--- title: "National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC): Optical Sovereign Sensor Software (OSSS)" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-061511" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061511" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061511.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061511.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "UK SPACE AGENCY" published: "2026-02-03" --- # National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC): Optical Sovereign Sensor Software (OSSS) Buyer: UK SPACE AGENCY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-061511 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061511) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061511.json) ## Summary The UK Space Agency is planning a procurement process for developing Optical Sovereign Sensor Software (OSSS) for the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC). This service contract, valued at £1.5 million, falls under the IT services industry and is targeted to be conducted within the United Kingdom. Currently in the planning stage, the procurement expects to launch mid-March 2026 with a bid submission deadline set for 24th April 2026. The contract award is anticipated by mid-late May 2026, and operations are expected to commence on 1st June 2026. This tender is accessible exclusively to UK-registered companies exhibiting strong national security commitments and those possessing Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation. This procurement represents a significant business opportunity, particularly for companies in the IT services sector with expertise in optical tracking systems, sensor networks, and software integration. Suitable businesses are those with capabilities in developing Microsoft Azure-based systems, on-premises control and safety systems, and optical processing pipelines. Companies able to align with the UK Space Agency’s security and accreditation requirements will be greatly advantaged. Breakthroughs in these areas can assist in scaling operations, expanding service offerings, and reinforcing market position within the space technology industry. International subcontractors are eligible for participation, fostering collaborative growth with UK firms while adhering to strict security protocols. ## Notice UKSA has recently begun the hardware deployment of our Space Domain Awareness optical tracking stations. To operate these effectively, we require software that will enable the autonomous, remote and safe tasking of the sensors and their supporting hardware, with calibrated and corrected high-quality data returned to the central NSpOC wide C2 system (BOREALIS) via an API. Suppliers will be required to deliver three high level elements whose architecture and interfaces must be appropriately documents - a Microsoft Azure based sensor network C2 system, an on-premises C2 and hardware safety system and a separate optical processing pipeline that will generate the tracking/pointing and hardware instructions to execute the sensor sessions and return calibrated and corrected satellite tracklets. UKSA will require the successful supplier to utilise the existing hardware manufacturer provided software interfaces and to use existing commercially available/open-source plate-solving software packages. This is to preserve hardware warranties and minimise assurance activities. ### Lot Information Lot 1 Provision of commercial off-the-shelf software solution and software development as per the description outlined above. UKSA anticipates launching this procedure in mid-March, with a planned deadline for bid submission of 24th April 2026. Contract award is planned for mid-late May with a targeted kick-off of 1st June. **UKSA intends to place this requirement via the Space-Enabled and Geospatial Services Dynamic Purchasing System (RM6235). UKSA will NOT be able to issue tender documentation to bidders who do not meet the filter requirements set. UKSA will also require Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation is in place at point of bid submission for this tender. Any bidders without Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation will be rejected. Owing to the security requirements relating to access to BOREALIS, this tender will be restricted to Uk-registered companies where all strategic decisions are undertaken in the UK by UK nationals on grounds of security. International subcontractors and project consortia partners will be permitted, though UKSA reserves the right to require changes to project consortia and/or subcontracting arrangements where a proposed structure represents a security risk.** ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009326-2026 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 3 Feb 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 17 May 2026 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £1,500,000 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planned | | Lots status | Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## 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 | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ## Release History - 3 Feb 2026 at 10:33 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/009326-2026 ## Notice URLs - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency ## 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-061511. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061511.json.