QinetiQ : named as supplier on new £1.2bn Digital and IT Professional Services (DIPS) framework for UK’s Ministry of Defence

Over four years the framework agreement will deliver a range of digital and IT specialist's professional services to Defence Digital, accounting for an estimated £1.2bn of spend.

QinetiQ has been named as a prime supplier on two of six lots:

• Lot 2: DevApps, UX, Dev Ops, System Design & Applications Support
• Lot 3: Cyber Security, Crypto, Security Operations & Integrated systems.
  
  

In addition, QinetiQ is a subcontract partner on two additional lots of the framework:

• Lot 1: Solution, Enterprise & Tech Architecture, Data, Innovation Tech Assurance & Knowledge and Information Management
• Lot 6: Intelligence Solutions.

James Willis, Chief Executive, UK Intelligence, QinetiQ, said "We have a proven track record under similar framework agreements of successfully partnering with an ecosystem of both large contractors with a long heritage in defence and suppliers that are newer to defence who can bring fresh perspectives to defence challenges, to address our customers' most complex challenges at pace. I'm delighted with our selection as a leading provider on the DIPS framework as it allows us to leverage our well-established expertise in defence and security across air, sea, land, cyber domains to develop exciting new solutions that will deliver vital mission capability."

Crown Commercial Service (CCS) assisted MOD in the production of the DIPS framework and became the framework authority when it went live in November 2023, with MOD responsible for all customer engagement.

Through this new framework QinetiQ and its partners, will deliver services aligned with its core offerings of digital engineering (DevSecOps), cyber security and mission systems architectures, to enable information sharing and provide actionable intelligence for multiple operational users and deliver core mission capability to the Armed Forces.

The DIPS framework is strongly aligned to the ongoing transformation objectives at Defence Digital and will allow MOD access to a wide range of industry skills through pre-defined terms and conditions. Reducing the time to run competitions and accelerating delivery, this new framework is aligned to MODs direction toward outcome-based contracting that will provide improved delivery (to time, cost or quality) and value for money.

QinetiQ continues to develop its mission critical digital capabilities in the areas of DevSecOps and Cyber. The DIPS framework will provide a key route to market for these capabilities that will enable the continued transformation of our customer's decision making cycle. QinetiQ's position as a strategic supplier to Defence Digital is further enhanced with our role on the DIPS framework.

Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2022/23, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £3.8 billion - supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

Notes:

About Crown Commercial Service (CCS)
Crown Commercial Service is an Executive Agency of the Cabinet Office, supporting the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services.

About QinetiQ
QinetiQ is an integrated global defence and security company focused on mission-led innovation. We employ more than 8,500 highly-skilled people, committed to creating new ways of protecting what matters most; testing technologies, systems, and processes to make sure they meet operational needs; and enabling customers to deploy new and enhanced capabilities with the assurance they will deliver the performance required. Visit our website www.QinetiQ.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @QinetiQ. Visit our blog www.QinetiQ-blogs.com.
Outlined below are examples of the work QinetiQ has secured as part of other frameworks and have supported our strong growth in recent years:

• In 2019 we won the lead role on three of six capability areas for the Serapis framework, where we help DSTL, MOD and other government departments to develop novel battle-winning capabilities, now generating revenues of £40m per annum. Recent projects have included: Exploring the use of AI to enable improved command and control processes anticipating and adapting faster than adversaries; a project to develop a concept demonstrator using AI and Machine Learning to develop self-defending cyber for military platforms; and the delivery of synthetic environment 'virtual proving grounds' for both the British Army and Royal Navy to cost effectively test and evaluate how to operate and integrate new capabilities, such as new ground vehicles within battlegroups.

• In 2017 we won the Vivace contract with the Home Office bringing together a wide and diverse ecosystem of suppliers to drive innovation into the delivery of mission critical capability, operating at high tempo to accelerate the delivery of deployable capability. We have grown this business and it now generates revenues in excess of £30m per annum. We have recently delivered projects for Homeland Security at the Home Office that demonstrate our purpose in action: a project that simulates marauding terrorist attacks seeking to improve risk management, response planning and save lives, and through the pandemic a project that provides advanced and automated solutions for waste water analysis to provide early-warning of COVID-19 in local wastewater, helping to speed up detection and save lives. We were selected again in October 2022 to continue delivering this programme after scheduled contract re-tendering.