How to win: In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) Maturation Research & Development Projects

A services contract from Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, worth £1,400,000. Below: what it involves and how to write a winning bid for it.

Buyer

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Value

£1,400,000

Closing date

20 November 2026

About this contract

**This planned procurement follows earlier market engagement undertaken by UK Space Agency (UKSA) through the Request for Information (RFI) published under Find a Tender Notice 2026/S 000-035409. Overall responses to the RFI demonstrated market interest and a range of potential approaches, while also identifying areas where further technical, commercial, cost and delivery evidence is required before UKSA could consider progressing to a full demonstration mission. UKSA has therefore decided to adopt a staged approach, commissioning multiple R&D projects across RPOD and IOM to explore differing approaches, reduce uncertainty and strengthen the evidence base for future investment decisions. This is one of two concurrent procurements being progressed following consideration of the outputs from that RFI exercise, the other being for Mission Feasibility Studies – Spacecraft Life Extension Service Demonstration. Please see respective notices on Find a Tender.** Procurement Description: The UK Space Agency (UKSA) intends, subject to final approvals, to launch a competitive procurement that will support research and development (R&D) projects to mature In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) payload c

How to win contracts like this

✓Answer against the marking scheme, not the question text — Department for Science, Innovation & Technology scores each response, so map your evidence to the published criteria and weightings.
✓At £1,400,000, expect quality and social value to carry a large share of the score — price alone rarely wins services work.
✓Show recent, comparable delivery: name similar services contracts you've delivered for public bodies, with measurable outcomes.
✓Start early: it closes 20 November 2026 and a strong bid takes iteration.

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