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

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

31 Oct 2026 at 22:55

UK4 - Tender Notice
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, is seeking research and development projects to mature an in-orbit manufacturing process and its associated payload. The work covers design, prototyping, analysis and testing, with the aim of reaching technology readiness level 4 or 5 and establishing a credible route to a later demonstration in microgravity. Projects should compare possible demonstration routes, identify the development needed to progress towards a demonstration by 2030, and strengthen the commercial case for the capability against customer and end-user needs. The research is also intended to inform future UK Space Agency investment and procurement decisions. The work is associated with spacecraft, satellites and space technology, and delivery is in the United Kingdom.

The UK Space Agency invited offers through an open procedure for this research and development competition. The procurement is divided into one lot and seeks approximately two projects. The estimated value is £1.4 million excluding VAT (£1.68 million including VAT). The contract period is 4 January to 15 June 2027. The deadline for questions was 13 November 2026 at 17:00, and offers were due by 27 November 2026 at 13:00 UK time through the Jaggaer eSourcing Portal; submissions were to be in English. The planned award decision date was 22 December 2026. Evaluation is based on technical quality: proposed idea or technology and commercial and strategic potential each carry 20%; technical feasibility 20%; project management 15%; benefit to the UK 15%; and value for money 10%.

This opportunity is aimed at organisations able to carry out space-sector research and development and mature an in-orbit manufacturing process together with its payload. Strong bids will combine technical design and prototyping with analysis and testing, and show how the work can produce evidence of performance, quality and quantity at technology readiness level 4 or 5. Suppliers should be able to set out and compare credible routes to a future microgravity demonstration, identify the further development required, and make a persuasive commercial case grounded in customer and end-user needs. Project management, strategic relevance and benefits to the UK are also assessed, alongside technical merit and value for money. The competition is marked as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, so specialist smaller space and technology businesses may find it relevant.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

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

Notice Description

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is launching a Contracts for Innovation competition to fund approximately two In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) Maturation Research & Development Projects. The competition will support the research, development and maturation of an In-Orbit Manufacturing process and associated payload. Projects will undertake proportionate design, prototyping, analysis and testing to achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4/5 by the Final Review milestone and establish a credible route to a potential future demonstration in an appropriate microgravity environment. The IOM Maturation Projects will: * Mature the IOM manufacturing process and associated payload to TRL 4/5 by the Final Review milestone, generating evidence against relevant performance indicators (such as quality, performance and quantity). * Develop and compare credible routes to a future microgravity demonstration, identifying the developments required to progress towards demonstration by 2030. * Strengthen the commercial case and strategic relevance of the proposed IOM capability, including its relevance to identified customer and end-user needs. * Generate evidence to inform future UKSA investment and procurement decisions, including a potential future IOM demonstration procurement and the associated ISAM IOD Programme Business Case. This is one of two concurrent procurements being progressed, the other being for Mission Feasibility Studies - Spacecraft Life Extension Service Demonstration. Please see the respective notice on Find a Tender: Title: Mission Feasibility Studies - Spacecraft Life Extension Service Demonstration This procurement is for exempted contracts under section 3(6) and paragraph 22 of Schedule 2, Part 2 (subject-matter exempted contracts) of the Procurement Act 2023. Exempted contracts are not public contracts as defined by section 3 of the Act and are therefore not required to be procured in accordance with the provisions of the Act relating to covered procurement. This competition concerns Research and Development services. Bidder Engagement Event The UK Space Agency will hold an optional in-person Engagement Event covering both ISAM In-Orbit Demonstration Programme Discovery Phase competitions. The event will provide an overview of the tender documentation and published tender requirements for both procurements and include a clarification Q&A session. Transcriptions and any clarifications that materially affect the procurement requirements will subsequently be uploaded to the Jaggaer eSourcing Portal. The Engagement Event will take place on 6 November 2026 at the UK Space Agency Conference Centre, Harwell Campus, OX11 0FD. Bidders may attend either the morning session (10:00-12:00) or the afternoon session (13:00-15:00). Organisations wishing to attend must express their interest by 15:00 UK time on 4 November 2026 by emailing UKSA.commercial@dsit.gov.uk with the subject line "IOD Discovery Phase Engagement Event". The email must state which session the organisation wishes to attend and provide the name and email address of the proposed attendee. Attendance is limited to one representative per organisation. Subject to capacity, a second representative may be accommodated. Organisations wishing to send two representatives should request this when registering their interest. UKSA will confirm by 15:00 UK time on 5 November 2026 whether a second attendee can be accommodated.

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/103500-2026
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
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

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy 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
31 Oct 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
27 Nov 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
23 Oct 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 15 Jun 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

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)

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