Planning

UK2 - Preliminary market engagement notice Project NOCTIS-2

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

16 Mar 2026 at 13:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

27 Feb 2026 at 13:01

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Ministry of Defence is initiating the procurement process for Project NOCTIS-2, a space capability venture aimed at enhancing satellite monitoring across all Earth-centred orbits. This procurement is currently at the planning stage, with significant market engagement activities taking place. An Industry Day is scheduled via TEAMS on 27th March 2026, with registration for the event required by 24th March 2026. The project falls under the Defence and Security industry categories and is poised to utilise novel space surveillance technology. The procurement, valued at £17.5 million in net terms, is planned to be executed outside of the UK and will involve using the Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market (RM6370) for competitive tendering. Key dates include the submission deadline for engagement documents by 6th April 2026, with the project's contract period beginning in April 2027 and extending up to April 2030, with potential renewal until April 2032.

Project NOCTIS-2 presents significant business growth opportunities, especially for SMEs involved in the space, technology, and defence sectors. The project requires comprehensive support in software development, IT services, technical control, and preventive maintenance, as well as the provision and potential launch of spacecraft and satellites. Businesses equipped with capabilities in optical array and Infra-Red telescope technologies are well-suited to compete in this tender. To participate effectively, organisations are encouraged to register for the Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market to ensure accessibility to future procurement activities and updates published on the Find a Tender Service. Successful involvement in this project not only provides substantial revenue avenues but also positions businesses at the forefront of technological advancements in global satellite surveillance and space security.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UK2 - Preliminary market engagement notice Project NOCTIS-2

Notice Description

Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), has published a UK 1 Notice purely for information purposes. The Authority would now like to engage with the market via this UK2 Notice and the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) opportunity listing, which can be found here: https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60844. This Space Capability Project, designated 'NOCTIS-2', comprises a novel space surveillance approach utilising an optical array, and potentially, an Infra-Red (IR) telescope. The project encompasses the procurement, installation, and through-life support of the system. The purpose is to monitor satellites in all Earth-centred orbits, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) in order to enhance the UK's sovereign SDA capabilities. The capability is required to operate in Surveillance & Tracking modes in order to provide a persistent stare capability of the GEO Belt and tessellate across as wide a Field of View as possible whilst also providing a more exquisite capability that can contribute to object characterisation. Project 'NOCTIS-2' will be executed at a location outside the UK. The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) is expected to be released in Quarter 1 of 26/27 FY.

Planning Information

The Authority would like to notify you of a potential upcoming procurement, and by doing so is keen to understand the market. The Authority is initially interested in getting responses to a series of questions within a seperate document referenced 'RFI'. The RFI has been published on DSP, and can be found here: https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60844 Following the release of the RFI, the Authority shall formally engage with Industry via a TEAMS Industry Day, please find further details contained in the RFI. An Industry Day will be taking place on TEAMS on the 27th March 2026. At this event the Authority will provide additional details of the project including (but not limited to) further information of the site, roadmaps and commercial strategy with the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments. We encourage organisations to provide questions and comments before and after the industry day (via email) to help us ensure the requirements set in the competition are clearly understood, appropriate and achievable. If your organisation would like to attend, please email the contact detailed in this notice and provide email address, full name, organisation name and telephone number (being used to dial in) by the 24th March 2026. The event shall be held at OFFICIAL. Your registration will only be confirmed once checks have been completed. This procurement shall be considered for competitive tender via the Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market (RM6370), should you be interested in this procurement - please register to the Dynamic Market to ensure timely access to any potential subsequent procurement stages. Further notices relating to the requirement will be published on the Find a Tender Service in due course. Link to The Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market: https://supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/dm/RM6370?nav=0

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065e45
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023523-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

50 - Repair and maintenance services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

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

CPV Codes

34712000 - Spacecraft, satellites and launch vehicles

50324200 - Preventive maintenance services

71356100 - Technical control services

71356300 - Technical support services

72222300 - Information technology services

72262000 - Software development services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£17,500,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Mar 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Apr 20266 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
29 Apr 2027 - 30 Apr 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

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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