CCS announce new Space Technology DPS

We recently attended a supplier engagement event for a new and exciting commercial agreement: the Space Technology DPS.

Crown Commercial Services (CCS) have dished out some info on a new commercial agreement, expected in 2021. Focusing on Space technology and helping suppliers provide related tech and services to the public sector, it’s a forward thinking strategy from CCS.

Why Space Technology?

As they plainly put it: it’s available. Although costs for things like rockets and getting into space are high, the outcomes from these explorations are commercially available. For example, receiving valuable data, or connectivity. These outcomes are something that the UK government are looking to use more moving forward.

Also, the UK wants to raise it’s profile in the sector and try to be more active in the domain. The technology is already here in the UK. As a country we lead in technology such as Space Tech, AI and robotics and even Quantum Computing. So, with this new Space strategy set by CCS, their goals are to put this tech to use!

What will the Space Technology DPS include?

For starters, it wont likely include any launch technology or manufacturing of the tech to get to Space. This agreement is for the supply of technology and services related to the ‘downstream’. Basically, what happens we they’re in space.

This includes:

• Communications, Broadcast, PNT Signals
  Related to satellite comms, networks, broadcasting, quantum key distribution and more.
• Geospatial, Earth Observation Data Services and Solutions
  Focusing on data supply, data consolidation and analytics. Even AI.
• Remote Sensing and Unmanned Aerial and Land Solutions
  Remote sensing, drone and UAV services and other unmanned solutions.

Broken down further some of these services covered will be; consultancy and advisory, software application support, software application development, measuring equipment, receiving equipment, security, data processing and storage, and a lot more!

As you can see, it’s expected to have a big scope. We’ll see this outlined for definite when we get the OJEU next year.

What’s the timeline?

Although this is all provisional, CCS gave an expected timeline for the Space Technology DPS. Here it is:

• March 2021 – Key workshops and supplier engagement sessions
• May 2021 – Finalising of DPS details
• July 2021 – OJEU released and applications open
• August/September 2021 – onboarding webinars

I’m interested, what should I do now?

Get involved in the supplier engagement sessions! Help mould and shape the DPS. CCS are very good and getting input from suppliers for their frameworks and DPSs.

Make sure you stay up-to-date! Keep checking CCS’ pipeline, sign up to our Framework Alert. Make sure you don’t miss out on the big news when it comes out.