Request for Information: Cyber Accelerator Programme - Design Partnerships

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) intends to create a pathway to link problems identified by large organisations with solutions provided by innovative cyber small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) known as the Cyber Accelerator Programme.

The Authority is seeking to engage the market to gather information, insights and feedback, while also providing an opportunity for Suppliers to better understand and discuss our requirements. This activity is not a procurement or a commitment to purchase goods or services. Its purpose is to facilitate open dialogue, improve our understanding of available solutions and supplier capabilities, and help shape the requirement and future approach, ensuring any subsequent procurement activity is informed, proportionate and delivers the best possible outcome.

The principal objective of the programme is to create a credible pathway from agreed challenges facing the public sector to the commercial adoption of cyber innovation by public-sector buyers. It is intended to link problems identified by public-sector organisations with solutions provided by innovative cyber small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The programme will use structured, pro bono design partnerships between public-sector organisations with identified cyber challenges and innovative cyber SMEs capable of developing and testing solutions. Participation will not provide funding, an assurance of future work or preferential treatment in any subsequent procurement.

The appointed supplier will be expected to

• identify and recruit suitable public-sector Challenge Council members;
• build a broad pipeline of potential Programme Innovators and select suitable innovators against defined challenges;
• support challenge development and match innovators to challenges;
• establish, facilitate and oversee at least five design partnerships;
• provide programme governance and a light-touch commercial, procurement, data protection and security compliance wrapper;
• support routes to adoption or other lawful commercial progression;
• organise one Showcase Day and other programme activity;
• report on progress and produce a final report; and
• create and disseminate a pattern library of repeatable approaches to support public-sector adoption of cyber innovation.