Planning

Satellite Gateway Services Programme

UK SPACE AGENCY

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

25 Sep 2025 at 09:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Space Agency is currently in the planning stage for the Satellite Gateway Services Programme, which aims to enhance the UK ground segment market to support civil and defence applications. They are requesting information to inform future contracts, with responses due by 17th October 2025. The procurement process, initiated as a tender, is focused on telecommunication services, specifically excluding phone and data transmission services. The opportunities span the UK, catered towards developing new global connectivity markets in the Low Earth Orbit satellite communications sector. Potential contracts, each valued at approximately £100,000, are expected to commence from January 2026 and conclude by March 2027, subject to extension. There will be up to three contracts awarded, contingent on the insights gathered from this exercise.

This tender presents significant growth opportunities for UK-based commercial organisations specialising in telecommunication services. Businesses with expertise in satellite communications, particularly those capable of contributing to the Low Earth Orbit economy, stand to benefit markedly. The UK Space Agency is poised to act as an anchor customer, fostering revenue maximisation and showcasing capabilities to the government sector. Small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly well-suited to compete, given the programme's emphasis on supporting the UK supply chain. This is an excellent chance for companies in the sector to expand their market presence and forge valuable connections within the national and international space industries.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Satellite Gateway Services Programme

Notice Description

UKSA has an objective to grow the UK ground segment market to act as a resilient capability to support civil and defence applications. The number of in-situational and commercial missions is continuing to increase over the next few years with the capacity of existing institutional systems not being able to meet demand. The UK Space Agency supports the use of commercial providers to support institutional services. UKSA invests in a wide range of space programmes through the European Space Agency, bilaterally with key partners such as NASA, JAXA and the CSA, and nationally within the UK. To support these investments and maximise return to the UK across the value chain, a healthy UK-based commercial ground segment is a requirement, particularly for the emerging Low-Earth Orbit economy. In supporting LEO activities, the Satellite Gateway Services (SGS) programme will align itself with the Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme, which uses grant funding and ESA contract funding to support the UK supply chain to access new and emerging opportunities in global connectivity markets in LEO satellite communications. The SGS programme intends to support the commercial development of the UK ground segment market by procuring services from UK-based commercial organisations and acting as an anchor customer. This will allow UK entities to be well-placed to showcase their expertise with government customers and use this to maximise additional revenue opportunities. UKSA intends to award up to 3 contracts of PS100,000 within this programme, though this Request for Information exercise is intended to inform this and these values may therefore be subject to change. Contract durations are indicative and subject to change.

Planning Information

To participate in this request for information exercise, please submit a response via the following Microsoft Form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=BXCsy8EC60O0l-ZJLRst2NDfM_ituWxGgdwlif6ivDpUMUdNVTZHMklVS1FJNVRNTlVVT0I1RTk5SSQlQCN0PWcu Responses should be submitted by the 17th of October. Any queries relating to this RFI should be submitted to telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05a1bf
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/059556-2025
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

64 - Postal and telecommunications services

CPV Codes

64220000 - Telecommunication services except telephone and data transmission services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£300,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2026 - 31 Mar 2026 1-6 months
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
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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

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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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