising Epics, User Stories and non-functional requirements. A traditional System Requirements Document will also be provided for information purposes only as part of the competition. The BMA solution has a preference towards solutions which are not Export Controlled due to the desire for compliance with the MORPHEUS Architecture Principles.
The EvO Application Hosting Environment and Infrastructure will provide all necessary security controls and mitigations (eg operating system lockdowns, user access and authentication). The BMA will execute/operate within this environment without additional security constraints.
b. Operating Picture. This service provides the understanding of the operational environment in the context of a commander's (or staff officer's) mission (or task). It utilises all the other services to provide a Local Operating Picture (LOP) to the User, relevant to their area of responsibility.
c. Mission Planning and Execution. The Mission Planning tool must be able to conduct and assist with wargaming and Rehearsal of Concept (ROC). It exercising Command and Control (C2) it must support the following:
d. ORBAT/TaskOrg Editor. An editor to enable users to create and maintain Establishments, ORBATs and TaskOrgs for the purposes of mission planning and execution.