Purpose

The DMTC COVID Technology Capability Development Portal is one part of efforts to support coordination of the national pandemic response, through the collation and exchange of end user requirements with available and emerging information and technologies, and a means to facilitate better collective collaboration.

Along with other mechanisms, it is a vehicle by which national capacity can be mobilised and directed, through engagement and cooperative efforts, towards effective response measures. It is a recognition of the importance of - and benefit derived from – collaboration between governments, the private and research sectors, and the Australian community in response to crisis situations

This Portal works with and alongside other collaboration mechanisms and focuses primarily on engagement between the Commonwealth and the academic/research sectors. Further detail on other avenues for engagement is contained within the Other Programs and Funding section of this site.

DMTC was established in 2008 with support from Defence as an independent, not-for-profit company that specialises in innovation and technology development for the defence and national security sectors.

Guidelines For Use

DMTC is accepting proposals from researchers and the industrial sector that span a broad range of technologies and disciplines, from medical countermeasure developments to industrial innovations and manufacturing solutions. These proposals will be carefully assessed by subject matter experts for their potential to make a difference in overcoming the threats posed by this pandemic, and to contribute to post-pandemic recovery. DMTC’s role includes coordination and engagement with government agencies, taskforces and other coordination groups engaged in the national response to COVID-19.

Under the View/Respond to Requests for Proposals section of the Portal, any immediate pandemic response capabilities sought or shortfalls identified by Commonwealth departments and response taskforces, and drawn from frontline health and deployed agencies, may be promulgated for review, and will include capability requirements and minimum specifications and standards.

Interested parties are invited to provide submissions in response on existing or emerging technologies or capabilities that may be relevantly applied. A Quad Chart format is provided and preferred, but submissions in any reasonable format may be uploaded.

The Portal further provides a means by which unsolicited proposals may be submitted for consideration. These may include, for example, new thinking or research on potential capability gaps yet to be identified, or emerging technologies that may be transferred or applied to existing response actions in a way not previously considered, and can be uploaded via the ‘Initiate Independent Proposal’ section.

Where appropriate, both submissions in response and unsolicited proposals will be directed towards a relevant point of contact within the appropriate Commonwealth agency or taskforce for further engagement or implementation.

Important Information

It should be noted that the Portal is a means for engagement and collaboration only. The acts of dissemination of information or calls for submission or proposals does not imply an offer and does not creates rights or obligations in any legal or practical sense, by either the Commonwealth, DMTC Ltd, or engaging parties. Any contemplation of use of technologies or capabilities remains a matter to be, if relevant, considered between the parties on any given topic or matter. In addition, any use of the Portal is subject to certain conditions and indemnities. Further information is contained within the site and should be reviewed prior to any substantive engagement.

Contact

Any questions or enquiries can be directed to national.COVIDresponse@dmtc.com.au or +61 433 342 597.

Security

The Portal is associated with Commonwealth Government activities. It has been designed and is hosted on a server that complies with the requirements of the Australian Signals Directorate – Australian Cyber Security Centre promulgated Information Security Manual, Guidelines for Software Development, dated 19 November 2019. All reasonable and practical measures, both in terms of electronic access and personnel handling and use of information, have been taken to ensure security of data.

Users should however bear in mind that the Portal is an unclassified, public-facing platform. It does not contain, access or host any classified material. Users must not upload Commonwealth classified material in any respect, and should contemplate other means of transmission for any material that is of particular commercial sensitivity.

Further information on the Portal’s security architecture and compliance, and any discussion of passage of sensitive information, may be available via the Contact details section.

Other COVID-19 Programs and Funding

Government Stakeholders

If you are a representative of an Australian government agency and wish to post a request for proposal on the portal or learn more about the portal process, please contact Milan Gandhi via email, or on +61 433 342 597.