Tender

Active Debris Removal (ADR) Phase 3 Research and Development Service

UK SPACE AGENCY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

03 Jul 2025 at 08:49

Planning

07 Apr 2025 at 16:29

Summary of the contracting process

The UK Space Agency is inviting tenders for its "Active Debris Removal (ADR) Phase 3 Research and Development Service," aimed at furthering sustainability efforts in space. The agency, a central government public authority, is located at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot. This procurement pertains to the aerospace industry, specifically dealing with spacecraft and satellites, and involves the safe capture and removal of defunct satellites from the Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Using a competitive flexible procedure under a selective procurement method, the tender process is currently active, with a deadline for expressions of interest set for 31st July 2025. The project is priced at a gross value of £75.6 million, with the award anticipated by 30th March 2026, and the engagement being coordinated through the UK Shared Business Services’ Jaggaer eSourcing Portal.

This procurement presents a substantial growth opportunity for businesses, particularly for those specialising in aerospace engineering, satellite technology, and in-orbit servicing operations. SMEs are encouraged to participate, as the contract involves significant research and development components and aims to position the UK as a leader in space debris remediation and sustainability. Companies with expertise in designing and operating spacecraft and those that can provide innovative solutions for uncooperative satellite capture will find the opportunity particularly pertinent. The procurement is structured to foster innovation, thus creating a competitive environment that can lead to long-term collaboration and industry advancements.

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Notice Title

Active Debris Removal (ADR) Phase 3 Research and Development Service

Notice Description

This notice relates to the intended procurement for a contract which is an exempted contract under s 3(6) and Schedule 2, Part 2 (Subject-matter exempted contracts), paragraph 22 (Research and Development Services) of the Procurement Act 2023 (the 'Act'). Exempted contracts are not a public contract as defined in s3 of the Act and therefore are not required to be procured in accordance with the provisions of the Act that relate to a covered procurement. This notice is published on Find a Tender for information, to direct interested potential suppliers to the notice available on competefor.com. The UK Active Debris Removal Phase 3 Research and Development Service (ADR Mission) is a UK national project that aims to support the In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing ("ISAM") and Sustainability priorities set out in the UK Space Agency's Corporate Plan as well as the National Space Strategy (NSS) ambitions to lead the global effort to make space more sustainable. The ADR Mission requires the safe capture and subsequent removal of two UK-licensed defunct satellites in the congested LEO region (Client Satellites) by the Servicer Satellite. These Client Satellites must be unprepared for capture; that is, not fitted with technologies intended to aid ISAM, such as docking plates and fiducial markers. The Client Satellites must also be completely uncooperative and will have been passivated to ensure safe capture by the Servicer. Through this Procurement, the Authority will select one Supplier to deliver the UK ADR Mission. The Supplier will deliver the Contract in accordance with the Authority's requirements as specified in Schedule 2: Service Description of the Contract. For further information, please see the notice available on competefor.com, or access the e-sourcing platform.

