Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC): Project ADORA Ionosondes

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

25 Aug 2026 at 11:00

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

10 Aug 2026 at 09:31

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology procured research and development services for Project ADORA, the next phase of UK ionosonde development led by the University of Birmingham. The work supports the rapid development and deployment of a new ionosonde system for ionospheric monitoring, helping inform space-weather decision-making and risk management. It also includes a software suite for remote monitoring and expanded modelling capabilities, including automatic scaling software. The requirement is for the National Space Operations Centre and covers activity in the United Kingdom. The procurement combines scientific research, specialist engineering and software development for space-weather monitoring technology, rather than a standard off-the-shelf supply. The Department is the public-sector buyer.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct award. The University of Birmingham was selected on 25 August 2026 for £1,062,498.67 excluding VAT, or £1,274,998.40 including VAT. The contract period runs from 14 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, with a maximum extent to 31 March 2029. Two additional 12-month extensions are permitted for further development work packages, subject to budget availability and satisfactory completion of earlier packages. The award covers one lot. The direct-award rationale cites prototype and development work, testing ionosonde suitability, research and development of automatic scaling software, and the buyer’s assessment that no alternative supplier has the required technical capacity. The requirement was evaluated as research and development services.

This award indicates demand from the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology for specialist UK space-weather research and technology development. A credible future competitor would need demonstrable capability in ionosonde technology, ionospheric monitoring and the development or deployment of systems used for space-weather decision-making and risk management. Relevant capability also includes remote-monitoring software, modelling tools and automatic scaling software that can move from an initial sensor application towards use across multiple sensors. The work calls for research, experimentation, testing and development rather than routine service delivery, so suppliers would need strong technical expertise, scientific understanding and the ability to deliver staged development work packages. Experience of taking prototype systems into operationally relevant environments would strengthen a supplier’s position when this buyer next tests similar requirements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC): Project ADORA Ionosondes

Notice Description

Project ADORA will support the rapid development and deployment of a new ionosonde system in the UK which will be used for ionospheric monitoring to inform space weather decision-making and risk management. Project ADORA will also include the software suite to facilitate remote monitoring and scaling modelling capabilities. This represents the next phase of a previous project to develop and deploy ionosonde technology in the UK which was led by the University of Birmingham.

Procurement Information

The principal ground is schedule 5(2), prototypes and development. Project ADORA seeks to test the suitability of ionosonde technology for space weather monitoring purposes, satisfying schedule 2(a) ("testing the suitability of the goods or services"). It also seeks to undertake research and development activity by supporting the development of automatic scaling software. This contract shall support development of an initial test licence for application to one sensor, with the intention of scaling to apply to multiple sensors in the future. Further deliverables are associated with additional R&D activity for additional software capabilities, to be added in future years if the initial period is successful. This satisfies schedule 2(c) ("other research, experiment, study or development"). Schedule 5(6) is also met as UKSA are unaware of any alternative suppliers with the technical capacity to undertake this work.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dfb2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080737-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

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
£1,062,498 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
25 Aug 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
14 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

The University of Birmingham

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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.

Loading OCDS record...