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RFI: In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (ISAM) Payloads RFI
UK Space Agency · Central government
In brief
UK Space Agency has announced plans to buy this contract. 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 6 weeks, starting 29 October 2025.
The buyer says it is suitable for small and medium-sized businesses.
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) recognises In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (ISAM) as a critical capability for strengthening the UK's position in space. The UK Space Industrial Plan (2024) identified ISAM as one of five key space capability areas for prioritisation, reflecting its importance to the nation's future in space. In addition, the Strategic Defence Review (2025) highlighted the need to develop Space Control capabilities, and by extension ISAM technologies, to defend UK space assets in an increasingly contested domain. Recent years have seen significant progress in establishing the foundations of the UK space sector, with national and defence space strategies now…Read the full description
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) recognises In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly & Manufacturing (ISAM) as a critical capability for strengthening the UK's position in space. The UK Space Industrial Plan (2024) identified ISAM as one of five key space capability areas for prioritisation, reflecting its importance to the nation's future in space. In addition, the Strategic Defence Review (2025) highlighted the need to develop Space Control capabilities, and by extension ISAM technologies, to defend UK space assets in an increasingly contested domain.
Recent years have seen significant progress in establishing the foundations of the UK space sector, with national and defence space strategies now complemented by detailed capability plans. Realising the UK's ambitions for ISAM will require close collaboration between government and industry, with future interventions guided by robust evidence.
To support this, UKSA is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to organisations - both UK-based and international - developing or planning to develop ISAM payloads or technologies seeking flight opportunities as hosted payloads or on In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) missions. The aim is to map the landscape of new technologies seeking flight demonstration within the next 3-5 years.
Insights gathered through this RFI will inform UKSA's approach to in-space technology qualification and deepen our understanding of the evolving space technology landscape. We welcome your responses and appreciate your valuable input in shaping the future of the UK's ISAM capabilities.
Note: This notice will not lead to a contract. This service is being used to assist in publicising this RFI as widely as possible.
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 069147-2025
About the buyer
UK Space AgencyLast 12 months
Procurements
35Awards
23Suppliers it has used most
- Raytheon Systems Limited2 contracts
- Satellite Applications Catapult Limited2 contracts
- The University of Birmingham2 contracts
- 3s Northumbria Ltd1 contract
- 4colors Ltd1 contract
- Aeris-Uk Limited1 contract
- Analysys Mason Limited1 contract
- Big Brain Innovations ltd1 contract
From notice 069147-2025 on Find a Tender, first published 28 October 2025. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.