Building upon 13 years’ experience of priming research frameworks for both MOD and Other Government Departments (OGD), QinetiQ intends to develop an open, collaborative, innovative and inclusive Science and Technology (S&T) Community to support SERAPIS Lots 3 and 4. The supplier ecosystem will be made up of a wide range of organisations from large Defence Primes through to Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), academia and non-traditional defence suppliers. QinetiQ is the Prime for Lot 3 (Decide) and Lot 4 (Assured Information Infrastructure). The capability areas covered by these Lots are as follows:

If you would like to find out about joining ‘Team Serapis’ as a supplier to Lots 3 and/or 4 then please visit our Apply to join page.

Principles

The following information is provided for organisations looking to participate in Lot 3 “Decide” and Lot 4 “Assured Information Infrastructure”. QinetiQ will operate a single supply chain “Team Serapis” in respect of Lots 3 & 4, and all successful applicants will receive tasking information for both Lots.

By applying to become a member of “Team Serapis” you agree that the information provided to QinetiQ can be used for the purposes of managing and delivering work under the Serapis Framework.

QinetiQ will manage Lots 3 and 4 using the following principles.

and underpinned by the following behaviours:

• open to all relevant suppliers
• inclusive
• encourages teaming and team working
• responsive
• informed
• builds mutual trust
• encouraging of innovation
• embracing best practice
• respectful of IPR

Autonomous Resilient Cyber Defence (ARCD) is being supplied by suppliers on Lots 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Serapis framework. Find out more about ARCD here.

We are actively seeking suppliers with the following research capabilities:

• Lot 3: any capability aligned with the capability matrix for Lot 3 is of interest, particularly, Command and Control and decision making research practitioners.
• Lot 4:
  Data Centric Security
  Tactical Data Links
  Spectrum Management (Civilian and Defence)
  Modifying Radio Architectures
  Virtualisation of Hardware
  Network Monitoring and Management
  Millimetre Wave Radio Applications
  Information Management/Assurance/Exploitation – Single Information Environment
  Digital Twins
  Antenna Design
  Free Space Optical Communications
  Agile Radio Systems
  Novel and Advanced Waveforms

Instructions to Applicants

Applications to join “Team Serapis” must be made directly to serapis@qinetiq.com. Applications not made to this email address will not be reviewed.

All applications must be made accompanied by the following completed forms (which can be accessed from the ‘Supporting Documents’ section at the top of this page):

• Supplier Application Form
• Capability Matrix
• Signed Non-Disclosure Agreement
• Security Questionnaire (Infosec)

QinetiQ, with its Steering Group, will review all applications on a regular basis and will respond to applicants with its decision to accept or reject the application. Applications will be reviewed at a minimum on a quarterly basis.

It is important to note that applications made to QinetiQ will only be for Lots 3 and 4. Applications to work on other Serapis Lots must be made directly to the Prime Contractor responsible for the Lot you wish to join. Contacts for the other Lots can be found here.

A frequently asked questions (FAQ) list is provided for additional information for the applicant.

Successful Applications

Once your application has been accepted, each organisation will then need to sign two agreements:

• Collaboration Agreement
  The Collaboration Agreement is a common document that all applicants must sign to become members and gain access to Team Serapis.
  
  Unfortunately we are unable to negotiate this agreement as it is important that all members join Team Serapis on the same basis and on common terms.


• Enabling Sub-Contract (ESC)
  The ESC is the contractual mechanism which QinetiQ will use to contract all work under Lots 3 and 4 of the Serapis Framework. It comes in three parts:
  
  
  • 1a. Terms and Conditions applicable to how QinetiQ will contract tasks for Serapis;
  • 2b. The Sub-Contract Tasking Order Form (STOF) which will be used to tender and contract for Serapis Lot 3 and 4 tasks and to identify any specific conditions applicable to the task;
  • 3c. Terms and Conditions specific to the Serapis Framework which are applicable to all tasks contracted under the Framework.

This approach is a common industry model for the management of contracting for work under Research Frameworks.

Supplier Assurance

In addition to the specific supplier application to join “Team Serapis”, before QinetiQ is able to contract tasks, each supplier must be an approved supplier on QinetiQ’s supplier database. Like many companies, due to the increasing requirements from regulatory bodies and to assure that work is conducted in safe and secure environments within our supply chain e.g. Defence Cyber Protection Partnership, Modern Slavery Act 2015, etc. QinetiQ operate a risk based approach to supplier assurance. For Serapis, QinetiQ will:

• Continuously monitor the “Team Serapis” supply chain using the JOSCAR tool – approved by ADS, the trade organisation representing the aerospace, defence, and security industries in the United Kingdom. Suppliers must complete JOSCAR Stage 2 before tasks will be contracted.
• Request completion of a vendor registration form which will be used to set organisations up to receive Purchase Orders from QinetiQ. This information will include bank details and organisational details. Should you be an existing supplier to QinetiQ then this information may not be requested.