Guidance

Open Call Innovation Focus Areas

Updated 1 April 2020

Introduction

The Open Call welcomes a wide range of innovative ideas to solve problems faced by our defence and security customers. Whilst the Open Call accepts a full range of ideas and innovations, DASA is keen to share details from stakeholders across Government on more specific areas of interest.

How it works

This web page provides information on particular and enduring innovation focus areas, which are specific topics where our customers would be keen to see innovative solutions channelled via the Open Call. Proposals which address these areas of interest can be submitted into either of the Open Call.

This site will be changed as new innovation focus areas are added, or old ones deleted or amended, in response to the evolving needs of our defence and security stakeholders. It is therefore recommended that you set up an alert for this page so you are aware of when such changes are made.

Each innovation focus area has a unique identifier to help us ensure that your innovation is seen by the appropriate parts of Government. Therefore, if you submit a proposal in response to one of these focus areas you should add the identifier to the beginning of your proposal title. For example: IFA001 - A Novel Idea for Finding Suspicious Items on Airline Passengers.

COVID-19: Rapid Sanitising Technology

Unique Identifier IFA019

Ambulances must be thoroughly cleaned once a patient with suspected COVID-19 has been transported. These cleaning times can take up to 45 minutes and have to be undertaken at cleaning centres which can be some distance away. This puts a strain on an already busy and pressurised service as the vehicles cannot be used until cleaning is completed.

We are looking to identify, develop and demonstrate rapid sanitising technologies.

Innovations must be suitable for rapid deployment to clean public sector vehicles following the transport of patients with the COVID-19 virus. Ideally systems will have wider applicability than just ambulances, which might include buses, trains, and other blue light services or even in hospital wards / rooms.

Systems which are mobile, allow ease of operation and maintenance, are robust and reliable are of particular interest.

If your idea relies on use of decontaminants, it must be able to fully wet a complex surface for a given contact time to ensure it’s decontaminated effectively. If you do not have access to a suitable decontaminant, please specify this in your proposal.

Efficacy will need to be demonstrated via a short process of trials/experimentation, to include definition of tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) to ensure selected options are used effectively for specific applications.

Products which are already available on the market will not be considered.

If you have an idea but you are not sure if it is what we are looking for, please contact a DASA Innovation Partner.

Submit your proposal here.

Reduced-Burden Area Biosurveillance

Unique Identifier IFA018

Biosurveillance enables us to more rapidly detect Biological Warfare Agent (BWAs) incidents and helps to reduce the potential impact by enabling decision makers to develop the best course of action for deployment of medical countermeasures and other protective measures.

We are looking to identify technologies to provide static detection at sentry points or to be deployed as a networked system that could be analogous to the size and function of the Man-portable Chemical Agent Detector (MCAD) or GID3. Solutions should be capable of providing biosurveillance capability to fixed bases with good infrastructure, e.g. Main Operating Bases (MOB) and Sea Port of Disembarkation (SPOD), as well as forward locations with lesser infrastructure e.g. Forward Operating Bases (FOB).

Our end goal is to create an automated all-in-one detection system with integrated aerosol collection, sample processing and identification in as small a system as possible. We are therefore looking for projects which will either develop components (e.g. aerosol collection, sample processing or identification) which could be eventually integrated into a system, or integrate pre-existing components into an all-in-one system. Because the final system needs to provide high confidence outputs in order to support rapid decision making, we are not interested in options based on generic detection technologies (e.g. fluorescence, LIDAR etc). We need the solution to be able to provide specific detection of individual threat agents.

When describing your idea, please use the key performance metrics for the technology options including burden (e.g. size, weight, power, and minimal consumable requirement), timeliness (speed of response), threat agent coverage (including different threat modes that could be tuned according to adversity or endemic threat), throughput, sensitivity, specificity and confidence level(s).

If you have an idea but you are not sure if it is what we are looking for, please contact a DASA Innovation Partner.

Submit your proposal here.

Detecting firearms and ammunition through scent

Unique Identifier IFA016

Do you have a novel idea that could smell firearms in bags or cargo containers? Do you have a novel idea that could detect ammunition based on the scent released?

Firearms and their ammunition are currently detected through very effective existing screening and detection technologies. However, we are seeking solutions to increase the throughput of items screened through the detection of headspace compounds, thereby reducing the burden on staff without reducing security.

Any solution developed for this challenge will need to be capable of integration with detection equipment currently used for aviation security.

To help you develop your idea, we are offering a representative data set detailing some of the compounds which may be present on firearms and spent ammunition (as a Government Furnished Asset (GFA)). This GFA will be made available to bidders funded in this competition who request it and demonstrate the value it would add to their proposals.

All work must be completed and delivered by 30 March 2021.

What we don’t want:

• minor or incremental developments of current solutions
• solutions which are already commercial products
• literature reviews
• technologies that don’t use headspace compounds for detection

If you have an idea but you are not sure if it is what we are looking for, please contact a DASA Innovation Partner.

Submit your proposal here.

Next generation aviation security

Unique Identifier IFA017

We are looking for innovators that can help shape the next generation of aviation security, specifically the ability to detect illegal, illicit or contraband items, such as explosives, chemicals or drugs.

Do you have:

• a novel idea that could completely change how aviation security is carried out?
• an innovative concept that could be added to existing aviation security measures?
• an innovation used within another sector that could be adapted for use in aviation security?

