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

Tender 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. In-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. This procurement is structured into two Lots to address distinct terrestrial applications: • Lot 1: In-Orbit Manufacturing for terrestrial healthcare or medical applications • Lot 2: In-Orbit Manufacturing for other terrestrial applications Applicants 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's mission requirements (see Annex F). The competition aims to: • Demonstrate the technical feasibility of in-orbit manufacturing processes in LEO for the selected application area • Mature key payload and manufacturing technologies relevant to the chosen Lot • Evaluate suitable mission architectures and operational concepts for demonstration • Identify and assess risks, constraints, and enabling technologies • Develop a credible route to market, including engagement with end users and stakeholders Projects 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). This competition aims to fund two studies. 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 'Act'). 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.