Don’t Blow It! – Phase 2

Overview

This Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) competition is seeking proposals for novel and innovative technologies and approaches to access, disable and/or destroy chemical and biological munitions, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) containing chemical and biological agents, and containers of bulk chemical or biological agents in challenging environments.

Scope

This call has three challenges. In this phase, DASA are looking for proposals which address the access challenge as well as disable and/or destruction. Whilst proposals addressing a single challenge may still be considered, preference will be given to those proposals developing a system solution and addressing multiple challenges.

1. Access – DASA are looking for novel and innovative technologies and approaches that can access munitions, IEDs and containers of bulk agent without relying on the original design features, such as filling ports, which may or may not be present. A filling port is an access hole into a munition or container that enables it to be filled or drained
2. Disable – DASA are seeking novel and innovative technologies and approaches that prevent munitions, IEDs and bulk agent being used as intended. Your proposed technology or approach must prevent these munitions, IEDs or bulk agent from being used for their intended purpose either temporarily (to prevent imminent use) or, if possible, permanently
3. Destroy – DASA are looking for novel and innovative technologies and approaches that permanently and irreversibly destroy munitions, IEDs and bulk agent

The devices to be accessed, disabled or destroyed may be munitions, IEDs or containers filled with chemical or biological agents.

DASA are seeking solutions which are readily transportable and satisfy one of two conditions:

• man-portable – the system and consumables fit in two standard military backpacks, and can be carried by two people; or
• mobile – the system and consumables must fit within the size and weight constraints of a single NATO 463L pallet, and should be transportable by vehicle (land or air)

These proposals will:

• provide a complete system solution; or
• comprise a single component part which will contribute to a system solution or a suite of tools

Where phase 1 funded proposals were focused on single component parts, phase 2 projects should ideally develop a system solution or form part of a wider tool kit either by collaboration with other partners or by integration into existing technologies.

Eligibility

DASA are looking for proposals from both traditional defence suppliers and non-defence suppliers.

This could include, but is not limited to, the following industry sectors:

• oil and gas
• aerospace
• nuclear
• hazardous waste management
• mining
• subsea

It is not compulsory to have been involved in phase 1 to apply.

Work for phase 2 will need to reach higher maturity than work funded in phase 1.

Funding Costs

Subject to funding and contract, the phase 2 funding of up to £1.5 million (ex VAT) is anticipated to fund up to 3 proposals, starting at TRL 3 (or above) to develop full-scale prototypes ready for testing on agent simulants and munition surrogates.

If successful, contracts will be awarded for a duration of 12 months from the start of the contract.

Funding is due to be approved before the competition closes.

Exclusions

For this competition DASA are not interested in proposals that:

• purely identify the agent and/or deliver non-destructive evaluation
• will have a heavy training burden for end users
• provide incremental improvements in current destruction solutions for chemical and biological weapons, unless these are innovative and show significant added benefit
• cannot demonstrate feasibility within the timescale of the phase of the competition
• lack clear detail on the metrics which will be used to define the success of the solution
• are unaffordable (for example a single-use sacrificial system which is so expensive as to be cost-prohibitive)
• provide just consultancy, paper-based studies or literature reviews – DASA are looking for a prototype that ideally reaches TRL 6 by the end of this phase

For more information, project criteria and how to apply, please visit the DASA competition document here.