Notice

Competition brief: IRC 2016 for explosives & weapons detection

Updated 7 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This notice was withdrawn on 21 September 2017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 12 September 2016
Registration deadline for bidders’ conference	Tuesday 20 September 2016
Bidder’s conference (London)	Tuesday 27 September 2016
Registration deadline for entering the competition	Noon Wednesday 12 October 2016
Phase 1, stage A, expression of interest application deadline	Noon Wednesday 19 October 2016
Phase 1, stage B, tender application deadline	Noon Wednesday 4 January 2017

2. The competition scope

The aim of this competition is to identify and fund innovation in all aspects of explosives and weapons detection.

Proposals may relate to improving the effectiveness and / or the efficiency of detection. Projects can either develop original ideas or adapt successful technologies, techniques or processes from other fields. Examples could include, but are not limited to:

• novel sensors or materials to detect or identify explosives (or their precursors) or weapons (or their constituent parts)
• imaging techniques from other sectors which could be applied to screening vehicles, goods, people or possessions
• chemical imaging to detect trace residues of explosives on surfaces
• adaptations of energy sensors to identify on-body threats
• measurement techniques which could allow identification of objects concealed inside other objects
• development of reliable means to calibrate and assure detection equipment in the field or in the laboratory
• modelling and simulation to improve current screening processes
• automation / enhancement of screening processes
• atmospheric monitoring or waste water monitoring applied to detection of trace quantities of explosive or their precursors
• human and behavioural factors which could be used to improve the overall security screening system

Proposals can address the detection of any of the following:

• explosives
• constituent parts of improvised explosive devices
• explosive precursor chemicals
• weapons
• constituent parts of weapons
• ammunition

The competition is looking for proposals in the following challenge areas:

• buildings and areas
• goods
• people and/or their possessions
• vehicles

2.1 Buildings and areas

This refers to the detection of explosives, improvised explosive devices (including associated electronics) and/or weapons that are located or concealed:

• within a building or its grounds
• in open areas
• along a route

Projects should address one or more of the following:

• improving detection rate
• increasing the range of threats detectable
• increasing sampling speed
• reducing screener burden
• improving practicality for use in a variety of buildings

Proposed detection methods for open areas and along routes should allow for:

• a variety of environments, including rural and urban terrain
• extremes in weather conditions
• flexibility in the size of area that can be screened

2.2 Goods

Screening goods is particularly difficult. It often requires unloading large consignments from vehicles, screening and reloading within a few minutes. Small volume consignments, such as parcels, need to be screened rapidly.

Projects should address one or more of the following:

• screening a whole consignment without removing it from the delivery vehicle
• screening densely loaded vehicles or pallets without breaking the contents down into smaller parts
• screening a wide variety of diverse consignments
• designing new individual screening processes
• integrating many screening elements into a single process
• screening small parts of large consignments
• screening postal deliveries
• screening items of a letter size
• opportunities for efficiency by screening more than one item at once

Within the goods challenge area, a solution that applies only to a specific element of one of these problems may still be of significant benefit when used to augment current techniques.

2.3 People and/or their possessions

This challenge area consists of three strands:

• screening people
• screening people’s possessions
• screening people with their possessions

Projects should address one or more of the following:

• screening individuals without the need for significant removal of clothes
• screening high numbers of individuals with their possessions
• developing new sensors, or integrating many sensors, for screening in free-flowing spaces, either outdoors or indoors
• increasing automation of elements of checkpoint screening
• reducing the time it takes to process individuals at checkpoints
• enhancing automated decision-making tools for use with potential multi-input processes

2.4 Vehicles

Current practices for screening vehicles for explosives or weapons generally need the vehicle to be stationary, with no occupants. Such screening is time-consuming and inefficient.

Projects should address one or more of the following:

• screening vehicles (both the structure and load) without impeding them for significant periods of time. Opportunities might include when the vehicle is in unrestricted motion, or during other common scenarios (not necessarily related to security) such as speed restricted areas, controlled entrances or queuing traffic
• increasing the overall volume of vehicles screened
• developing individual screening processes and/or integrating many screening elements into a single process
• enhancing operator decision-making tools for use with potential multi-input processes

3. Projects that will not be funded

This competition is not funding projects primarily aimed at the aviation security sector. There is a forthcoming competition specifically for innovation in the aviation security sector. This is part of the new Future Aviation Security Solutions (FASS) programme.

4. Find out if you are eligible to apply

This competition is open to any organisation. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities and non-commercial organisations are encouraged to apply.

Pre-start-ups are eligible but you will need to register as a business if you are awarded a contract.

You can work with others, but contracts will only be awarded to lead organisations.

All applicants will need to show that their proposed idea has a credible and practical route to market.

5. Funding and project details

The competition has allocated up to £3 million to fund innovation projects. This is divided across 2 phases:

• up to £1 million to fund proof of concept projects in phase 1
• up to £2 million to fund development and evaluation of prototypes or demonstrators in phase 2

5.1 Phase 1

In phase 1, you will show the proof of concept of your proposed innovation. Projects can range in size from total costs of zero to around £60,000. Projects should last up to 6 months. Applications at phase 1 that require no funding, or minimal funding, to achieve proof of concept, will be welcome.

The application process for phase 1 is split into two stages, phase 1 stage A and phase 1 stage B. This is to minimise effort and encourage applicants to submit multiple innovative ideas.

In phase 1 stage A, registered applicants can submit multiple short expressions of interest forms. Note, applicants intending to submit more than one expression of interest must register for each idea. For example, if you wish to submit three ideas as expressions of interest, you must register three times. The registration deadline is one week before the expressions of interest deadline.

Following assessment, only successful expressions of interest will be invited to progress to phase 1 stage B. At this stage, successful applicants submit detailed tender application forms.

5.2 Phase 2

Phase 2 is only open to applicants that have successfully completed phase 1. The most promising innovations will be invited to apply for phase 2 funding. In phase 2, you will develop and evaluate prototypes or demonstrators of your innovation. Phase 2 will have total funding of up to £2 million and projects should last up to 2 years.

6. How to apply

To apply:

• register online (registration has now closed). Please note that you must complete a separate registration for each expression of interest that you intend to submit
• read the competition documentation accessed via the SBRI portal after registration
• complete and submit an online phase 1 stage A expression of interest application form. You must complete a separate form for each innovation that you are proposing

Your application is confidential. Late submissions will not be accepted.

The bidders’ conference was held in London on Tuesday 27 September 2016. This included briefings on government requirements. You can access the presentation slides for this event when you register online.

If you require any more information before registering for the bidders’ conference, please email IRC2016Enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

A panel of experts from the government partners for this competition will assess the phase 1 stage A expression of interest applications. Applications that best meet the aims of the competition will be invited to progress to phase 1 stage B. The panel will assess the phase 1 stage B tender applications and recommend the most suitable for funding.

Read the competition documentation carefully before you apply. This is accessed via the SBRI portal after registration. It will help your chances of submitting a quality application.

7. Background and further information

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 show that at least 50% of the contract value is for R&D services.

R&D can include 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

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