---
title: "UK2 - Preliminary market engagement notice Project NOCTIS-2"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-065e45"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065e45"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065e45.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065e45.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "MINISTRY OF DEFENCE"
published: "2026-03-16"
---

# UK2 - Preliminary market engagement notice Project NOCTIS-2

Buyer: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-065e45

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-065e45)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065e45.json)

## Summary

The Ministry of Defence is initiating the procurement process for Project NOCTIS-2, a space capability venture aimed at enhancing satellite monitoring across all Earth-centred orbits. This procurement is currently at the planning stage, with significant market engagement activities taking place. An Industry Day is scheduled via TEAMS on 27th March 2026, with registration for the event required by 24th March 2026. The project falls under the Defence and Security industry categories and is poised to utilise novel space surveillance technology. The procurement, valued at £17.5 million in net terms, is planned to be executed outside of the UK and will involve using the Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market (RM6370) for competitive tendering. Key dates include the submission deadline for engagement documents by 6th April 2026, with the project's contract period beginning in April 2027 and extending up to April 2030, with potential renewal until April 2032.

Project NOCTIS-2 presents significant business growth opportunities, especially for SMEs involved in the space, technology, and defence sectors. The project requires comprehensive support in software development, IT services, technical control, and preventive maintenance, as well as the provision and potential launch of spacecraft and satellites. Businesses equipped with capabilities in optical array and Infra-Red telescope technologies are well-suited to compete in this tender. To participate effectively, organisations are encouraged to register for the Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market to ensure accessibility to future procurement activities and updates published on the Find a Tender Service. Successful involvement in this project not only provides substantial revenue avenues but also positions businesses at the forefront of technological advancements in global satellite surveillance and space security.

## Notice

Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), has published a UK 1 Notice purely for information purposes. The Authority would now like to engage with the market via this UK2 Notice and the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) opportunity listing, which can be found here: https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60844. This Space Capability Project, designated 'NOCTIS-2', comprises a novel space surveillance approach utilising an optical array, and potentially, an Infra-Red (IR) telescope. The project encompasses the procurement, installation, and through-life support of the system. The purpose is to monitor satellites in all Earth-centred orbits, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) in order to enhance the UK's sovereign SDA capabilities. The capability is required to operate in Surveillance & Tracking modes in order to provide a persistent stare capability of the GEO Belt and tessellate across as wide a Field of View as possible whilst also providing a more exquisite capability that can contribute to object characterisation. Project 'NOCTIS-2' will be executed at a location outside the UK. The Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) is expected to be released in Quarter 1 of 26/27 FY.

### Planning Information

The Authority would like to notify you of a potential upcoming procurement, and by doing so is keen to understand the market. The Authority is initially interested in getting responses to a series of questions within a seperate document referenced 'RFI'.
The RFI has been published on DSP, and can be found here: https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60844
Following the release of the RFI, the Authority shall formally engage with Industry via a TEAMS Industry Day, please find further details contained in the RFI. 
An Industry Day will be taking place on TEAMS on the 27th March 2026. At this event the Authority will provide additional details of the project including (but not limited to) further information of the site, roadmaps and commercial strategy with the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments. We encourage organisations to provide questions and comments before and after the industry day (via email) to help us ensure the requirements set in the competition are clearly understood, appropriate and achievable.
If your organisation would like to attend, please email the contact detailed in this notice and provide email address, full name, organisation name and telephone number (being used to dial in) by the 24th March 2026. The event shall be held at OFFICIAL. Your registration will only be confirmed once checks have been completed.
This procurement shall be considered for competitive tender via the Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market (RM6370), should you be interested in this procurement - please register to the Dynamic Market to ensure timely access to any potential subsequent procurement stages. 
Further notices relating to the requirement will be published on the Find a Tender Service in due course.
Link to The Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market: https://supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/dm/RM6370?nav=0

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023523-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 30 Apr 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 29 Apr 2027 - 30 Apr 2030 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £17,500,000 |
| 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 | MINISTRY OF DEFENCE |
| Locality | BRISTOL |
| Post town | Bristol |
| Postcode | BS34 8JH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK5 West of England |
| ITL 3 | TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire |
| Local authority | South Gloucestershire |
| Electoral ward | Stoke Park & Cheswick |
| Westminster constituency | Filton and Bradley Stoke |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

### Codes

- 34712000 - Spacecraft, satellites and launch vehicles
- 50324200 - Preventive maintenance services
- 71356100 - Technical control services
- 71356300 - Technical support services
- 72222300 - Information technology services
- 72262000 - Software development services

## Release History

- 16 Mar 2026 at 13:56 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023523-2026
- 27 Feb 2026 at 13:01 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017896-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/023523-2026
  16th March 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/017896-2026
  27th February 2026 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opportunity/detail?opportunityId=60844
- https://supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/dm/RM6370?nav=0
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-defence
- 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-065e45. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-065e45.json.