Planning

Expression of Interest: Hot House Event - Enhancing Coverage and Resilience in the emergency services communication

UK SPACE AGENCY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Sep 2025 at 09:07

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Space Agency, a central government public authority located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Didcot, is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process for a workshop titled "Expression of Interest: Hot House Event - Enhancing Coverage and Resilience in the emergency services communication". This initiative focuses on the services category and involves exploring technological solutions, particularly satellite-enabled options, to augment the Emergency Services Network (ESN) managed by the Home Office's Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme. The procurement process includes a market engagement workshop for which interested parties need to submit their applications by 17.00hrs on Thursday, 9 September 2025. The workshop aims to establish capabilities and requirements essential for enhancing the UK's emergency communication systems, with the outcomes to be shared with industry participants.

This procurement process offers significant opportunities for businesses specializing in satellite communications, IT services, and telecommunication solutions, particularly those providing innovative and resilient connectivity solutions for remote and challenging areas. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate as the procurement lot indicates suitability for them. By engaging in this process, businesses can potentially shape and contribute to critical advancements in emergency communication technology, gaining a foothold in providing essential services to a vast network of emergency service users across Great Britain. This initiative not only allows businesses to expand their market reach but also positions them as key contributors to a vital national infrastructure project.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Expression of Interest: Hot House Event - Enhancing Coverage and Resilience in the emergency services communication

Notice Description

The UK Space Agency (UKSA), on behalf of the Home Office's Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) invite Expressions of Interest (EOI) to participate in a forthcoming Workshop event at explore how existing and emerging technology (including satellite-enabled solutions) could augment the Emergency Services Network (ESN). UKSA and ESMCP are seeking ways to further enhance ESN coverage in remote areas and locations which are challenging to service using standard transmission methods, including exploring the role of satellite connectivity to provide additional reach and resilience. About UKSA The UKSA, through its Unlocking Space for Government (USG) programme, is working to harness the UK's space-enabled capabilities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government services and position government to be a proactive, intelligent anchor customer for the space sector. This workshop will bring together government, industry, and specialist stakeholders to identify and shape potential solutions that could extend coverage and resilience in some of Britain's most challenging locations. About ESN The Emergency Services Network (ESN) is a government project managed by the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) in the Home Office. ESN will replace Airwave, the current critical communications system used by the emergency services across Great Britain. ESN will use 4G/5G mobile phone signals to enable emergency services access to mission critical voice and data communications, giving first responders immediate access to life-saving data, images and information in live situations and emergencies on the frontline. ESN investment also delivers mobile network coverage improvements, that allow 999 calls to be made from any 4G enabled mobile device in remote and rural parts of Great Britain where it was not previously possible. Users of ESN include the 3 Emergency Services (3ES), and other organisations that depend on critical communications, and an estimated 300,000 frontline emergency service users who will depend on ESN; using handheld devices or operating equipment in 45,000 vehicles, over 90 aircraft and 200 control rooms. ESN will provide additional solutions to enhance coverage and enable ESMCP to leverage advances in the Satcom innovations and positively disruptive capabilities to deliver enhanced capability for the life of the service.

Planning Information

Workshop Objectives are to: 1. Establish a baseline of candidate capabilities including satellite communications solutions (e.g. LEO / MEO / GEO constellations, non-traditional providers, and hybrid satcom/terrestrial models) that offer feasible and viable solutions to provide enhanced coverage and resilience; and 2. Understand, document, and agree derived User and System Requirements that should be considered/addressed in the Through-Life Capability Management of ESN. Action and next steps Interested organisations with innovative satellite or hybrid connectivity solutions are encouraged to register their interest in joining this Workshop event to contribute to the future resilience of the UK's critical emergency communications system. How to register To apply, please complete and submit the Workshop registration form outlining your organisation's relevant capabilities and potential contribution within the MS Form https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=BXCsy8EC60O0l-ZJLRst2N_WKbHENLJArWra4oNpOuxUMUlMOEdJSkUyUEw4NzI5S1lWQUhaWUg0RC4u Please note we are using a third party supplier to host this event your submitted details may be shared with them in order to facilitate the running of the workshop. further details of our privacy notice can be found here. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-space-agency-gdpr-privacy-notice The deadline for submitting applications is 17.00hrs on Thursday 9 September 2025. Feedback and follow up All submissions received by the deadline will be reviewed. Places are limited and participants will be selected at the sole discretion of the organisers. Further details, including the Workshop date, agenda and venue, will be provided to selected participants. The outcomes of the Workshop, including any findings, recommendations, and summary outputs, will be made available to attendees and open to wider industry upon request.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0591d3
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053022-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

CPV Codes

32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
9 Sep 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 1 Jan 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

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

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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