We are looking for innovations that could address any aspect of aviation security, from vehicle screening to in-flight supplies, from passenger and bag search to cargo. We are looking for ideas that help to ensure we continue to have one of the safest aviation security ecosystems in the world.

All work must be completed and delivered by 30 March 2021.

What we want:

• innovative solutions that go beyond current solutions used in aviation security
• ideas that facilitate staff to carry out security checks
• solutions that enhance the passenger experience and help airports
• ideas from other sectors that could be moved into aviation security

What we don’t want:

• minor or incremental developments of current solutions
• solutions which are already commercial products
• literature reviews or outputs which are just a report.

If you have an idea but you are not sure if it is what we are looking for, please contact a DASA Innovation Partner.

Submit your proposal here.

Innovative security features for bank notes

Unique Identifier IFA013

Public confidence in currency is directly related to the ability of the user to accurately and quickly authenticate a banknote. Banknotes employ a range of visual and tactile features – such as holographic foils or optically variable coloured inks - to aid public or retailer authentication. The Bank of England is now looking ahead and inviting ideas to develop novel, overt, security features and print technologies for consideration for potential use in future generations of banknotes.

These technologies should be:

• an innovation that uses overt technologies
• difficult to counterfeit or easily simulate
• easy and intuitive to use for the public or retailer
• able to function without an additional tool, however technologies that use a simple, low cost tool may be considered
• easy to communicate
• durable
• compatible with high volume printing techniques; representing good value for money with a high production yield
• suitable for integration into a banknote design

We are not looking for covert technologies, or those that require a sophisticated device to authenticate or decode and we will not consider features that rely on mobile phones or mobile applications. Security technologies in the family of holographic foils, lenticular lens features or optically variable inks will not be considered in this call.

Further high level information on material requirements may be requested by submitting an Innovation Outline.

You should note that for this innovation focus area the DASA terms and conditions will not apply. Direct contracts with the Bank of England will be negotiated and ownership of intellectual property under such contract will be consistent with the position adopted in the DASA terms and conditions.

Submit your proposal here

Advancing less-lethal weapon capability

Unique Identifier IFA011 Closing 28 May 2020.

Less-lethal weapons are used by the Police, security services and other law enforcement professionals to deflect the escalation of conflict in potentially hostile situations. It is often more desirable to overwhelm the offender with less-lethal force and thereby minimise the risk to individuals.

Less-lethal weapons are vital in situations where the use of lethal force is prohibited or undesirable or where the rules of engagement require minimum casualties, or where policy restricts the use of conventional force.

We are seeking proposals that demonstrate ideas or concepts that could be developed into prototypes for viability assessment as less-lethal weapons. We seek novel ideas that could be used by law enforcement to do one or several of the below:

• be employed to prevent or reduce a terrorist’s ability to take or maintain hostages

• temporarily neutralise a potentially moving target at between 5m and 50m (with stretch target of 1m to 70m)

• overwhelm the perpetrator whilst maintaining a reasonable level of protection burden on the operatives and/or working dogs

All proposals should demonstrate an understanding of the effects of the innovation/technology on humans to increase the effect it has on the offender whilst minimising the effect to individuals.

Submit your proposal here

Assistive technology for rail staff

Unique Identifier IFA004 Closing 28 May 2020.

In train stations, staff regularly check the public areas such as platforms, concourse and shops to detect threats to the public. This includes any unusual activity and items. Unusual activity is something that a normal train passenger or station user would not be doing, such as trying to avoid staff, staying at a station too long or collecting information about the station. Rail companies use the ‘See it, Say it, Sorted’ campaign to promote members of the public identifying and reporting any unusual behaviour or items. This has proved to be a huge success, encouraging already observant members of the public.

We are seeking innovative solutions to work in combination with existing railway security measures and the ‘See it, Say it, Sorted’ campaign to detect unusual behaviour. This could also be used to help identify and assist passengers who appear to be lost, those who are vulnerable or possibly considering self-harm. Assistance could be provided by a member of staff equipped with technology, a piece of technology itself, or a member of staff trained in a new procedure. For example, members of staff could be enabled with technology to readily answer questions or there may be a mobile artificial intelligence presence. Overall, this should help to facilitate good customer service and help staff feel confident and safe approaching members of the public. Any solution must be cost effective.

We are seeking:

• innovative technologies or solutions that help staff identify unusual activity and interact with members of the public, along with an understanding of how these fit into the current market landscape

• ideas to further encourage passengers to spot and report unusual behaviour

• ways to identify passengers who need assistance, as well as a deployable solution

• additional benefits in customer service for train station users, and confidence and security for station staff to understand the effectiveness of body-worn cameras at deterring unusual behaviour

Submit your proposal here

Screening train carriages

Unique Identifier IFA005 Closing 28 May 2020.

Trains require checking to identify whether items have been left unattended in carriages, especially while the train is in use, so that staff can be alerted quickly. Screening is a difficult process due to the complexity of the areas within trains that would need to be checked. These will include areas such as the spaces under seats, overhead luggage racks, and the junctions between carriages. In order to make the process more efficient, we would like to augment or automate this process. There is a need for a device that is able to scan train carriages and determine if any foreign objects have been left behind.

We are interested in proposals that:

• modify existing processes (e.g. CCTV) to meet the screening needs

• screen the whole carriage, including under the seats, overhead racks and junction between carriages. Screening needs to be carried out rapidly, whilst the train is in use and with passengers present

Submit your proposal here