---
title: "Contracts for Innovation: NSpOC BOREALIS Algorithm Development"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05eae9"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05eae9"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05eae9.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05eae9.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK SPACE AGENCY"
published: "2026-03-25"
---

# Contracts for Innovation: NSpOC BOREALIS Algorithm Development

Buyer: UK SPACE AGENCY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05eae9

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## Summary

The UK Space Agency is conducting a procurement process titled "Contracts for Innovation: NSpOC BOREALIS Algorithm Development" aimed at developing algorithms to enhance data processing within the BOREALIS system. This initiative is targeted at eligible UK-registered companies and universities, with a funding pool of up to £100,000 excluding VAT. The procurement falls under the industry category of research and development services, specifically focusing on software development solutions. The process has already reached the award stage, with multiple contracts awarded for completion by 31st March 2026. The open procedure was accelerated due to urgent requirements, with key submissions closing on 12th December 2025 and final awards set for 10th January 2026.

This tender opens substantial opportunities for firms engaged in industry-specific software development services. Small and medium enterprises, as well as large organisations with expertise in algorithm development and data processing, are particularly suited to leverage these contracts to enhance their portfolio and gain recognition within the UK space sector. Successful companies like UCL Consultants Limited, 4Colors Ltd., and Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine have already secured positions, indicating a competitive but rewarding market for innovation and research services. Businesses focusing on innovative solutions that offer significant benefits to the UK economy, supply chain, and public, and can demonstrate value for money, are strongly encouraged to engage in similar future opportunities provided by the UK Space Agency.

## Notice

Eligible organisations can apply for up to PS100,000, excluding VAT, to research and develop initial proof of concepts for algorithms and similar solutions that directly improve the quality of data processing being undertaken within the BOREALIS system, contributing to enhanced analysis capabilities within NSpOC. UKSA is likely to award multiple Contracts that meet its requirements within this competition, and further competitions may be opened subsequently to those who are successful within this competition for further development work on identified solutions. This funding is from the UK Space Agency only and applicants should note this competition is wholly run and administered by the UK Space Agency. Applicants should note that as BOREALIS is a sovereign UK capability and this work is to develop solutions that eventually can be deployed into use, this competition is restricted to UK registered companies on grounds of national security. For the avoidance of doubt, this can include UK-registered universities. Full details are provided in the attached Competition Brief. This notice relates to the intended procurement for a contract which is an exempted contract under s 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 a public contract as defined in s3 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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027107-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Large, SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 25 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 22 Dec 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 2 Jan 2026 |
| Contract period | 19 Jan 2026 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £500,000 |
| Lots value | £500,000 |
| Awards value | £412,794 |
| Contracts value | £412,794 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK SPACE AGENCY |
| Locality | DIDCOT |
| Post town | Oxford |
| Postcode | OX11 0DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ1 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC |
| Local authority | Vale of White Horse |
| Electoral ward | Hendreds |
| Westminster constituency | Didcot and Wantage |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 8 |
| Supplier names | 4COLORS; AERIS-UK; FIRA SOFTWARE; GMV NSL; IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE; THINKTANK MATHS; UCL CONSULTANTS; UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 72212100 - Industry specific software development services

## Release History

- 25 Mar 2026 at 08:48 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027107-2026
- 16 Jan 2026 at 10:51 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003789-2026
- 28 Nov 2025 at 11:25 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078011-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027107-2026
  25th March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003789-2026
  16th January 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/078011-2025
  28th November 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8492
  1. Competition Brief: contains details of the scope of the competition, evaluation criteria and how to apply.
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8493
  2. Annex A - Contracts for Innovation Model Contract: sets out details of the associated terms and conditions, which you agree to abide by if successful by submitting an application.
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8494
  3. Annex B - Contracts for Innovation Additional Guidance: provides additional information about Contracts for Innovation requirements generally.
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8495
  4. Annex C - Finance Sheet. Please populate this and submit with a copy of your application form. Any applications submitted without a complete Annex C will be rejected.
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8496
  5. Annex D - IP Declaration. Please populate this and submit with a copy of your application form.
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-8498
  6. Annex E - Application Form. Please complete based on the guidance provided in the competition brief and submit to the folder shared with you.

## Notice URLs

- http://4colors-research.com
- http://firasoftware.com
- http://gmv.com
- http://www.imperial.ac.uk
- http://www.uclconsultants.com
- https://ukaeris.com
- https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
- 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-05eae9. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05eae9.json.