---
title: "715855513 - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06909c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06909c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06909c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06909c.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT"
published: "2026-05-01"
---

# 715855513 - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement

Buyer: DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06909c

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06909c)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06909c.json)

## Summary

The Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), a branch of the UK's Ministry of Defence, is planning a tender process for the ISTARI programme, focusing on Space Based Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (SB-ISR) capabilities. The contracting process is currently in the planning stage, with an in-person engagement event scheduled for 29th June 2026 at MoD Abbey Wood in Bristol. Registration for the ISTARI Industry Day is open until 5th June 2026, although it may close earlier if capacity is reached. The procurement plan involves a comprehensive update on space capabilities under the National Armament Directive and offers networking opportunities with various stakeholders. The process is conducted under the UK's public procurement regulations and is intended for the defence and space industry sectors.

This tender represents a substantial growth opportunity for businesses involved in defence, space, telecommunications, and related fields, with a projected budget of up to £800 million. Companies specialising in IT services, software development, aerospace, and security systems will find this a significant opportunity to showcase their innovations and compete within the UK’s evolving space capabilities landscape. The tender seeks to engage with entities capable of contributing to defence-controlled, resilient, and flexible observation systems globally, thereby providing vast prospects for collaborations, enhanced market positions, and strategic development within the defence and space industries.

## Notice

Space portfolio and ISTARI Industry Day - Monday 29th June This industry day will be delivering an update on the National Armament Directive's (NAD's) Space portfolio landscape, providing an overview of the planned work and developments within the organisation's purview across all Space Capabilities. The day will also specifically focus on ISTARI (Space Based Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance) Industry Day and include a briefing from the Authority to Industry, aimed at providing an up-to-date report on the scope, vision and context status for the Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) ISTARI programme. ISTARI is the overarching programme initiated to deliver the UK's Space Based - Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (SB-ISR) end-to-end requirements. ISTARI will cohere, integrate and adopt various Operational Concept Demonstrators (OCDs) to deliver an 'in-service' ISR capability under one programme, delivering UK sovereign, Defence-controlled, continual, resilient, timely, pervasive, and flexible observations across the globe, augmenting capabilities owned and developed by key allies. Following previous briefings and announcements, this Industry Day will endeavour to contextualise the Authority's requirements and objectives in the aftermath of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), creating a forum in which to collaborate and engage on various aspects of ISTARI, offering valuable insight and an opportunity to introduce or reacquaint yourselves with the various stakeholders aligned to this programme. In addition to this, we also welcome a guest speaker from the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) (formerly Crown Commercial Service), who will enlighten attendees on the nascent Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market (STS DM) (RM6370). The STS DM aims to unlock opportunity through increased flexibility and enhanced commercial mechanisms inherent to the PA23 regulations. As a key stakeholder in its design and implementation, the STS DM has been specifically created as the team's primary route to market and acts as an evolutionary successor to the Space-Enabled and Geospatial Services Framework (RM6235).

### Planning Information

The ISTARI Industry Day is to be held on Monday 29th June at the MoD Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH 
All subsequent procurement following this Preliminary Market Engagement (EME) notice is at the discretion of the MoD and subject to approvals. Any further updates regarding future activity will be made through the appropriate advertising channels.
Attendance is ‘in-person only’. Unfortunately, due to limited capacity, we need to cap attendance to two representatives per organisation. 
The session will commence at 1030hrs, and it is advised to arrive on-site no later than 0930hrs to ensure sufficient time to pass through security. We aim to conclude the event by 1600hrs.
Delegate registration will be conducted on a ‘first come, first-served basis’, and as this event has been classified as Official Sensitive, attendance will be subject to possession of the appropriate Security Clearance (BPSS as a minimum). 
The deadline to register your interest is Friday 05 June, or once room capacity is reached, whichever is the sooner.
Should your organisation wish to attend the ISTARI Industry Day please contact the following email address register your interest: DESSpace-DT@mod.gov.uk, disclosing the following information:
For UK SC Clearance Holders:
Please provide the following details:
• Full Name (First Name and Surname)
• Date of Birth
• Email Address
• Organisation Name
• National Insurance Number
For BPSS or National Equivalent Holders:
Please provide a copy of your Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) verification record or your national equivalent. This will confirm that the necessary checks have been completed by your organisation. 
Once your security clearance has been validated, we will notify you and add you to the attendance list.
For Non-UK SC Clearance Holders:
Please provide proof of national equivalent SC, this should include official certification or documentation from your country’s Security Team or your organisation’s Vetting/Security Team confirming your SC status.
All individuals registering interest must hold either SC clearance or BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard), for further details please refer to - Government baseline personnel security standard - GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-baseline-personnel-security-standard

