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In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) Maturation Research & Development Projects

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

19 Oct 2026 at 17:07

UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, through the UK Space Agency, plans to fund research and development projects to mature in-orbit manufacturing payload concepts for high-value applications on Earth. The work will develop evidence on technical maturity, delivery, risks, costs and commercial considerations, to inform future investment decisions and a potential in-orbit demonstration programme. This is applied research aimed at a specific public-sector decision, not the commercial industrialisation of in-orbit manufacturing. The projects will focus on payload maturation and research and development; they do not themselves provide a demonstration mission. The procurement concerns research and development services relating to spacecraft and satellite payloads. Delivery is in the United Kingdom.

This is at the planning stage: the UK Space Agency has set out its intention to run a competition, subject to final approvals, following earlier market engagement. It expects to use an open competition delivered through Innovate UK Contracts for Innovation. The competition is intended to launch around 23 October 2026, with suppliers expected to have approximately four weeks from formal launch to submit proposals. Projects are anticipated to start in January 2027 and run for up to six months. Indicative funding is £1.4 million excluding VAT across the projects, with at least two contracts anticipated and each submission capped at £700,000 excluding VAT. Individual contract values and the final scope remain subject to competition, funding availability and government approvals. Final eligibility and evaluation requirements will be provided at launch.

The work is suited to organisations able to mature in-orbit manufacturing payload concepts through applied research and produce robust technical, delivery, risk, cost and commercial evidence. Suppliers should be positioned to explain how their work could inform future UK investment decisions and a possible demonstration programme, while recognising that this research commission does not guarantee a later mission or follow-on funding. The buyer prefers each project to be led by a single organisation; leads may collaborate with other organisations or subcontract parts of the work. The UK Space Agency may limit organisations to leading one project, so potential partners and subcontractors may be relevant to teams planning their approach. The competition is intended to award multiple separate projects, making this relevant to suppliers with a defined payload-maturation project as well as organisations able to contribute specialist capabilities to a lead.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) Maturation Research & Development Projects

Notice Description

**This planned procurement follows earlier market engagement undertaken by UK Space Agency (UKSA) through the Request for Information (RFI) published under Find a Tender Notice 2026/S 000-035409. Overall responses to the RFI demonstrated market interest and a range of potential approaches, while also identifying areas where further technical, commercial, cost and delivery evidence is required before UKSA could consider progressing to a full demonstration mission. UKSA has therefore decided to adopt a staged approach, commissioning multiple R&D projects across RPOD and IOM to explore differing approaches, reduce uncertainty and strengthen the evidence base for future investment decisions. This is one of two concurrent procurements being progressed following consideration of the outputs from that RFI exercise, the other being for Mission Feasibility Studies - Spacecraft Life Extension Service Demonstration. Please see respective notices on Find a Tender.** Procurement Description: The UK Space Agency (UKSA) intends, subject to final approvals, to launch a competitive procurement that will support research and development (R&D) projects to mature In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) payload concepts for high-value Earth applications, generating evidence to support consideration of potential future in-orbit demonstration activities. The work is intended to mature the technical, delivery considerations, risks, indicative cost and commercial evidential base required to inform the UKSA's ISAM In-Orbit Demonstration Programme, and the development of a Green Book-compliant business case. The requirement concerns applied research directed at developing technical knowledge for the particular objective of informing decisions on potential future UK IOM demonstration activities, rather than commercial industrialisation. The competition is intended to support payload maturation and R&D activity only. Appointment under this competition does not commit UKSA to proceed with, fund or procure a subsequent IOM demonstration mission or further payload maturation activities. Any future phases or follow-on activity would be subject to separate consideration, funding approval and, where appropriate, further competition. It is UKSA's intention, subject to final approvals, to launch the competition on or around 23 October 2026. Suppliers are expected to have approximately four weeks from the date the competition is formally launched to submit proposals. Projects are currently anticipated to commence in January 2027 and have a duration of up to 6 months. This planned procurement notice is intended to provide early visibility of the opportunity and UKSA reserves the right to vary the scope, timetable, funding and other terms described in this notice prior to the formal launch of the competition. Estimated Contract Value and Funding Position: The procurement will seek to appoint multiple suppliers to undertake separate IOM payload maturation projects. The estimated total funding available across the projects is PS1,400,000 excluding VAT. UKSA currently anticipates awarding a minimum of two contracts, with individual contract values determined through competition and any submission capped at PS700,000 excluding VAT per contract. The number of contracts awarded and individual contract values will be managed to remain within these budget constraints. These figures are indicative only at this stage and remain subject to: * Internal due diligence; * Confirmation of final scope; * Availability of programme funding; * Required UK Government approvals. This funding is provided solely by the UKSA and applicants should note this competition is wholly run and administered by the UKSA. This notice relates to the intended procurement of contracts which are exempted contracts under section 3(6) and Schedule 2, Part 2 (Subject-matter exempted contracts), paragraph 22 (Research and Development Services) of the Procurement Act 2023 (the 'Act'). Exempted contracts are not public contracts as defined in section 3 of the Act and therefore are not required to be procured in accordance with the provisions of the Act that relate to a covered procurement. UKSA intends to use Innovate UK Contracts for Innovation to deliver the funding competition. Indicative competition details * Total funding available: PS1,400,000 exclusive of VAT * Maximum value per contract: PS700,000 exclusive of VAT * Anticipated minimum number of contracts: 2 * Delivery model: preference is for each project to be led by a single lead organisation. The lead organisation may subcontract or collaborate elements of the work with other organisations. * The Authority may apply a limitation on an organisation to lead only one project. Further information, including the final scope, eligibility requirements, evaluation methodology, submission deadline and contractual terms, will be provided when the competition is formally launched.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078b34
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/098680-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK3 - Planned Procurement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment

34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

32534000 - Satellite platforms

34712000 - Spacecraft, satellites and launch vehicles

34712100 - Spacecraft

34712200 - Satellites

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£1,400,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£1,400,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
23 Oct 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 5 Jul 2027 6-12 months
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
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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