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Inter-Agency Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) Research Studies - 2026/27

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

Tender

16 Jul 2026 at 11:02

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

22 May 2026 at 10:53

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
PlanningUpdate

22 May 2026 at 10:46

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Planning

22 May 2026 at 10:40

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, through the UK Space Agency’s Office of the Chief Engineer, is procuring technical research studies supporting the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee. The work supports three working groups: Environment and Database, covering meteoroid and debris characterisation, modelling, data access, collision prediction and risk assessment; Protection, covering shielding design, test methods, hypervelocity impact data and simulation software; and Mitigation, covering measures to reduce debris creation or hazards, debris sources, and the design and operation of space systems. The requirement is divided into three main lots, each containing sub-lots, and suppliers can bid for individual studies. Work will be delivered in the United Kingdom and is categorised as research and development and related consultancy services.

The process has reached tender: the buyer invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submissions permitted through the Jaggaer eSourcing Portal. Enquiries were due by 31 July 2026 at 11:00 UK time and tenders by 21 August 2026 at 11:00 UK time. The expected award decision date is 13 October 2026, and contracts are scheduled from 27 October 2026 to 26 March 2027. The overall estimated value is £283,333 excluding VAT, or £340,000 including VAT. Lot 1 is valued at £108,334 excluding VAT and £130,000 including VAT; Lot 2 at £83,333 excluding VAT and £100,000 including VAT; and Lot 3 at £91,666 excluding VAT and £110,000 including VAT. Lot 1 has three sub-lots, while Lots 2 and 3 each have two. Evaluation is 40% technical solution, 20% team skills and expertise, 20% project plan, and 20% price, based on capped time and materials rates and associated costs.

This opportunity suits research organisations, space-sector consultancies, engineering firms, universities and specialist small or medium-sized enterprises with expertise in space debris science, modelling, data systems, spacecraft protection or debris mitigation. Relevant capability may include developing frameworks and models, applying theoretical metrics in practice, assessing collision and debris risks, designing or testing shielding, analysing hypervelocity impacts, using simulation software, and identifying practical changes to space-system design or operation. Bidders should be able to propose technically credible solutions, assemble teams with appropriate knowledge and experience, and manage studies against defined objectives and deliverables. Suppliers can bid for one or more sub-lots, but those seeking multiple awards must demonstrate sufficient resource and expertise to deliver them concurrently. Voluntary, community and social enterprises are also identified as suitable participants.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Inter-Agency Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) Research Studies - 2026/27

Notice Description

The Office of the Chief Engineer within the UK Space Agency (UKSA) is intending to identify delivery partners to support a set of studies that will support ongoing research being performed as part of its role in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). The IADC has 13 member states that conduct technical research to inform their publications on how to measure, model, protect from and mitigate space debris. The primary purpose is to exchange information on space debris research activities between members, to facilitate opportunities for cooperation in space debris research, to review the progress of ongoing cooperative activities and to identify debris mitigation options. The UK has been a member for nearly 30 years and has been helping to guide the international policy over this time. The IADC consists of a steering group and four working groups - Measurements, Environment and Database, Protection and Mitigation. The studies that have been identified will seek to support on-going research being performed in each of these working groups. UKSA is seeking suppliers to perform technical studies of relevance to three of the four IADC working groups. We will require the supplier to fulfil the specification, including defining framework/model where needed and putting theoretical metrics into practice. We are splitting this competition into multiple lots linked to three of the four IADC working groups. Prospective bidders should note this requirement is not seeking any studies this year in support of IADC Working Group 1. Bidders may bid for and be awarded one or more studies within each lot. For the avoidance of doubt, it is not necessary to bid for multiple studies to be eligible to participate. UKSA reserves the right to award multiple contracts in the event of budget availability and sufficient high-quality proposals. Equally, UKSA reserves the right to not award individual lots where insufficient high quality proposals are received.

Lot Information

Working Group 2: Environment and Database

The scope of Working Group 2 (Environment and Database) is the characterisation and modelling of meteoroid and debris around the Earth and storage and access of the data by electronic means, including meteoroid and debris models, short and long-term evolution, collision prediction and risk assessment. Lot 1 includes three sub-lots: * Lot 1.1 - PS50,000 inclusive of VAT, PS41,667 exclusive of VAT * Lot 1.2 - PS50,000 inclusive of VAT, PS41.667 exclusive of VAT * Lot 1.3 - PS30,000 inclusive of VAT, PS25,000 exclusive of VAT The total value of all three sub-lots is PS130,000 inclusive of VAT and PS108,334 exclusive of VAT. Bidders may be awarded 1, 2 or 3 sub-lots within this lot and are able to bid for 1, 2 or 3 sub-lots. Details of the technical scope and requirements associated with each sub-lot are available in the ITT documentation on the Jaggaer procurement portal.

Working Group 3: Protection

The scope of Working Group 3 (Protection) comprises the design and technology of shielding against meteoroids and space debris and the associated test methods which include test facility and procedure, hypervelocity impact data and simulation software. Lot 2 includes two sub-lots: * Lot 2.1 - PS30,000 inclusive of VAT, PS25,000 exclusive of VAT * Lot 2.2 - PS70,000 inclusive of VAT, PS58,333 exclusive of VAT The total value of lot 2 is PS83,333 exclusive of VAT and PS100,000 inclusive of VAT. Bidders can apply for, and be awarded, 1 or 2 sub-lots within this lot.

Working Group 4: Mitigation

The scope of Working Group 4 comprises the study of all measures to reduce or avoid the creation of space debris or reduce the hazards created by space debris. This includes identification of space debris sources, design and operation of space systems. Lot 3 consists of two sub-lots: * Lot 3.1 - PS70,000 inclusive of VAT, PS58,333 exclusive of VAT * Lot 3.2 - PS40,000 inclusive of VAT, PS33,333 exclusive of VAT The total value of lot 3 is PS91,666 exclusive of VAT and PS110,000 inclusive of VAT. Bidders can apply for, and be awarded, 1 or 2 sub-lots within this lot.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a07f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067132-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£283,333 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£283,333 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
21 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
15 Jun 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
27 Oct 2026 - 26 Mar 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
2027-06-07

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EG
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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