QinetiQ, AtkinsRéalis and BMT have joined forces to form The Aurora Engineering Partnership. This brings together considerable cross-sector and non-defence experience, supported by a world class Provider Network of specialist providers.

About QinetiQ

QinetiQ is a leading science and engineering company operating primarily in the defence, security and critical infrastructure markets. We work in partnership with our customers to solve real world problems through innovative solutions delivering operational and competitive advantage. We are 6000 people creating new ways of protecting what matters most; testing technologies, systems, and processes to make sure they work as expected; and enabling customers to deploy new and enhanced-existing capabilities with the assurance they will deliver the outcomes required.

About AtkinsRéalis

AtkinsRéalis is a world-leading professional services and project management company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. We are proud to have worked with the MOD for over three decades on some of the most critical systems and infrastructure projects covering the maritime, land, air and joint domains.

About BMT

BMT provides independent technical expertise and consultancy. We offer design solutions, asset management, programme delivery and technology services in the defence, security, transport, energy and infrastructure markets. We tackle the most complex engineering and programme challenges, blending capabilities from the spectrum of engineering disciplines to deliver enduring and value-adding solutions.

About the Provider Network

We have 230 companies signed up to our EDP Provider Network with the capability and capacity to sustain MOD in-scope requirements.

Our Provider Network strategy and SME-friendly terms and conditions have created open and inclusive opportunities to join the Provider Network. As a result, nearly 75% of the companies in the Provider Network are SMEs.

Advisory Group

The Provider Network Advisory Group has been established with representatives for the following categories:

• Micro Provider (Quast)
• Small Provider (Ebeni)
• Medium Provider (RB Safety Consultants)
• Large Provider (BAE Surface Ships)

The Advisory Group also includes industry bodies ADS and Tech UK.

Building the Provider Network

The Aurora Provider Network has been established through a rigorous tender process which included the following four stages:

Stage 1: Expressions of Interest (EOI) utilising social media direct broadcast to organisations in the existing supply chains and trade bodies (including ADS and Tech UK).

Stage 2: Aurora Engineering Partnership created a webinar to enable industry to judge whether participation in the PQQ process would be worthwhile based on their own organisations' capability and interests.

Stage 3: Those individuals that viewed the webinar and who wished to proceed with a pre-qualification submission were invited to register on CurtisFitch, an e-sourcing software suite customised for the Aurora Engineering Partnership.

Stage 4: Pre-qualification assessment process evaluated both Technical and Commercial aspects of each pre-qualification submission.

Approved Providers are invited to compete for work under the Aurora Engineering Partnership in line with their approved category codes.

Sustaining the Provider Network

The Aurora Engineering Partnership manages access to the Provider Network on a cyclical basis to provide a dynamic environment for approved suppliers to win work. Following a comprehensive competitive procurement process in 2022 which established the Aurora PN 3.0, the Aurora Provider Network is current closed for new entrants.

The next opportunity for application to join the Provider Network will be in 2025.

In certain circumstances, work can be undertaken on individual discrete tasks by companies outside of the Provider Network. For example, where the contracting Authority has directed to use a specific company or where a unique capability that is not already available in the Provider Network is required.

Informing the Future

Futures Lab, powered by EDP, is a responsive new service dedicated to exploiting the knowledge and experience of industry and academia to provide constructive challenge and impartial decision support to respond to the ever-changing, complex-threat defence environment. As part of Future Capability Group (FCG) within Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), the Futures Lab Team contributes directly to the FCG Mission: “To improve the delivery of military capability through innovation, exploitation of technology and provision of impartial advice.”

Futures Lab is available through the existing Engineering Delivery Partnership (EDP) framework which is DE&S’ default route to market for contracting engineering services focused on delivering cutting edge military capabilities. Seeking to harness the benefits of cognitive diversity that power high performing teams Futures Lab will draw together a broad spectrum of knowledge and specialist expertise from industry and academia. These ‘rainbow teams’ will assist the Front Line Commands (FLC) through provision of evidence-based decision support tailored to their needs and aligned with the Futures Lab service categories.

Collaborative by nature, the Futures Lab team provides a knowledgeable, trusted and reliable interface to stakeholders across the FLCs through the journey from ideation to exploitation, powered by EDP.