Published date: 19 November 2021

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 15 November 2021, 12am

Contract summary

Industry

  • Populated printed circuit boards - 31712310

  • Satellite communications equipment - 32531000

  • Communication satellites - 35631100

Location of contract

North East

Value of contract

£200,000

Procurement reference

BIP644872496

Published date

19 November 2021

Closing date

15 November 2021

Closing time

12am

Contract start date

22 November 2021

Contract end date

30 April 2022

Contract type

Supply contract

Procedure type

Open procedure

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

No

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

Currently, the highest heritage ka-band radio frequency (RF) technology in small sats (herein we refer to them as CubeSats) can achieve 10-100 kbps with an onboard data storage capacity of ~8 GBytes (similar to SD cards in mobile phones). The aim of this experimental research project is to replace the existing low-speed RF and high-power transceiver in CubeSats with the high-speed, light weight and lower power free-space optical (FSO) wireless technology. The proposed intensity-modulation/direct-detection (IM/DD) FSO system will use an infrared laser source prototyped by Durham and Northumbria Universities in collaboration with UK-based industry partner SMS Electronics Limited. The high-speed electronics (encoding, modulation, etc.), the drive circuit and the optical head as well as the optical receiver together with all the supporting data, control, and optics modules will now be optimized and fabricated, increasing to TRL-7. We are seeking a sub-contractor who will help us to design and develop (to PCB layout and bring-up testing) a full working prototype of the electronics boards for handling high speed (1 Gbps) data transmission using our FSO system design, incorporating radiation hardened components, flight-ready controller, and buffering to interface with the satellite bus.

More information

Links

Award information

Awarded date

15 November 2021

Contract start date

22 November 2021

Contract end date

30 April 2022

Total value of contract

£200,000

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

e2E Services Limited

Address

5 Yeomans Court
Ware Road
Hertford
Hertfordshire
SG13 7HJ

Reference

None

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Contact name

Jon Borley

Address

Pandon Building
Camden Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST
UK

Telephone

01912274303

Email

jon.borley@northumbria.ac.uk