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Request For Information - In-Orbit Servicing Mission Concepts
UK Space Agency · Central government
In brief
UK Space Agency has announced plans to buy telecoms work. This is an early notice: there is nothing to bid on yet, but it tells you a tender may follow.
The notice does not state a value.
The contract runs for 51 months, starting 1 October 2026.
Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.
Can I win this?
Competition
Usually high: a median of 17 bids per contract for this buyer (from 9 awards in the last 12 months).
What the notice says
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) considers In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (ISAM) as a critical capability for strengthening the UK's position in space and supporting both civil and defence objectives. At Space Comm Expo in March 2026, the Government announced new investment to strengthen the UK's In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek industry feedback to inform the UK Space Agency's options for deploying this funding through potential future ISAM mission(s). Through this RFI, UKSA is seeking views on possible mission concepts that could demonstrate or enable ISAM capabilities. In particular…Read the full description
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) considers In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (ISAM) as a critical capability for strengthening the UK's position in space and supporting both civil and defence objectives.
At Space Comm Expo in March 2026, the Government announced new investment to strengthen the UK's In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities.
The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek industry feedback to inform the UK Space Agency's options for deploying this funding through potential future ISAM mission(s). Through this RFI, UKSA is seeking views on possible mission concepts that could demonstrate or enable ISAM capabilities. In particular UKSA wishes to understand:
• The feasibility of Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD) enabled ISAM Missions;
• Indicative costs (as a range) of delivery;
• Delivery timescales.
This Request For Information (RFI) builds on existing market engagement activity and is intended to inform the UK Space Agency's options appraisal, financial assurance and business case development for potential mission concepts, including how such concepts could be developed and taken forward in line with UK public sector commercial, assurance and governance frameworks, prior to any financial commitment.
Responses to this RFI will not be evaluated and this RFI does not constitute a commitment to procure or fund any activity. Information provided will be used solely to inform future programme planning, mission design and options development, with decisions on delivery models (including whether to proceed with a procurement of a contract or a grant call) and any subsequent competition remaining subject to applicable UK public sector requirements. Specific timelines will be subject to the feedback received from this RFI.
Within the next spending review period, the aims and objectives of the In-Orbit Servicing Mission are as follows.
AIM-01. Demonstrate safe, reliable, repeatable RPOD and robotic operations in orbit to give global satellite operators confidence in adoption and position UK ISAM companies to service this demand.
OBJ -001 Conduct In Orbit RPOD Mission(s).
OBJ-002 Demonstrate "service layer" concept through proof-of-concept demonstration and critical elements de-risking.
To view the RFI in full, including the questionnaire for those interested in providing information on mission concept(s) to the UK Space Agency please contact the following inbox:
UKSA.commercial@dsit.gov.uk
We will respond with:
- Request For Information: In-Orbit Servicing Mission Concepts (full version including question set)
- Response template (in MS Word)
Please note responses to the RFI questions must be received by Friday 29 May 2026.
How to bid
- Read the full notice on Find a Tender, including any tender documents it links to.
- Register your organisation on the Central Digital Platform (through Find a Tender) if you have not already. Suppliers need to be registered to take part in procurements under the Procurement Act 2023.
- Follow the submission instructions in the notice; it does not name an e-tendering portal.
Timeline
- Preliminary market engagement notice · UK2, notice 035409-2026
About the buyer
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From notice 035409-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 17 April 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.