---
title: "Mission Architecture refinement study"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06788a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06788a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06788a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06788a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION"
published: "2026-03-31"
---

# Mission Architecture refinement study

Buyer: UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06788a

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## Summary

The procurement process was managed by the University of Portsmouth Higher Education Corporation for the 'Mission Architecture refinement study' project within the space industry category. The location for this contract is Portsmouth, United Kingdom, in the UKJ31 region, with the contracting stage being at the 'Award' phase. The contract involves specialist spacecraft platform engineering services essential for the continued development of the CosmoCube space mission. The study started on 2nd March 2026 and concluded on 31st March 2026, with the procurement conducted through a direct method below the threshold, meaning it was awarded without competition, and overseen under the legal basis 2023/54 as specified by UKPGA.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in spacecraft platform engineering and system-level design services. Companies experienced in trade-off studies, interface definition finalisation, and spacecraft subsystem refinement would find this tender beneficial for growth. Large businesses with expertise in aircraft and spacecraft, laboratory and optical equipment, and research and development design, such as Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, the awarded supplier, would be well-suited to compete for similar upcoming opportunities. The collaboration with a public authority like the University of Portsmouth offers prominent exposure and potential advancements in the space technology sector, fostering business expansion and innovation.

## Notice

The University of Portsmouth has procured a mission refinement study to support the continued development of the CosmoCube space mission. This requirement comprises specialist spacecraft platform engineering and system level design services including detailed mission trade off studies, finalisation of platform-payload interface definitions and refinement of key spacecraft subsystems. The work builds directly on prior UK Space Agency funded design phases and is essential to progress the mission to its next stage of development.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029413-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 31 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 2 Mar 2026 |
| Contract period | 2 Mar 2026 - 31 Mar 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £41,666 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH HIGHER EDUCATION CORPORATION |
| Locality | PORTSMOUTH |
| Post town | Portsmouth |
| Postcode | PO1 2UP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLJ South East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLJ3 Hampshire and Isle of Wight |
| ITL 3 | TLJ31 Portsmouth |
| Local authority | Portsmouth |
| Electoral ward | St Thomas |
| Westminster constituency | Portsmouth South |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SURREY SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 34700000 - Aircraft and spacecraft
- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

## Release History

- 31 Mar 2026 at 08:22 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029413-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029413-2026
  31st March 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.port.ac.uk/
- 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-06788a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06788a.json.