Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: 040676/S 000-2026
Nature of contract: Supply contract
Procedure: Not specified
Regulation of procurement: Not applicable
Type of bid required: Not applicable

UKPGA UK2: Preliminary Market Engagement Notice

I) Contracting Authority/Entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: Defence Equipment and Support
National registration number: PVRL-5831-GLMM

Postal address: MOD Abbey Wood
Town: Bristol
Region: Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Postal code: BS34 8JH
Country: United Kingdom

Email: benjamin.harvey107@mod.gov.uk

Internet address

I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Public authority – central government

II) Object
II.1.1) Title
715855513 – UK2 – Preliminary Market Engagement
Reference number: ocds-h6vhtk-06909c

II.1.3) Type of contract
Supplies
Special regime
DefenceSecurity

II.1.4) Short description
Space portfolio and ISTARI Industry Day – Monday 29th June
This industry day will be delivering an update on the National Armament Directive’s (NAD’s) Space portfolio landscape, providing an overview of the planned work and developments within the organisation’s purview across all Space Capabilities.
The day will also specifically focus on ISTARI (Space Based Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance) Industry Day and include a briefing from the Authority to Industry, aimed at providing an up-to-date report on the scope, vision and context status for the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) ISTARI programme.
ISTARI is the overarching programme initiated to deliver the UK’s Space Based – Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (SB-ISR) end-to-end requirements. ISTARI will cohere, integrate and adopt various Operational Concept Demonstrators (OCDs) to deliver an ‘in-service’ ISR capability under one programme, delivering UK sovereign, Defence-controlled, continual, resilient, timely, pervasive, and flexible observations across the globe, augmenting capabilities owned and developed by key allies.
Following previous briefings and announcements, this Industry Day will endeavour to contextualise the Authority’s requirements and objectives in the aftermath of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), creating a forum in which to collaborate and engage on various aspects of ISTARI, offering valuable insight and an opportunity to introduce or reacquaint yourselves with the various stakeholders aligned to this programme.
In addition to this, we also welcome a guest speaker from the Government Commercial Agency (GCA) (formerly Crown Commercial Service), who will enlighten attendees on the nascent Space Technology Solutions Dynamic Market (STS DM) (RM6370). The STS DM aims to unlock opportunity through increased flexibility and enhanced commercial mechanisms inherent to the PA23 regulations. As a key stakeholder in its design and implementation, the STS DM has been specifically created as the team’s primary route to market and acts as an evolutionary successor to the Space-Enabled and Geospatial Services Framework (RM6235).

II.1.5) Estimated Total Value
Value (including VAT)
1,000,000,000
Value (excluding VAT)
800,000,000
Currency
GBP

II.2) Description
II.2.1) Title
Contract/Lot No
1

II.2.2) CPV codes
Main CPV codes
30200000
31000000
32000000
32530000
32584000
34000000
34114000
34150000
34700000
34712000
34740000
34933000
35000000
35100000
35112000
35125100
35400000
35512400
35613000
35630000
35710000
38000000
38115100
38221000
38290000
38820000
38970000
39254100
42900000
42961300
45000000
45223400
45235000
48000000
48200000
48218000
48613000
48614000
50000000
50332000
60500000
60510000
64200000
64214100
71000000
71351000
71352120
71352130
71354100
71354200
72000000
72212710
72212730
72212931
72260000
72300000
72310000
72313000
72315200
72316000
72317000
73000000
73400000
75000000
75220000
79000000
79710000
79961200
80500000
80600000
90700000
92312212
98113100
98391000

II.2.7) Contract dates (estimated)
Start
2027-08-02 00:00
End
2031-08-01 23:59
Duration
4 years

VI) Complementary information
Link to source/bidding documents

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
2026-05-01 15:46

VI.6) Engagement information
Engagement deadline
2026-06-05 23:59
Engagement process description
The ISTARI Industry Day is to be held on Monday 29th June at the MoD Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH
All subsequent procurement following this Preliminary Market Engagement (EME) notice is at the discretion of the MoD and subject to approvals. Any further updates regarding future activity will be made through the appropriate advertising channels.
Attendance is ‘in-person only’. Unfortunately, due to limited capacity, we need to cap attendance to two representatives per organisation.
The session will commence at 1030hrs, and it is advised to arrive on-site no later than 0930hrs to ensure sufficient time to pass through security. We aim to conclude the event by 1600hrs.
Delegate registration will be conducted on a ‘first come, first-served basis’, and as this event has been classified as Official Sensitive, attendance will be subject to possession of the appropriate Security Clearance (BPSS as a minimum).
The deadline to register your interest is Friday 05 June, or once room capacity is reached, whichever is the sooner.
Should your organisation wish to attend the ISTARI Industry Day please contact the following email address register your interest: DESSpace-DT@mod.gov.uk, disclosing the following information:
For UK SC Clearance Holders:
Please provide the following details:
• Full Name (First Name and Surname)
• Date of Birth
• Email Address
• Organisation Name
• National Insurance Number
For BPSS or National Equivalent Holders:
Please provide a copy of your Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) verification record or your national equivalent. This will confirm that the necessary checks have been completed by your organisation.
Once your security clearance has been validated, we will notify you and add you to the attendance list.
For Non-UK SC Clearance Holders:
Please provide proof of national equivalent SC, this should include official certification or documentation from your country’s Security Team or your organisation’s Vetting/Security Team confirming your SC status.
All individuals registering interest must hold either SC clearance or BPSS (Baseline Personnel Security Standard), for further details please refer to – Government baseline personnel security standard – GOV.UK.