Published date: 8 November 2023

This notice was replaced on 14 February 2024

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 14 February 2024)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Spacecraft, satellites and launch vehicles - 34712000

  • Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73000000

Location of contract

United Kingdom

Value of contract

£200,000 to £500,000

Procurement reference

UKSAC23_0100

Published date

8 November 2023

Closing date

5 December 2023

Closing time

11am

Contract start date

10 January 2024

Contract end date

31 August 2024

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Other: SBRI

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

This is a Small Business Research initiative (SBRI) competition funded by the UK Space Agency.

The aim of the competition is to undertake feasibility studies to refuel the National Active Debris Removal Mission and a commercial client/customer satellite.

The challenge to be addressed by the successful team(s) can be summarised as follows:

• Elaborate the requirements for a mission which meets goal 1 of the study i.e. capable of refuelling the UK ADR satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Elaborate the requirements for a mission which meets goal 2 of the study i.e. capable of refuelling a commercial client/additional partner
• Develop a baseline design that responds to the technical requirements - providing confidence that the mission is feasible within the technical, programmatic, and financial constraints, which also defines what those constraints may be. Identify risks and propose realistic mitigations, establish plans for further development in the subsequent phases of the mission lifecycle
Further details of the tasks needed to deliver this SBRI can be found within Annex B - Project Specification- Active Debris Removal- Refuelling Study Phase 1 Overview.

It is important that you review Annex B as projects that are unable to meet the tasks of the SBRI may score poorly or be viewed as out of scope.


A total of up to £2 million, inclusive of VAT, is allocated to this competition/phase 1.

The Phase 1 feasibility study research and development (R&D) contracts will be up to £500,000, inclusive of VAT, for each project for up to 8 months. We expect to fund up to 4 projects.

More information

Attachments

Links

About the buyer

Address

Polaris House,North Star Avenue
SWINDON
SN21SZ
England

Email

commercial@ukspaceagency.gov.uk