Working with CDE

What CDE will need from you

  • The CDE is open to any idea that can contribute to UK Defence - on any subject and at any time in our ‘open’ call in addition to our specific, themed calls. Refer to the following link for an overview of the CDE proposal process.
  • To allow rapid and fair assessment of all proposals, CDE uses The Portal which is a secure online submission system. The MOD only sees those proposals once you have submitted it. The original web forms and any earlier pdf documents produced before submission are not seen by the MOD - we regard this work as private to you and your enterprise.
  • The Portal operates on an account basis, and you will need to register for an account before you can start submitting proposals. For more information please see The Portal pages.
  • The Portal has been designed with a structured set of web forms (Military, Inventory, Supply and Commercial) to draw out and highlight the key aspects of your proposal; proposal guidelines are available here for proposal guidelines link. The eventual output from the portal is an automatically generated pdf file and an example is herefor Proposal Example PDF.

How CDE will provide support to your proposals

  • You can either submit proposals in response to a specific call (usually referred to as a themed call or an Invitation to Tender (ITT)), or you can submit an unsolicited proposal (open call) at any time that addresses a specific problem or need. Themed calls differ from open calls as they have a specific MOD requirement/challenge to be met, they have ring-fenced funding and there is a cut-off date after which the proposals are assessed.
  • Proposals can be assessed in as little as 15 working days - see Proposal Submission Timelines.
  • For information on how to register on The Portal, respond to an ITT and/or submit a proposal in response to an ITT, please see our Technology Application Reference Manual available on ‘The Portal page.’ If you require more information on the CDE or on how to submit a proposal please contact the CDE Team.

How your proposal is assessed by the CDE

  • Your proposals will be assessed by relevant members of the CDE team and assessors from the MOD.
  • Your proposal is assessed using the MOD's Performance Assessment Framework.
  • The time spent on assessment is tailored to the value and complexity of your proposal; simpler and lower value proposals receive a more rapid assessment.
  • You can track the progress of your opportunity/proposal on line through the The Portal.

How the CDE awards contracts and funding

  • We have generated a simple set of terms and conditions for CDE contracts. To see what a CDE contract will look like for successful applicants please see the Contract Downloads and IPR Principles. To help you read these documents we have also prepared some easy to read guidance documentation found in the Contract Guidance.
  • We also realise that intellectual property is often at the forefront of commercial discussions and we have provided a guide to how we view and use intellectual property. The CDE uses three variants of standard contract specially designed for the CDE, principally driven by differing intellectual property conditions

How CDE is looking to stimulate innovation

We stimulate innovation by providing an awareness of MOD’s needs and to provide rapid access to innovation funding.

To generate awareness on the key MOD challenges, we list calls for innovation on the CDE website, we hold regular events on specific topics of interest to MOD and we publish widely in MOD publications such as Codex and the Defence Contracts Bulletin, as well as other media and press.

The main means of generating innovation is via our regular events which are advertised on this site under the “Events” section which also includes an online registration system. These are held at Harwell as well as in regional centres throughout the UK e.g. at universities in Glasgow and Cardiff. These events enable the MOD to directly interface with suppliers and to facilitate networking between innovators. These events have often been based around specific ‘themed’ calls to stimulate innovation for challenges faced by the Armed Services.

Rapid funding is available to successful innovators to ensure that the best proposals are pulled through to enhance military operational capability.

How the CDE is looking to work with you

The CDE is the first point of contact for innovators seeking an outlet for their ideas in defence. We are accessible and are willing to encourage, advise and support you in the submission of innovative, proof of concept research proposals using our online portal. We are also happy to help you make links with MOD stakeholders, companies and investors in order to assist you in the development of your innovative ideas.