Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
UK Space Agency
Quad Two Building (1st Floor), Rutherford Avenue, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus
Didcot
OX110DF
UK
Contact person: Laura Mason
E-mail: commercial@ukspaceagency.gov.uk
NUTS: UKJ14
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-space-agency
I.3) Communication
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
Other: Science, Innovation and Technology
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC): Optical Sovereign Sensor Software (OSSS)
Reference number: UKSAC26_0014
II.1.2) Main CPV code
72000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
UKSA has recently begun the hardware deployment of our Space Domain Awareness optical tracking stations. To operate these effectively, we require software that will enable the autonomous, remote and safe tasking of the sensors and their supporting hardware, with calibrated and corrected high-quality data returned to the central NSpOC wide C2 system (BOREALIS) via an API.
Suppliers will be required to deliver three high level elements whose architecture and interfaces must be appropriately documents - a Microsoft Azure based sensor network C2 system, an on-premises C2 and hardware safety system and a separate optical processing pipeline that will generate the tracking/pointing and hardware instructions to execute the sensor sessions and return calibrated and corrected satellite tracklets.
UKSA will require the successful supplier to utilise the existing hardware manufacturer provided software interfaces and to use existing commercially available/open-source plate-solving software packages. This is to preserve hardware warranties and minimise assurance activities.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
1 500 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Provision of commercial off-the-shelf software solution and software development as per the description outlined above.
UKSA anticipates launching this procedure in mid-March, with a planned deadline for bid submission of 24th April 2026. Contract award is planned for mid-late May with a targeted kick-off of 1st June.
**UKSA intends to place this requirement via the Space-Enabled and Geospatial Services Dynamic Purchasing System (RM6235). UKSA will NOT be able to issue tender documentation to bidders who do not meet the filter requirements set.
UKSA will also require Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation is in place at point of bid submission for this tender. Any bidders without Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation will be rejected.
Owing to the security requirements relating to access to BOREALIS, this tender will be restricted to Uk-registered companies where all strategic decisions are undertaken in the UK by UK nationals on grounds of security. International subcontractors and project consortia partners will be permitted, though UKSA reserves the right to require changes to project consortia and/or subcontracting arrangements where a proposed structure represents a security risk.**
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
18/05/2026
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
03/02/2026