Nuclear Deterrence Fund

What this is

The Ministry of Defence's Nuclear Deterrence Fund (NDF) is a GBP 3.3m pilot programme running FY24-27 to stimulate wider UK expertise in nuclear deterrence issues and to build a research base supporting nuclear deterrence policymaking. The Fund accepts research project proposals from civil society and academia. Suppliers register for the NDF PQQ on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) and, once checks are complete, are onboarded onto a Dynamic Purchasing System that provides the contractual terms; onboarded suppliers may then submit research proposals.

Key points

• GBP 3.3m pilot fund for nuclear deterrence research (FY24-27)
• September 2025 round: PQQ/registration deadline 26/08/2025, proposal deadline 12/09/2025
• Access via a DPS on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP); onboarding 09/24-01/27

Who can bid

Open to suppliers, academia and civil society able to conduct research on nuclear deterrence. Suppliers must register for the NDF PQQ on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) and be onboarded onto the DPS (onboarding window 09/24 to 01/27) before submitting proposals.

How it is scored

Research project proposals are considered by the Programme Board. No explicit quality/price weighting stated; funding agreements for successful bids are covered by supplementary project tasking forms.

Money

Total fund value GBP 3,300,000 (a GBP 3.3m pilot programme). Individual funding agreements are set per project via tasking forms.

How to submit

Register for the NDF PQQ on the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP); once onboarded onto the DPS, submit research project proposals for consideration.

Contract period

Pilot programme runs across FY24-27; DPS onboarding available between September 2024 and January 2027.

Classification

CPV 73410000 — Military research and technology South West