Award

Inter-Agency Space Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) 2025-26 Studies - Sub-Lot 4.2: Assessment of Technologies Driving Post-Mission Disposal Reliability

UK SPACE AGENCY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

07 Oct 2025 at 10:22

Award

17 Sep 2025 at 08:29

Summary of the contracting process

The UK Space Agency, a central government public authority, initiated a procurement process for the "Inter-Agency Space Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) 2025-26 Studies - Sub-Lot 4.2: Assessment of Technologies Driving Post-Mission Disposal Reliability." The procurement, located in Didcot, United Kingdom, was completed on 7th October 2025, following a direct award process due to the lack of suitable tender submissions. The award, valued at £25,000 gross, covers a period from 7th October 2025 to 31st March 2026. This procurement focuses on research and development services in the space industry, specifically addressing technologies for post-mission disposal operations.

This tender represents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in space research, technology development, and consultancy services. Companies that can deliver innovative technologies for improving the reliability of post-mission disposal and compliance with IADC guidelines are well-positioned to benefit. Such opportunities are particularly suited to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) like 3S Northumbria Ltd, which has been awarded the contract to explore and develop a comprehensive catalogue evaluating promising solutions for space debris mitigation. This engagement not only fosters growth within involved enterprises but also advances technological developments critical to sustainable space exploration.

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Notice Title

Inter-Agency Space Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) 2025-26 Studies - Sub-Lot 4.2: Assessment of Technologies Driving Post-Mission Disposal Reliability

Notice Description

This is a switch to direct award under Section 43 of the Procurement Act, on the basis no suitable tender submissions were received for Sub-Lot 4.2 of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) 2025-26 tender. One bid was received which did not satisfy the Contracting Authority's requirements or the award criteria when assessed by reference to the assessment methodology and the relative importance of the criteria indicated under section 23(3). There was a minor commercial deficiency in the bid which could not be addressed during the tender process, which has been addressed subsequently to facilitate this direct award. The appointed supplier will investigate the technologies that underpin reliable post-mission disposal operations, considering those that achieve compliance to one or more of the post-mission disposal guidelines within the IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines. Develop and populate a catalogue to capture key information on each technology and critically evaluate the most promising solutions across cases for single-spacecraft missions and large constellations.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-059be6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/062799-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£20,833 Under £100K
Contracts Value
£20,833 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
7 Oct 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Sep 20255 months ago
Contract Period
6 Oct 2025 - 31 Mar 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

3S NORTHUMBRIA

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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