--- title: "Earth Observation: Data, Access Services and AI capabilities for UK Public Sector 'Public Sector EO' - Pre Market Engagement" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0592cf" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0592cf" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0592cf.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0592cf.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY" published: "2026-05-12" --- # Earth Observation: Data, Access Services and AI capabilities for UK Public Sector 'Public Sector EO' - Pre Market Engagement Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0592cf [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0592cf) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0592cf.json) ## Summary The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is leading a procurement process focused on enhancing Earth Observation (EO) data capabilities across the UK public sector. The initiative, titled "Earth Observation: Data, Access Services and AI capabilities for UK Public Sector," currently is at the planning stage with a preliminary market engagement scheduled. A second pre-market engagement session will take place virtually on 26th May 2026 at 2:00 PM, hosted by the Government Digital Service (GDS). This session follows an initial engagement held in 2025 and aims to refine technical requirements and procurement strategies. Interested suppliers need to express their interest by 19th May 2026. The procurement, targeting central government usage, offers potential opportunities for the improvement of public sector access to satellite-derived EO data, with an emphasis on AI integration to support initiatives like climate resilience and digital transformation. This procurement process represents a significant opportunity for businesses specializing in surface observing apparatus, geographic information systems, data acquisition, software supply, and related services. Companies engaged in providing EO data, mapping, and satellite intelligence might find the opportunity particularly advantageous. By participating, businesses can not only cater to a high-demand public sector market but also align with cutting-edge technological advancements in the EO sector. The engagement aims to gather insights from diverse suppliers, fostering competition and potentially benefiting small and medium enterprises. The flexibility for renewal post-initial contract periods further augments potential growth avenues through sustained collaboration with the government sector. ## Notice Government Digital Service, part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is working to enhance and co-ordinate public sector access to satellite-derived Earth Observation (EO) data across the UK. This also includes promoting the use of artificial intelligence to generate deeper insights and build capability. The aim is to reduce duplication, improve efficiency, and support the delivery of key government priorities such as climate resilience, national security, and digital transformation. Subject to internal budget approvals, we have identified an opportunity to procure selected commercial EO data and services for use across the UK public sector. This would help to address limitations in the spatial and temporal resolution, as well as the spectral coverage, of existing open sources. By strengthening the geospatial and EO data available to public bodies, it would support more informed decision-making and better outcomes for citizens. Please note that we are working closely with DSIT UK Space Agency on their 'Earth Observation Data Hub' initiative and will align our approaches where feasible to maximise impact across both programmes. How we intend to engage Following on from the first pre-market engagement session, we are holding this second session to cover our more detailed technical requirements and approach. The session will be followed by a written questionnaire for respondents to share thoughts in greater detail and confidentiality. The second session (referred to as Public Sector EO preliminary market engagement 2 or 'PME2'), will include a presentation covering the high-level data and service requirements based on needs of the public sector and current understanding of market capabilities. It will invite feedback on our refined technical requirements procurement structure / delivery model and commercial elements. PME2 will include opportunities to raise questions and comments, and attendees will be encouraged to provide further feedback in a follow-up questionnaire shared afterwards. Feedback will help to finalise the technical specification for the contract and request approximate costings from interested suppliers, as well as cover the likely procurement route. The second questionnaire will be live until Monday 1st June following the PME2 webinar. Date of commencement The Preliminary Market Engagement Webinar will take place via MS Teams at 2:00 PM on Tuesday 26th May. If you are unable to attend the webinar, we will share the content of the meeting, on request after the session. Tuesday 19th May 5:00 PM GMT cut off for providing notice of interest in attendance. Aims and objectives of the PME The primary objective of pre-market engagement is to gather market insight to shape how best to deliver the requirement. This will help the Contracting Authority to: a) improve and update understanding of market capability, helping to ensure any contract delivers better outcomes from the technology; b) encourage competition, driving value for money and creating opportunity for a broad range of suppliers; c) support a fair and compliant procurement The aims of the two rounds of preliminary market engagement will differ slightly, with different content focuses in each: Pre-market 1 (Early Autumn 2025) - Engage the market on the programme's potential high-level areas of interest (data products and services), agreement structures, procurement routes, and licensing approaches. Pre-market 2 (May 2026) - Engage the market on the detailed specification, refined following insights from pre-market 1. How can suppliers express interest? As indicated above, we intend to invite interested suppliers who expressed interest in attending the first pre-market engagement session to attend this second webinar to be hosted by the Government Digital Service on Tuesday 26th May 2:00 PM. If you did not attend the first pre-market engagement session and are interested in attending this second session and providing related feedback, parties should email Geospatial.EO@dsit.gov.uk, ensuring to include attending individuals' names, roles, and organisation. Suppliers are permitted to nominate up to three individuals from each organisation. GDS does not guarantee that a procurement will be launched and is not responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by any potential supplier in registering their interest. ### Planning Information This engagement is the second Pre-market Engagement on this topic following an initial pre-market engagement held on 17th September 2025. We intend to invite interested suppliers who expressed interest in attending the first pre-market engagement session to attend a webinar to be hosted by the Government Digital Service on Tuesday 26th May at 2:00 PM. Any other interested suppliers who did not attend the first session but who would like to attend this second session, are requested to give notification of their interest to attend a webinar. Notice of interest should be sent via email to Geospatial.EO@dsit.gov.uk by 5:00 PM GMT 19th May 2026, with the company name and email address(es) of the attendee(s). Suppliers are permitted to nominate up to three individuals from each organisation. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043614-2026 | | Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 May 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 1 Oct 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Feb 2027 - 1 Feb 2030 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Planning | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1A 2EG | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment - 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses) - 48 - Software package and information systems - 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 35631200 - Observation satellites - 35720000 - Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance - 38126000 - Surface observing apparatus - 38221000 - Geographic information systems (GIS or equivalent) - 48614000 - Data-acquisition system - 71354200 - Aerial mapping services - 72268000 - Software supply services - 72300000 - Data services ## Release History - 12 May 2026 at 15:36 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043614-2026 - 3 Sep 2025 at 08:49 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053392-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/043614-2026 12th May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053392-2025 3rd September 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - https://gdsgeospatial.blog.gov.uk/about-us/ - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0592cf. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0592cf.json.