The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), which is part of the UK Ministry of Defence, wishes to renew it's commercial framework for Science and Technology (S&T) research contracts, known as R-Cloud (Research Cloud). Dstl places extensive fundamental, experimental and applied research with industry and academic suppliers and wants to broaden access for this supply base, reducing the cost of trading with Dstl and enabling agile contracting. R-Cloud complements Dstl's other contracting mechanisms and academic and industry suppliers of S&T research will be invited to pre-qualify onto it to join Dstl's research supplier community. The ownership of any intellectual property generated will remain with the suppliers. Although this requirement is exempt from the Procurement Regulations as it is for Research activities, Dstl is advertising and competing for new participants. For existing R-Cloud suppliers further information and guidance about this renewal process will be published on the R-Cloud portal https://rcloud.dstl.gov.uk/ . New suppliers interested in registering for R-Cloud should apply by e-mail to dstlrcloud@dstl.gov.uk , giving their name, address and contact details and will then be contacted to be included in the renewal process.

This call relates to a series of R-Cloud frameworks covering eight Capability Areas as follows:
Command, Control, Communication & Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR)
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)
Counter Terrorism and Security (CT&S)
Cyber
Human Capability (HC)
Integrated Survivability (IS)
Platform Systems (PS)
Weapons

R-Cloud provides a low barrier to entry for potential suppliers and offers direct access to Dstl's current and future research requirements. Academic and industrial suppliers of research are invited to pre-qualify onto the R-Cloud framework. A standard form of contract has been drawn up which details the terms and conditions for entry onto the R-Cloud framework. Acceptance of these terms and conditions is mandatory.