Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2024-07-31
Region: BE100
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 73410000
Estimated value: 2500000 EUR
Submission deadline: 2024-09-20
Award criteria: quality, price
EU fund: eu-funds

Technical requirements: For the full list of exclusion grounds please consult the procurement documents.
Research & Technology (R&T) provides a critical contribution to the preparation of future capabilities. Together with innovative solutions developed by different defence actors, it brings real and tangible operational benefits to MS’ armed forces. Europe’s defence systems have been developed thanks to major R&T investments that, given the length of development cycles, were made decades ago.
To accomplish its mission as defined in Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1835, EDA promotes, facilitates and manages R&T activities within 15 technology domains (Capability Technology groups – CapTechs ) in order to develop knowledge and technologies needed for future defence capabilities.
A CapTech is a working group dedicated to a particular technology area (Area of Responsibility – AoR) linked to the EDA R&T taxonomy. The core task of a CapTech is to gather inputs from the MS experts in order to identify technology gaps and common areas of interest for cooperation. Non-governmental experts (e.g. industries, universities, small and medium enterprises – SMEs, research centres) also contribute to the discussions with ideas for innovation and the most up-to-date technology trends.
The purpose of a CapTech is to propose R&T activities in response to agreed defence capability needs and to generate collaborative R&T projects accordingly within a specific technological scope. The CapTechs also contribute to the preparation of projects and programmes not carried out within the CapTech framework, as e.g. in the frame of the European Defence Fund (EDF), with their expertise whenever required.

Up to six (6) different types of contracts, with a combined maximum envelope of EUR 2,5 Mill are envisaged under the “OSRA” Cluster:

LOT I: CapTech Air Strategic Research Agenda (ref. 24.RTI.OP.186),
LOT II: CapTech Maritime Strategic Research Agenda Agenda (ref. 24.RTI.OP.190)
&
LOT III: CapTech CBRN Strategic Research (ref. 24.RTI.OP.191)
The scope of these Direct Contracts is the provision of the “Update or development of the CapTechs’ Strategic Research Agendas”.
The SRAs update will comprehensively cover the following aspects across all domains:
 - Implement the new template for SRA resulting from the OSRA v3 framework.
 - Document information. 
 - Update the existing sections and contents (e.g., Executive Summary to reflect the current state of the art – technology landscaping, gap analysis, TBBs, conclusions) ensuring their accuracy and alignment with the OSRA v3 guidelines.
 - TBB roadmaps. 
 - CapTech mission and objectives. Update the CapTech mission, objectives, and AoR based on the EDA Defence Technology Taxonomy v2. 
 - State of the art and gap analysis.
 - Identify cross-CapTech activities. 
 - Identify the innovation needs, approach and expected activities in line with the “Hub for EU Defence Innovation” (HEDI) services.

LOT IV: FWC CapTech Foresight Workshops (ref. 24.RTI.OP.192 & 24.RTI.SC.193)
The primary objective of this FWC study is to support the definition and the implementation of the OSRA via a rigorous Technology Foresight activity, adding further to the RTI long-term vision of advanced technologies exploitation in EU defence. This will be accomplished through a series of foresight exercises and related thematic workshops, each concentrating on selected emerging technologies and their impact on future defence capabilities. 

LOT V: FWC in support of the Action Plan on Autonomous Systems (ref. 24.RTI.OP.194 & 24.RTI.SC.195)
The general objective of this FWC is the provision of support to the continued and ongoing implementation of the APAS, through specific activities.

