Scope
Reference
UKSAC25_0044
Description
This is a switch to direct award under Section 43 of the Procurement Act, on the basis no suitable tender submissions were received for Sub-Lot 4.2 of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) 2025-26 tender. One bid was received which did not satisfy the Contracting Authority's requirements or the award criteria when assessed by reference to the assessment methodology and the relative importance of the criteria indicated under section 23(3).
There was a minor commercial deficiency in the bid which could not be addressed during the tender process, which has been addressed subsequently to facilitate this direct award.
The appointed supplier will investigate the technologies that underpin reliable post-mission disposal operations, considering those that achieve compliance to one or more of the post-mission disposal guidelines within the IADC Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines. Develop and populate a catalogue to capture key information on each technology and critically evaluate the most promising solutions across cases for single-spacecraft missions and large constellations.
Contract 1. UKSAC25_0044: Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee 2025-26 studies - sub-lot 4.2 - assessment of technologies driving post-mission disposal reliability
Supplier
Contract value
- £20,833 excluding VAT
- £25,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Date signed
7 October 2025
Contract dates
- 7 October 2025 to 31 March 2026
- 5 months, 25 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - without competition
Supplier
3S NORTHUMBRIA LTD
- Companies House: 14727800
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PQDX-5191-CTJT
21b The Hotspur Bondgate Without
Alnwick
NE66 1PR
United Kingdom
Email: info@northumbrianspace.co.uk
Website: https://northumbrianspace.co.uk
Region: UKC21 - Northumberland
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): Yes
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1
Contracting authority
UK Space Agency
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PRTY-4245-MTJY
Quad Two Building 1st Floor, Rutherford Avenue, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus
Didcot
OX11 0DF
United Kingdom
Region: UKJ14 - Oxfordshire
Organisation type: Public authority - central government