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040676-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 1 May 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 5 Jun 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 1 Aug 2027 - 1 Aug 2031 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £800,000,000 |
| 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 | DEFENCE EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT |
| 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

- 30 - Office and computing machinery, equipment and supplies except furniture and software packages
- 31 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
- 32 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
- 34 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 35 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
- 38 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 39 - Furniture (incl. office furniture), furnishings, domestic appliances (excl. lighting) and cleaning products
- 42 - Industrial machinery
- 45 - Construction work
- 48 - Software package and information systems
- 50 - Repair and maintenance services
- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
- 64 - Postal and telecommunications services
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
- 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 75 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 80 - Education and training services
- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services
- 92 - Recreational, cultural and sporting services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 30200000 - Computer equipment and supplies
- 31000000 - Electrical machinery, apparatus, equipment and consumables; lighting
- 32000000 - Radio, television, communication, telecommunication and related equipment
- 32530000 - Satellite-related communications equipment
- 32584000 - Data-bearing media
- 34000000 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation
- 34114000 - Specialist vehicles
- 34150000 - Simulators
- 34700000 - Aircraft and spacecraft
- 34712000 - Spacecraft, satellites and launch vehicles
- 34740000 - Aircraft or spacecraft equipment, trainers, simulators and associated parts
- 34933000 - Navigation equipment
- 35000000 - Security, fire-fighting, police and defence equipment
- 35100000 - Emergency and security equipment
- 35112000 - Rescue and emergency equipment
- 35125100 - Sensors
- 35400000 - Military vehicles and associated parts
- 35512400 - Unmanned underwater vehicles
- 35613000 - Unmanned aerial vehicles
- 35630000 - Military spacecrafts
- 35710000 - Command, control, communication and computer systems
- 38000000 - Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)
- 38115100 - Radar surveillance equipment
- 38221000 - Geographic information systems (GIS or equivalent)
- 38290000 - Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic and hydrological instruments and appliances
- 38820000 - Remote-control equipment
- 38970000 - Research, testing and scientific technical simulator
- 39254100 - Clocks
- 42900000 - Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery
- 42961300 - Vehicle location system
- 45000000 - Construction work
- 45223400 - Radar station construction work
- 45235000 - Construction work for airfields, runways and manoeuvring surfaces
- 48000000 - Software package and information systems
- 48200000 - Networking, Internet and intranet software package
- 48218000 - License management software package
- 48613000 - Electronic data management (EDM)
- 48614000 - Data-acquisition system
- 50000000 - Repair and maintenance services
- 50332000 - Telecommunications-infrastructure maintenance services
- 60500000 - Space transport services
- 60510000 - Satellite launch services
- 64200000 - Telecommunications services
- 64214100 - Satellite circuit rental services
- 71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services
- 71351000 - Geological, geophysical and other scientific prospecting services
- 71352120 - Seismic data acquisition services
- 71352130 - Seismic data collection services
- 71354100 - Digital mapping services
- 71354200 - Aerial mapping services
- 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support
- 72212710 - Backup or recovery software development services
- 72212730 - Security software development services
- 72212931 - Training software development services
- 72260000 - Software-related services
- 72300000 - Data services
- 72310000 - Data-processing services
- 72313000 - Data capture services
- 72315200 - Data network management services
- 72316000 - Data analysis services
- 72317000 - Data storage services
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 73400000 - Research and Development services on security and defence materials
- 75000000 - Administration, defence and social security services
- 75220000 - Defence services
- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security
- 79710000 - Security services
- 79961200 - Aerial photography services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80600000 - Training services in defence and security materials
- 90700000 - Environmental services
- 92312212 - Services related to the preparation of training manuals
- 98113100 - Nuclear safety services
- 98391000 - Decommissioning services

## Release History

- 1 May 2026 at 14:46 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040676-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040676-2026
  1st May 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-equipment-and-support
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-baseline-personnel-security-standard
- 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-06909c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06909c.json.