UPDATE: Clarification 1: Cost for airbourne trials and launch – To view this document, click here
Details for potential partners has been published. Click here for details
Details on the winners for this bid can be found here
On behalf of the UK Space Agency, the Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation (CEOI) is running its Thirteenth Earth Observation (EO) Technology Call. This 13th Call invites proposals for world-leading and high-impact CEOI Flagship projects to enhance national capability in EO technologies, with a particular focus on climate, environmental and societal applications. All proposals should be aligned with the objectives of the UKSA EO Technology Strategy.
The selection criteria will be:
- excellence of the technical case;
- the exploitation plan and enhancement of national capability;
- the strength of the project team;
- demonstration of sound project & risk management;
- value for money and strength of the investment case;
- collaboration and conformance to grant requirements
The total budget available for the Call will be £2.0M, with additional funding required from industrial and academic bidders. The Call is released on 14th January 2020 with a closing date of 3rd March 2020 at noon. Proposal selection will take place in the following weeks, in anticipation of projects starting from mid-May 2020.
The Call themes are:
| Theme | Funding and Duration | Eligible Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Development of technologies to enhance national EO capability, with a particular focus on climate, environmental and societal applications | Flagship grants of £0.5M to £1.0M, normally expected to be up to 24 months duration | - Industrial research - Experimental development |
The CEOI Call is open to industry, HEIs and other research organisations based in the UK. Additional funding will be required from industrial bidders as defined by the State Aid General Block Exemption Regulation. Eligible activities are limited to Industrial Research and Experimental Development. Proposals for work categorised as Feasibility Studies or Fundamental Research will not be considered.
Bidders’ Briefing and New Partnership Opportunities
Telephone Briefing for Potential Bidders
There will be a briefing by telephone conference from 10.00 to 12.00 on Thursday 23rd January to provide more information about the objectives of the call and provide an opportunity to ask general questions. Although attendance is optional, you are encouraged to join this meeting.
If you wish to participate in the Bidders Briefing please email a request, stating your name and organisation, to Miss Charlotte Moretti, CEOI Technology Call Administrator at cm738@leicester.ac.uk by 17:00 hrs on Tuesday 21st January 2020
This telephone conference has now taken place, please click here for the Bidders Briefing Presentation.
New Partnerships
CEOI encourages participation from organisations new to space technology development. A partner pro-forma is available on the CEOI website for any organisation that would like to be considered as a potential partner in a bid with another organisation.
In addition established space technology organisations looking for new partners may also use the CEOI in their search.
Such organisations should indicate what skills and/or capability they can offer or are seeking, and email the completed partner pro-forma, which is available on the CEOI website, to Miss Charlotte Moretti, CEOI Technology Call Administrator at cm738@leicester.ac.uk by 17:00 hrs on Wednesday 29th January 2020.
The information will be published on the CEOI 13th Call webpage for leading organisations and potential project partners to access.
Please click here to access details on partners seeking or offering in this bid.
The deadline to submit a Partner proforma has been extended to 4th February 2020. Details will be published on the CEOI website on the 5th February 2020.
Notification of Intention to Bid
Applicants are required to notify CEOI of their intention to bid by email to the CEOI Call Administrator Charlotte Moretti, cm738@leicester.ac.uk, using the pro-forma at Section 12, by 4th February 2020 at noon.
The purpose of this is to gauge the size of the response and to inform the selection of reviewers. The notification and information therein will be held in confidence.
Bidders may request a 30 minute confidential telephone conference for clarification of any parts of the Call with Professor Mick Johnson, CEOI Director and/or Dr Chris Brownsword, CEOI Technical Director. Please contact Miss Charlotte Moretti, CEOI Technology Call Administrator at cm738@leicester.ac.uk to organise a time.
Application documents
Full details of the Open Call are contained in the ‘Announcement of Opportunity’ document, which is available here, together with the other bid documents:
- Announcement of Opportunity
- Partner Search Pro-Forma
- Notification of Intention to Bid Form
- Application Form
- Risk Register Form (Updated to Version 2 – added 23/01/20)
- Finance Form
- Draft Contract
- Model Teaming Agreement
- Annex B3 Work Package Description (WPD) template (Added 23/01/20)
- Clarification 1 – Costs for airbourne trials and/or launch (release date – 20th February 2020)
Please note: Templates are provided for Annexes B2 and B3. No templates are provided for Annexes A1, A2, B1, C1 or D1.
To summarise timelines:
| Deadline Date | Deadline Time | Application Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 23rd January 2020 | 10:00 | Bidders Briefing Telephone Conference |
| 29th January 2020 | 17:00 | Partner pro-forma due |
| 4th February 2020 | Noon | Intention to Bid Form due |
| 3rd March 2020 | Noon | Full Proposal due |
| May 2020 | Projects commence | |
| April 2022 | Projects complete |
Call is issued on behalf of the UK Space Agency by the CEOI Partners, who will also manage the selected projects on behalf of the Agency.
For further information on any aspect of the 13th CEOI Call, please contact Chris Brownsword, CEOI Technical Director, with copy to Mick Johnson CEOI Director. Contact details are available in the 13th Call Announcement of Opportunity document and on the CEOI website.