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Habitable Worlds Observatory Detector

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

20 Aug 2026 at 12:39

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

20 Aug 2026 at 12:22

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Open University is procuring bespoke CIS300-series UVIS detectors and associated space-qualification test equipment for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a NASA-led mission supported by UK Space Agency research funding. The requirement covers qualification testing of detectors, including back-thinning of CIS303-33 and CIS303-66 wafers, Invar and silicon-carbide packaging, a back-thinning report, CIS300 test equipment, a Te2v CEB, interconnect and flex-rigid PCBs, and an FPGA update. The work supports space and radiation-effect testing and continuation of detector development originally undertaken for the Canadian CASTOR mission. The buyer is The Open University, based in Milton Keynes. The equipment and technical work are for the University’s research activity and the wider HWO mission.

This completed procurement used a direct award. The University selected Teledyne UK Limited because the requirement concerns prototype and development work, and the specific detector technology and continuation of existing testing mean that only this supplier can provide the required goods and services. The award date was 20 August 2026. Stage 1 runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, with an awarded value of £585,000 excluding VAT (£702,000 including VAT). The award provides for renewal or extension to 31 March 2030. A provisional Stage 2 is planned from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2030, with an estimated value of £1,902,000 including VAT, subject to funding and successful completion of Stage 1. There is one completed lot.

This requirement is relevant to suppliers with specialist capability in bespoke ultraviolet imaging detectors, semiconductor wafer back-thinning, surface preparation, packaging and precision testing for space applications. Credible competitors for a future requirement would need experience with detector qualification, radiation-effect testing and the manufacture or modification of novel scientific hardware, together with the ability to supply compatible test equipment and supporting electronics. The specification also indicates a need for Invar and silicon-carbide packages, interconnect and flex-rigid printed circuit boards, configurable FPGA work and clear technical reporting. The selected supplier is a large specialist manufacturer, so competitors would need sufficient engineering capacity, controlled production and testing facilities, and experience continuing an established detector development programme rather than delivering a standard catalogue product.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Habitable Worlds Observatory Detector

Notice Description

Habitable Worlds Observatory Detector. Qualification testing of bespoke CIS300 series UVIS detectors. This work is being performed under the remit of a UK Space Agency (UKSA) research grant, with costs for the procurement of this equipment specifically stated within the UKRI offer letter. This phase of work being performed by the OU is taking place in the broader context of a NASA led mission (HWO). The critical success factors for this phase of the activity are completion/delivery of the following items by 31/02/2027: CIS303-33: o Part thinning (to pre-AR coat) of 6 off wafers. Each wafer has 4 (unyielded) devices on it. o 8 Invar PCB packages * CIS303-66 o Part thinning (to pre-AR coat) of 4 off wafers. Each wafer has 1 (unyielded) device on it. o 4 Silicon Carbide Packages. * Back-thinning report * CIS300 test equipment o latest build standard of the Te2v CEB. o Interconnect board. o Flex rigid PCB. * FPGA update o As the requirements for this update are unknown a nominal number has been assumed, once the requirements are confirmed this cost may increase or reduce. Phase 2 would follow on to 31/03/2030, if required.

Procurement Information

Prototypes and development The public contract concerns the production of a prototype, or supply of other novel goods or services, for the purpose of-- (a) testing the suitability of the goods or services, (c) other research, experiment, study or development. Single suppliers The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract-- (a) due to an absence of competition for technical reasons, only a particular supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. The Open University (OU) has been awarded research grant funding via the UK Space Agency (UKSA) for the NASA Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) mission. For this, bespoke CIS300 series UVIS detectors from Teledyne e2v Ltd need to be procured along with associated test equipment for space qualification and radiation effect testing. These specific detectors were initially procured as part of an earlier phase of work for the Canadian Space Agency's Cosmological Advanced Survey Telescope for Optical and UV Research (CASTOR) mission. The work of the current and future planned phases for the HWO mission is a continuation of the work initially completed for the Canadian CASTOR mission which was testing the same technology. The OU's continued inclusion in the HWO mission was subject to funding awarded by the UKSA and they have agreed to increase funding (FY26-27) for the OU to procure more Teledyne-e2v CIS300 detectors and test equipment for the mission. The funding agency's request is specifically for the OU to continue the testing of this specific detector. As this is a continuation of work already being undertaken and it is specific equipment, it is not possible to procure the necessary items from any supplier other than Teledyne e2v Ltd. The project is split into two stages. Stage 1 is for existing detectors to be back thinned and made ready for packaging, and testing for future space missions, specifically HWO. It is planned for 01/09/2026 - 31/03/2027 with a value of PS702,000 including VAT and is confirmed. Stage 2 would be a larger project to use the outcome of the testing from stage 1 to make changes to the design of the detectors. Following this, the newly designed detectors would be manufactured, back thinned, surface coated and packaged. It is provisionally planned for 01/04/2027 - 31/03/2030 with an estimated value of PS1,902,000 including VAT and is subject to funding and the successful completion of stage 1.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e87e
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079422-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

CPV Codes

38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£585,000 £500K-£1M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Aug 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MILTON KEYNES
Postcode
MK7 6AA
Postcode Area
Milton Keynes
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ12 Milton Keynes
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Milton Keynes
Electoral Ward
Monkston
Westminster Constituency
Milton Keynes Central

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Teledyne UK Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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