Planning Information

Description: The UK Space Agency (UKSA) would like to invite interested suppliers to the Industry Engagement Event (the 'Event') in relation to the planned procurement for Active Debris Removal Phase 3 Research and Development Service, (the 'UK ADR Project'). The aim of the Event is to engage with space sector organisations to: A) Understand the market's current capacity and capability to deliver this requirement, and their interest in the procurement. B) Outline the UK Space Agency's draft technical and mission requirements, contractual provisions and outline procurement strategy; and C) Give potential suppliers the opportunity to confirm their appetite and provide feedback on the intended approach. Background of the requirements The UK ADR Project is a national mission that aims to achieve the Space Sustainability priority set out in the UK Space Agency Corporate Plan 2022-25 - GOV.UK, supporting the National Space Strategy objective for the UK to lead the global effort to make space more sustainable. The mission requires the safe capture and subsequent removal of at least two UK-licensed defunct satellites in the congested LEO zone. These debris, also known as the Target Satellites, must be unprepared for capture; that is, not fitted with technologies intended to aid In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing (ISAM), such as docking plates and fiducial markers. The Target Satellites must also be completely uncooperative. The UK ADR Project will enable the UK to seize key opportunities in the global ADR and ISAM markets and establish itself as a global leader in space debris remediation. Scope of the procurement: • Development and construction of a vehicle capable of removing two agreed pieces of debris (defunct UK-registered satellites) from orbit, then remaining in orbit with the capability to be refuelled. • Launch of the vehicle. • Operation of the vehicle in orbit to remove two agreed space debris from orbit within an agreed time frame. • Vehicle to be in a stable orbit and in a refuellable state at completion of mission. Constraints and dependencies: The budget for delivery of the UK ADR Project has not yet been confirmed. We are conducting this engagement with the market to explore interest and what is possible. The procurement is also conditional on successfully obtaining all necessary internal and external approvals. Date, time and location: The Event will take place on Thursday the 24th of April 2025 at 10.00am in Harwell in Oxfordshire (details TBC). If you are unable to attend in person there will be an opportunity to join the Event remotely. A Teams invite will be shared with you following registration. Event registration- Please ensure you pre-register by sending an email to commercial@ukspaceagency.gov.uk confirming if you are attending in person or remotely. Please include this reference to the Event in the subject line of your email: UKSAC24_0095 Active Debris Removal Phase 3 R&D Service Engagement Day. In order to ensure sufficient capacity, the number of attendees in person is limited to three participants per organisation. Should the room capacity become an issue, in person attendance will be allocated on the "first come first served basis" with those missing on securing the place being able to join the Event remotely. Please note that the Event is intended for potential suppliers that would enter into the contact with UKSA i.e. prime contractors or organisations that would form a lead member of any proposed consortium. Please ensure that you secure your place at the Event by registering for it before 17:00 BST on Thursday 17th of April 2025. Following registration, we will share with you further details of the venue and the agenda. On the day: There will be opportunity to ask questions regarding all aspects of the requirements. We intend to cover the following: - Mission requirements - Contractual provisions - including proposed KPIs, Liabilities, Insurance levels, Intellectual Property Rights - Timeframes of the competition - Procurement strategy - Social value - Pricing structure Questions and answers will be captured and shared with the potential suppliers after the Event. We will welcome any feedback you would like to share via email after the Event. The timescale for provision of feedback will be end of play 30th April 2025. Dependent on numbers expressing interest, our aim is to provide interested Suppliers with the opportunity to meet with us '1-to-1' in private, to help facilitate open and frank conversations. This could be in -person, if you are attending the event or remotely. If you are interested in such a meeting, please ensure this is clearly stated in your email response. If too many Suppliers express interest to accommodate on the day, places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and/or we may at our sole discretion offer alternative dates to meet. Reasonable steps will be taken to provide the same amount of time to each Supplier. Additional: Please note the following general conditions: • This engagement notice is not a call for competition and as such potential suppliers will need to express interest in the future competition once an invitation to participate in it is published. • Any and all costs associated with preparation for and/or attendance at the Event and/or the production of a response in any form must be borne by potential suppliers. The UK Space Agency will not be liable for or contribute in any way to meeting potential supplier costs in relation to the Event. • No information provided by a potential supplier in conjunction with the Event will be carried forward, used or acknowledged in any way for the purpose of evaluating the potential supplier, in any subsequent procurement process. • Neither the issue of this notice, or the Event, or any information provide by UKSA at, or in conjunction with the Event, shall commit UKSA to conduct a procurement for this or any related contract and/or to award an such contract following a procurement process.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04fe65
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037004-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

34712000 - Spacecraft, satellites and launch vehicles

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£63,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£63,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
16 Jul 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
30 Apr 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Mar 2026 - 30 Mar 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK SPACE AGENCY
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
commercial@ukspaceagency.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
DIDCOT
Postcode
OX11 0DF
Post Town
Oxford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Vale of White Horse
Electoral Ward
Hendreds
Westminster Constituency
Didcot and Wantage

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037004-2025
    3rd July 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
  • https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/013504-2025
    7th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
  • https://beisgroup.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/
    UKSA will be using the Jaggaer eSourcing Portal for this procurement. To register on the Jaggaer eSourcing portal please use the link https://beisgroup.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/ and follow the instructions to register as a supplier. If you are already registered on the Jaggaer eSourcing Portal and wish to participate in this procurement, please use the link: https://beisgroup.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/. Once you are logged into the system you will be able to locate the Procurement you wish to leave a bid on by clicking the ITTs Open to All Suppliers and searching for the reference number itt_2167.
  • https://www.competefor.com/
    The full procurement notice is available on this site, registration is required.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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