Official UK procurement notice
NOCTIS-2 · UK public procurement notice
Authority: Ministry of Defence (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionOn behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the National Armaments Director Group (NADG) (previously known as Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S)) has published a UK 1 Notice & UK2 purely for information purposes. The Authority would now like to formally engage with industry via this UK4 Notice, through the Defence Sourcing Portal (DSP) which can be found here: contracts.mod.uk/go/56376600019F17DB668E ↗
The NADG and UK Space Command (UK Sp Cmd) have initiated Project NOCTIS 2 to explore options for enhancing the UK’s Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capability in response to increasing activity and congestion in the space domain.
The project aims to strengthen the UK’s ability to understand the space environment and support effective space operations. It will contribute to the provision of timely awareness of orbital activity to authorised UK Space Command users and support informed decision making.
The project aligns with the Defence Space Strategy (DSS), which commits the UK to increasing cross governmental and international collaboration on new technologies and innovative approaches to space capability development.
The project is expected to follow a phased acquisition approach, potentially including:
- Equipment design and construction
- Sensor installation
- Operation and through life support
Requirement
Due to security considerations, participation is limited to organisations with a registered UK legal entity. Parent companies headquartered outside the UK may participate subject to agreement by the Authority, with all activity conducted through the UK registered entity.
The project requires that all data processing and storage, where not performed on site, is conducted within the United Kingdom.
The project scope includes the potential procurement, installation and through life support of ground based space surveillance sensors, including optical systems and associated infrastructure. NOCTIS-2 will focus on enhancing overall system capabilities, addressing a broad range of operational areas, and supporting ongoing research and development activities..
Sensors and their associated housing or infrastructure are expected to be procured as an integrated solution under this contract.
The Cyber Risk Profile for this procurement identified by the Cyber Risk Assessment is Level 2.
As part of the Preliminary Market Engagement, the Authority held an Industry Day on the 27th of March 2026 to inform industry of the NOCTIS-2 requirements. The presentation slides are at Annex A of the PSQ released on DSP.
The anticipated NOCTIS-2 contract shall be three (3) years from 2027 to 2030, plus options (1+1) (subject to approvals) from Contract Award (CA). The final confirmed duration including any Contractual Option(s), and/ or break points will be provided in the ITT documentation.
- How the procedure runs: The project NOCTIS-2 is to be procured through the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. The following steps to arrive at contract award decision are as follow; Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) - Compliant suppliers shall be invited to Invitation to Tender(ITT). PSQ Reference: The ITT evaluation may have 2 stages. Stage one: Paper based evaluation, the top scores may be invited to negotiate further. Stage two: Re-submission post negotiations. Full information on how the procurement procedure, including evaluation criteria, strategy and stages of evaluation shall be provided within the ITT. The Authority reserves the right under the Procurement Act 2023 to: To cancel the procurement procedure at any stage. Not to award a contract as a result of the procurement process. Make any modifications during a competitive flexible procedure, provided that the deadline to participate or submit a first or only tender has not passed (section 31(1)(b)) Make non substantial modifications, during a competitive flexible procedure, up to the deadline of the final tendering stage (section 31(2)(a)) Refine or supplement the award criteria during a competitive flexible procedure (section 24(1)) The issue of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire is not a commitment by the Authority to subsequently issue an invitation to tender, invitation to negotiate or place a contract. Neither does the issue of this or subsequent documents create any implied contract between the Authority and any participant, and any such implied contract is expressly excluded.
CPV: Anemometers · Preventive maintenance services · Satellites · Technical control services · Technical support services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1RenewalPublished value£16,800,000
- Economic & financial standing
The legal and financial capacity conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and PSQ supporting documentation.
Suppliers, associated persons and tier one suppliers are required registered on the Central Digital Platform and share up-to-date information.
The Authority shall assess suppliers (or where relevant, a connected person), an associated person or a sub-contractor to determine whether mandatory or discretionary grounds for exclusion apply, in accordance with The Procurement Act 2023.
Please see the PSQ for full information on financial requirements.
- Technical & professional ability
The technical ability conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and PSQ supporting documentation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
The PSQ Guidance document provides the details of the criteria required for suppliers to progress to ITT.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (1)
- PSQ: 100%
Published award criteria (1)
- PSQ: In order to be successful at this PSQ, the Particpant must satisfy the requirements and criteria. The requirements and criteria are set out in the PSQ and PSQ supporting documentation.
- Economic & financial standing
The legal and financial capacity conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and PSQ supporting documentation.
