In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) Maturation Research & Development Projects

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) is launching a Contracts for Innovation competition to fund approximately two In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) Maturation Research & Development Projects. The competition will support the research, development and maturation of an In-Orbit Manufacturing process and associated payload. Projects will undertake proportionate design, prototyping, analysis and testing to achieve Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4/5 by the Final Review milestone and establish a credible route to a potential future demonstration in an appropriate microgravity environment. The IOM Maturation Projects will: · Mature the IOM manufacturing process and associated payload to TRL 4/5 by the Final Review milestone, generating evidence against relevant performance indicators (such as quality, performance and quantity). · Develop and compare credible routes to a future microgravity demonstration, identifying the developments required to progress towards demonstration by 2030. · Strengthen the commercial case and strategic relevance of the proposed IOM capability, including its relevance to identified customer and end-user needs. · Generate evidence to inform future UKSA investment and procurement decisions, including a potential future IOM demonstration procurement and the associated ISAM IOD Programme Business Case. This is one of two concurrent procurements being progressed, the other being for Mission Feasibility Studies – Spacecraft Life Extension Service Demonstration. Please see the respective notice on Find a Tender: Title: Mission Feasibility Studies – Spacecraft Life Extension Service Demonstration This procurement is for exempted contracts under section 3(6) and paragraph 22 of Schedule 2, Part 2 (subject-matter exempted contracts) of the Procurement Act 2023. Exempted contracts are not public contracts as defined by section 3 of the Act and are therefore not required to be procured in accordance with the provisions of the Act relating to covered procurement. This co