The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) is calling for proposals to help co-design and deliver ASCA’s first mission.
These are the first problem statements to be released by ASCA since its launch in July 2023. The Request for Proposal (RFP) is available on AusTender. QDSA is strongly encouraging Queensland’s Defence industry and research community to engage with this opportunity with submissions due in late January 2024.
Below you’ll also find contact details for the current QDSA member universities who welcome the opportunity to work with industry and other research organisations.
The first mission set: problem statements
Respondents can address either one or both of the following mission problem statements:
Mission 1: How might we penetrate and degrade advanced integrated air defence systems so Defence can conduct effective long range strike operations taking into account speed and scale required to operate in congested and contested environments that is faster than a potential adversary’s ability to react?
Mission 2: How might we improve the processing and synthesis of large amounts of intelligence data to support their planning and apportionment of platforms, taking into account different classification levels of data systems and allies data systems.
Proposals must be submitted via the AusTender Website under ATM ID: ASCA-MS01-2023 by 1pm (AEST) on January 25, 2024.
Market briefing webinar – 14 December 2023
ASCA hosted a webinar to discuss the mission challenges and proposal requirements via Zoom on Thursday 14 December 11am AEST (Brisbane).
Recordings and slides from the webinar can be accessed below.
A full addendum of the questions asked in the webinar can be found on the AusTender website.
Did you know QDSA can review your proposal?
QDSA is committed to assisting our member universities researchers and their industry partners with their ASCA Mission, Innovation Incubation and EDT Program submissions. We are now offering the opportunity to review your proposals and provide comments prior to final submission.
If you’re interested in an independent third party to review your work and make suggestions to help improve your proposal, please get in touch via info@qdsa.au.
How to connect with QDSA Member Universities
QDSA member universities include James Cook University, Griffith University, and the University of Queensland.
Each institution offers its own unique strengths and capabilities in Defence research. But most importantly, all three are open to collaboration opportunities with industry and other research organisations within Queensland and nationally.
This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen proposals from Queensland – including these ASCA problem statements – and ensure a strong representation of Queensland-led project teams to deliver new sovereign Defence capability.
If you are interested in partnering with one of our member universities, please email info@qdsa.au with a short summary of the potential research collaboration you are seeking, and QDSA will connect you with the relevant institution.
What are ASCA Missions?
ASCA missions are a call to action to industry and research partners to solve the Defence priorities endorsed by the Vice Chief of the Defence Force.
Missions are driven by problem statements and will be time-limited to 3 years.
Missions will follow the below timeline.
The dates shown below are for the current mission.
- Release problem statement – 1 November 2023
- Release approach to market – 30 November 2023
- Industry briefing – 14 December 2023
- ATM close – 25 January 2024
- Evaluation in Jan-Feb 2024
- Phase 1: Co-design begins 4 March 2024 (8-week initial period with optional 4-week extension)
- Contract negotiation in May 2024
- Phase 2: Mission delivery (up to 3 years) begins June 2024
Phase 1: Successful respondents, in collaboration with Defence key stakeholders, are required to design the delivery methodology and approach to execute and implement a solution. The solution will be refined in this stage.
Solutions will be evaluated, and successful respondents may be invited to participate in Phase 2.
Phase 2: The mission delivery of a refined proposal solution will begin June 2024 and span up to 3 years.
This phase will involve delivering minimum viable capability (expecting TRL 8 or 9) of the proposed solution in accordance with the Project Execution Plan delivered in the co-design process.
Driving collaboration across Queensland’s defence community
QDSA looks forward to seeing Queensland represented across all of ASCA’s programs including Missions, Innovation Incubation and Emerging and Disruptive Technologies.
QDSA Upcoming Events and Opportunities
QDSA has many upcoming events and opportunities, with more being added each week. Want to find out what is on the horizon? Check out our News section on our website here or subscribe to our e-newsletter here.
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The Queensland Defence Science Alliance (QDSA) is a university-led initiative to grow and connect an agile Defence innovation ecosystem, leveraging Queensland’s strengths, to deliver trusted solutions to meet Defence requirements.