Suppliers, associated persons and tier one suppliers are required registered on the Central Digital Platform and share up-to-date information.
The Authority shall assess suppliers (or where relevant, a connected person), an associated person or a sub-contractor to determine whether mandatory or discretionary grounds for exclusion apply, in accordance with The Procurement Act 2023.
Please see the PSQ for full information on financial requirements.
- Technical & professional ability
The technical ability conditions of participation and the associated evaluation criteria are set out in the PSQ and PSQ supporting documentation.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
The PSQ Guidance document provides the details of the criteria required for suppliers to progress to ITT.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Defence & security
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 27 Feb 2026, 13:01 GMT
- Last source update
- 30 Jun 2026, 10:31 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 1 Apr 2027
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-061085- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-065e45Find a Tender
- How it runs
The project NOCTIS-2 is to be procured through the Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.
The following steps to arrive at contract award decision are as follow;
Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) - Compliant suppliers shall be invited to Invitation to Tender(ITT). PSQ Reference:
The ITT evaluation may have 2 stages.
Stage one: Paper based evaluation, the top scores may be invited to negotiate further.
Stage two: Re-submission post negotiations.
Full information on how the procurement procedure, including evaluation criteria, strategy and stages of evaluation shall be provided within the ITT.
The Authority reserves the right under the Procurement Act 2023 to:
To cancel the procurement procedure at any stage.
Not to award a contract as a result of the procurement process.
Make any modifications during a competitive flexible procedure, provided that the deadline to participate or submit a first or only tender has not passed (section 31(1)(b))
Make non substantial modifications, during a competitive flexible procedure, up to the deadline of the final tendering stage (section 31(2)(a))
Refine or supplement the award criteria during a competitive flexible procedure (section 24(1))
The issue of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire is not a commitment by the Authority to subsequently issue an invitation to tender, invitation to negotiate or place a contract. Neither does the issue of this or subsequent documents create any implied contract between the Authority and any participant, and any such implied contract is expressly excluded.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 3 Aug 2026, 09:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 3 Aug 2026, 09:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 17 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
27 Feb 2026 → 1 Apr 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published239 days ago27 Feb 2026, 13:01 GMT
- Market engagement201 days ago6 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
The Authority would like to notify you of a potential upcoming procurement, and by doing so is keen to understand the market. The Authority is initially interested in getting responses to a series of questions within a seperate document referenced 'RFI'.
The RFI has been published on DSP, and can be found here: contracts.mod.uk/esop/guest/go/opport… ↗
Following the release of the RFI, the Authority shall formally engage with Industry via a TEAMS Industry Day, please find further details contained in the RFI.
An Industry Day will be taking place on TEAMS on the 27th March 2026. At this event the Authority will provide additional details of the project including (but not limited to) further information of the site, roadmaps and commercial strategy with the opportunity to ask questions and provide comments. We encourage organisations to provide questions and comments before and after the industry day (via email) to help us ensure the requirements set in the competition are clearly understood, appropriate and achievable.
If your organisation would like to attend, please email the contact detailed in this notice and provide email address, full name, organisation name and telephone number (being used to dial in) by the 24th March 2026. The event shall be held at OFFICIAL. Your registration will only be confirmed once checks have been completed.
This procurement shall be considered for competitive tender via the Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market (RM6370), should you be interested in this procurement - please register to the Dynamic Market to ensure timely access to any potential subsequent procurement stages.
Further notices relating to the requirement will be published on the Find a Tender Service in due course.
Link to The Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market: supplierregistration.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/dm/RM6370 ↗
- Next notice expected177 days ago30 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published116 days ago30 Jun 2026, 10:31 BST
- Clarification questions by99 days ago17 Jul 2026, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline83 days ago3 Aug 2026, 09:00 BST
- Today24 Oct 2026
- Contract startsin 158 days1 Apr 2027, 00:00 BST
- Award decision expected byin 159 days1 Apr 2027, 23:59 BST
Notice history
6 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 27 Feb 2026- Pipeline notice published27 Feb 2026, 13:01 GMTUK1
- Preliminary market engagement notice published16 Mar 2026, 13:56 GMTUK2
- Tender notice published30 Jun 2026, 10:31 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £16,800,00030 Jun 2026, 10:31 BSTwas £17,500,000
- Status changed to active30 Jun 2026, 10:31 BST
- Procurement method changed30 Jun 2026, 10:31 BST
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
- Bidding documents and specificationsAccess: Subsequent documents shall be issued with the ITT, via DSP.
Notices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender