Contracts for Innovation: In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) of In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Phase 0/A Studies

{
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PRTY-4245-MTJY",
    "name": "UK Space Agency"
  },
  "date": "2025-10-30T16:54:34Z",
  "id": "069890-2025",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05d777",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "country": "GB",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Didcot",
        "postalCode": "OX11 0DF",
        "region": "UKJ14",
        "streetAddress": "Quad Two Building 1st Floor, Rutherford Avenue, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "commercial@ukspaceagency.gov.uk"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "Public authority - central government",
            "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE"
          }
        ]
      },
      "id": "GB-PPON-PRTY-4245-MTJY",
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PRTY-4245-MTJY",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "name": "UK Space Agency",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "awardPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2025-12-05T23:59:59Z"
    },
    "description": "The UK is committed to advancing its leadership in space-enabled manufacturing, as outlined in the Space Industrial Plan (March 2024). In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) is one subset of the wider In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM) market. Investing in ISAM allows the UK to exploit early investments to become leaders in the market. The UK has developed the essential building blocks for ISAM, but we need to act now to secure our competitive advantage.\nIn-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) represents a transformative opportunity to produce materials and products in space that offer superior quality and performance compared to those manufactured on Earth. By overcoming terrestrial limitations, IOM can unlock new markets and drive innovation across multiple sectors.\nThis procurement is structured into two Lots to address distinct terrestrial applications:\n\u2022\tLot 1: In-Orbit Manufacturing for terrestrial healthcare or medical applications\n\u2022\tLot 2: In-Orbit Manufacturing for other terrestrial applications\nApplicants may apply to only one Lot and submit a single application. Each Lot will fund a feasibility study (Phase 0/A) to assess the technical and commercial viability of delivering an In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), in accordance with UKSA\u0027s mission requirements (see Annex F).\nThe competition aims to:\n\u2022\tDemonstrate the technical feasibility of in-orbit manufacturing processes in LEO for the selected application area\n\u2022\tMature key payload and manufacturing technologies relevant to the chosen Lot\n\u2022\tEvaluate suitable mission architectures and operational concepts for demonstration\n\u2022\tIdentify and assess risks, constraints, and enabling technologies\n\u2022\tDevelop a credible route to market, including engagement with end users and stakeholders\nProjects must address the high-risk, high-cost environment of in-orbit technology testing and provide evidence of engagement with end users to demonstrate commercial potential. Proposals should detail intended customer groups, integrators, and suppliers, and present a comprehensive management approach, including Work Package Descriptions (WPDs) and a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for both Phase 0 and Phase A. Applications must demonstrate compatibility against the mission requirements (Annex F) and ability to deliver the tasks set out below (Section 5). You should elaborate and critique these tasks, identifying any additional suitable activities (with justification).\nThis competition aims to fund two studies.\nThis 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 \u0027Act\u0027). 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.",
    "documents": [
      {
        "description": "Not published",
        "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
        "id": "conflictOfInterest"
      },
      {
        "description": "Competition Guidance Notes",
        "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
        "format": "application/pdf",
        "id": "A-6908",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-6908"
      },
      {
        "description": "Annex A: Contracts for Innovation Terms and Conditions",
        "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
        "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document",
        "id": "A-6909",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-6909"
      },
      {
        "description": "Annex B: UKSA Contracts for Innovation Additional Guidance",
        "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
        "format": "application/pdf",
        "id": "A-6910",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-6910"
      },
      {
        "description": "Annex C: Contracts for Innovation Finance Sheet",
        "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
        "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet",
        "id": "A-6911",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-6911"
      },
      {
        "description": "Annex D: Evaluation Criteria",
        "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
        "format": "application/pdf",
        "id": "A-6912",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-6912"
      },
      {
        "description": "Annex E: IP Declaration",
        "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
        "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document",
        "id": "A-6913",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-6913"
      },
      {
        "description": "Annex F: IOD IOM Requirements",
        "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
        "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet",
        "id": "A-6915",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-6915"
      },
      {
        "description": "Annex G: Application Form Template",
        "documentType": "biddingDocuments",
        "format": "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document",
        "id": "A-6918",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/A-6918"
      },
      {
        "datePublished": "2025-10-30T16:54:34Z",
        "description": "Tender notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "tenderNotice",
        "format": "text/html",
        "id": "069890-2025",
        "noticeType": "UK4",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/069890-2025"
      }
    ],
    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2025-11-21T17:00:00Z"
    },
    "id": "UKSAC25_0088",
    "items": [
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "Spacecraft, satellites and launch vehicles",
            "id": "34712000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Research and development services and related consultancy services",
            "id": "73000000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom",
            "region": "UK"
          }
        ],
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1"
      },
      {
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "description": "Spacecraft, satellites and launch vehicles",
            "id": "34712000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          },
          {
            "description": "Research and development services and related consultancy services",
            "id": "73000000",
            "scheme": "CPV"
          }
        ],
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "country": "GB",
            "countryName": "United Kingdom",
            "region": "UK"
          }
        ],
        "id": "2",
        "relatedLot": "2"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "scheme": "UKPGA",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
    },
    "lotDetails": {
      "maximumLotsAwardedPerSupplier": 1,
      "maximumLotsBidPerSupplier": 1
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "description": "This is an exempt procurement and publication of this information in a notice on the find a tender service is not required.",
              "name": "N/A",
              "type": "quality"
            }
          ],
          "weightingDescription": "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 \u0027Act\u0027). 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."
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2026-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2025-12-08T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "description": "In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) for terrestrial use shall be interpreted as:\nThe process of creating products or materials in space that are intended for use on Earth, often leveraging the unique conditions of space to enhance their quality or properties.\nProposals under this lot must be related to In-Orbit Manufacturing for terrestrial healthcare or medical applications",
        "id": "1",
        "status": "active",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true
        },
        "title": "In-Orbit Manufacturing for terrestrial healthcare or medical applications",
        "value": {
          "amount": 300000,
          "amountGross": 360000,
          "currency": "GBP"
        }
      },
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "description": "This is an exempt procurement and publication of this information in a notice on the find a tender service is not required.",
              "name": "N/A",
              "type": "quality"
            }
          ],
          "weightingDescription": "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 \u0027Act\u0027). 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."
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2026-03-31T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2025-12-08T00:00:00Z"
        },
        "description": "In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) for terrestrial use shall be interpreted as:\nThe process of creating products or materials in space that are intended for use on Earth, often leveraging the unique conditions of space to enhance their quality or properties.\nProposals under this lot must be related to In-Orbit Manufacturing for terrestrial use other than healthcare or medical applications",
        "id": "2",
        "status": "active",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true
        },
        "title": "In-Orbit Manufacturing for other terrestrial applications",
        "value": {
          "amount": 300000,
          "amountGross": 360000,
          "currency": "GBP"
        }
      }
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
    "status": "active",
    "submissionMethodDetails": "If you wish to submit an application for this procurement, please email commercial@ukspaceagency.gov.uk, with \"UKSAC25_0088 IOM Phase 0-A Studies\" as the subject line. \nProvide at least two contact email addresses in your email.\nYou will be emailed a link to a SharePoint folder to which you must upload your application. It is strongly recommended that you test this link on receipt by uploading a test file. You may email the commercial mailbox to request confirmation that a test file has been successfully uploaded.\nhttps://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency",
    "submissionTerms": {
      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed",
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2025-12-01T17:00:00Z"
    },
    "title": "Contracts for Innovation: In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) of In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Phase 0/A Studies",
    "value": {
      "amount": 600000,
      "amountGross": 720000,
      "currency": "GBP"
    }
  }
}