LOT VI: FWC in support of the AI Action Plan (ref. 24.RTI.OP.267 & 24.RTI.SC.328)
The general objective of this FWC is the provision of support to the continued and ongoing implementation of the AI Action Plan, through specific activities.
The SRAs update will comprehensively cover the following aspects across all domains:
 - Implement the new template for SRA resulting from the OSRA v3 framework.
 - Document information. Update and maintain accurate data (e.g., technology landscaping on R&T activities in defence related to the selected CapTech SRA). Identify (missing) players in the domain, including small and non-traditional ones. Identify operational challenges and capability needs to be addressed by R&T activities. Identify new technological trends as well as emerging and potentially disruptive technologies related to the selected SRAs.
 - Update the existing sections and contents (e.g., Executive Summary to reflect the current state of the art – technology landscaping, gap analysis, TBBs, conclusions) ensuring their accuracy and alignment with the OSRA v3 guidelines.
 - TBB roadmaps. Review and update the TBB roadmaps based on the progress done since the publication of the latest version of the SRA and emerging technologies for each domain. Identify technology gaps and areas where further research and technology is needed. Evaluate the TBBs´ alignment based on the identified R&T needs. Prioritize funding decisions to bridge the identified activities. Include milestones, targets, and implementation steps.
 - CapTech mission and objectives. Update the CapTech mission, objectives, and AoR based on the EDA Defence Technology Taxonomy v2. 
 - State of the art and gap analysis. Assess the current state of the selected SRAs by identifying gaps, challenges, and opportunities. Propose actionable recommendations to address the identified gaps. Within the selected SRAs identify the R&T topics which are more suitable for other EU funding tools such as the EDF work programme. 
 - Identify cross-CapTech activities. Evaluate how the selected CapTechs activities are aligned with other internal initiatives at EDA level, but also identify potential overlaps and opportunities for synergies and complementarity with NATO and EU and European Commission Directorate Generals and agencies (e.g., DEFIS, JRC, EUSPA, ESA, etc.)
 - Identify the innovation needs, approach and expected activities in line with the “Hub for EU Defence Innovation” (HEDI) services.
The primary objective of this FWC study is to support the definition and the implementation of the OSRA via a rigorous Technology Foresight activity, adding further to the RTI long-term vision of advanced technologies exploitation in EU defence. This will be accomplished through a series of foresight exercises and related thematic workshops, each concentrating on selected emerging technologies and their impact on future defence capabilities. 
This FWC is expected to plan and execute up to 16 foresight exercises and related thematic workshops, each one tailored on specific technology themes and issues identified in the context of EDA’s CapTechs, therefore addressing a wide number of advanced technologies and across any defence domain. 
The primary goal of these foresight exercises and workshops is to influence the future trajectory of specific emerging and disruptive technologies in defence applications, assessing their impact on EU defence capabilities for the mid to long term, extending beyond 2050. The results of each foresight exercise will be incorporated into the OSRA toolchain, in the CapTechs' work programmes, and in HEDI, to start with.
The work plan of this FWC will adhere to a series of Specific Objectives (SO#) outlined below:
-	SO1: Identify the target technologies for the foresight exercises and the relevant experts.
-	SO2: Define the focus, scope, and approach for each foresight exercise to be conducted.
-	SO3: Execute a series of foresight exercises and related thematic workshops.
-	SO4: Prepare strategic planning and a technology roadmap.
The general objective of the present FWC is the provision of support to the continued and ongoing implementation of the APAS, through specific activities that may cover the following areas:
 - Technology screening and technology discovery activities aimed to identify new/disruptive ideas and concepts in support of the APAS’s technological action lines focused on development and integration of technology up to TRL 6. This can include studies, experimentation events, scouting activities, and concept papers. 
 - Development of a comprehensive cross-domain taxonomy for AS.
 - Development of methods and tools to test, verify and validate AI algorithms for the AS of the future. 
 - Identification of the necessary levels of interoperability and standardization of AS, identification of AS standardization gaps, and support to closing standardization gaps on AS.
 - Identification of certification and regulation needs, challenges, and gaps for Land, Air, Maritime, and cross-domain AS with different levels of autonomy and application.
 - Development of a comprehensive business case to support MS’ decision on the creation of a European Platform of AS (EUPAS).
 - Promote communication/dissemination/advertisement of APAS activities, including events organized within the umbrella of the Autonomous Systems Community of Interest (ASCI).