The Ministry of Defence is seeking to engage with potential suppliers that could support the delivery of a system likely to support hundreds of thousands of military and civilian personnel
The Ministry of Defence is planning to deploy a “digital experience platform” to support up to six million users in accessing information and communicating with colleagues.
This ambition was revealed in a newly published commercial notice. The document invites prospective suppliers to take part in an engagement exercise to help inform the department’s plans and procurement processes over the coming months.
Details of what the system might look like are fairly scarce, but potential participants in the market feedback initiative are instructed: “The Ministry of Defence is looking to procure a digital experience platform. The platform needs to: provide secure communication capabilities for users to access information necessary for their jobs; collaborate, interact with others and have the ability to create and manage discrete open and closed groups.”
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There will be at least 150,000 users of the platform – a figure which equates to the cumulative total of servicewomen and men across the UK’s armed forces. But there is “the potential for this number to expand up to approximately six million users”, which would presumably include civilians and military personnel from both the UK and ally nations.
The notice says that “the platform should be designed mobile-first” and must comply with the latest version of the WCAG internationally agreed standards for accessibility.
The MoD stipulates that “an ‘on-prem’ solution is preferable, but SaaS or PaaS solutions will be considered provided they meet geographical security constraints”.
Any suppliers interested in taking part in the engagement exercise have until 11 September to provide the ministry with “a short capability statement on any technologies, solutions or assistance they can provide in relation to the requirement”.
“Following this, it is expected an industry day will be held where a more detailed requirement will be presented,” the notice concludes.
A financial value and likely timeline for the planned procurement has not yet been provided.
