扒哥吃瓜

1. ARTES听Contract Change Notice (CCN)听

To apply听for a听contract听change notice听for听the听European听Space听Agency听(ESA)听Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES)听programme,听all听UK听contract holders听will first听require听approval for their proposal from the听UK听National听Delegate.听听

This guidance details how to apply for 鈥楿K听National Delegate鈥� support听for a Contract Change听Notice for听an existing听UK Space Agency-funded ARTES activity听for听satellite communication developments.听The听limit of this guidance is proposals up to a value of听拢850,000听of UK Space Agency funding.听With one听Contract Change Notice听per activity being eligible for this approach.听听

Activities over听this value听or multiple听Contract Change Notices will need to wait for the next competitive call.

1.1. What is ARTES?听

The听ARTES听programme is听ESA鈥檚 flagship initiative for satellite communications innovation. Through ARTES, ESA works with its Member States and industry to develop advanced technologies, services, and applications that keep Europe competitive in the global satcom market.听听

For the UK, ARTES is a strategic mechanism to drive growth in space-based telecoms, strengthen national capabilities, and secure high-value industrial opportunities. It supports UK priorities such as integration of satellite systems with terrestrial networks (including 5G and beyond), enabling resilient connectivity for remote communities, and fostering partnerships that attract inward investment. UK participation in ARTES ensures our industry听remains听at the forefront of emerging markets like LEO constellations, optical communications, and secure connectivity, while contributing to wider European听objectives.听

1.2. What is National Delegate Support听

Applicants must听demonstrate听national support prior to applying to ESA听for any contract or contract change, even if they have no increase in funding (also known as zero-cost). This is called 鈥楴ational Delegate support鈥�,听as the UK delegates its national support to a named member of staff within the UK Space Agency. This guidance is designed to set out the process for applying for National Delegate support听for existing ESA ARTES activities.

2. Contract Change Notice听

2.1. Purpose of听a听Contract Change Notice听

A听Contract Change Notice听is听required听when the scope, cost, schedule, partners, or expected benefits of an existing ESA ARTES activity need to change. Typical reasons include technical issues, supplier or partner changes, cost variations, or opportunities that increase benefits.听

2.2. When a听Contract Change Notice听Is Required听

A听Contract Change Notice听is needed where changes materially affect scope, milestones, deliverables, partners, non鈥慤K expenditure, or the risk/benefits profile of an existing听ESA ARTES听activity.听听

2.3. Assessment听Criteria听

Applications for听ARTES听Contract Change Notices听will be assessed by the UK Space Agency with support from听the European Space Agency.听听No external assessors听outside of these two organisations听will be included within the review.听

All proposals will be considered under听the following five criteria.

Strategic Fit:听To score strongly, companies must provide clear, specific, and evidenced justification of how the updated activity continues to deliver strategic value for the UK satellite communications sector. High鈥憇coring听Contract Change Notices make it easy for听UK Space Agency听assessors to see:听

• why continued support is important,听听
• what changes improve sector outcomes, and听听
• how the revised activity strengthens UK capability.听

Value for Money:听To score strongly, companies must provide clear, specific, and evidenced justification of why the updated activity听represents听efficient use of public money and why continued听UK Space Agency听support is the minimum necessary to deliver outcomes that matter for the UK satellite communications sector.听听

High鈥憇coring听Contract Change Notices make it easy for听UK Space Agency听assessors to see:听

a. why听additional听funding is genuinely required,听 b. how the revised cost profile is proportionate, and听 c. why the听Contract Change Notice听delivers better value than alternative options.听

Catalyse Investment:听To score strongly, companies must provide clear, specific, and evidenced justification of how the updated activity will unlock new commercial value, strengthen market position, and increase the likelihood of future private or international investment in the UK satellite communications sector.听

High鈥憇coring听Contract Change Notices make it easy for听UK Space Agency听assessors to see:听

a. what new commercial opportunities arise听as a result of听the听Contract Change Notice,听 b. why the听Contract Change Notice听meaningfully increases the project鈥檚 commercial potential, and听 c. how the听Contract Change Notice听reduces risk and improves investor or customer confidence.听

Project Management:听To score strongly, companies must provide clear, structured, and evidence鈥慴ased justification showing that the updated activity听remains听fully deliverable, well鈥憁anaged, and properly controlled. High鈥憇coring听Contract Change Notices make it easy for听UK Space Agency听assessors to see:听 a. how the revised plan will be delivered,听 b. how risks will be effectively managed,听 c. why the听Contract Change Notice听is not caused by poor project management, and听 d. why the updated approach gives strong confidence in delivery to time,听cost听and quality.听

Technical Feasibility:听To score strongly, companies must provide clear, specific, and evidenced justification that the updated technical work听remains听credible, deliverable, and听appropriate, and that the听Contract Change Notice听directly improves the technical success of the project. High鈥憇coring听Contract Change Notices make it easy for听UK Space Agency听&听European听Space听Agency听assessors to see:听

a. what technical work is changing and why,听 b. how the revised approach is technically sound, and听 c. how the听Contract Change Notice听reduces technical uncertainty or risk while increasing TRL readiness and verification confidence.听

The European Space Agency will assess your proposal against their respective criteria. Please consult your ESA Technical Officer for further guidance.

2.4. Eligibility Requirements听

Please check the ESA guidance on eligibility criteria under the ARTES Programme. In addition to this,听UK Space Agency听will apply the following eligibility criteria听for听Contract Change Notices:鈥�听

2.4.1. Funding Limit for the听Contract Change Notice听process听

To provide clarity and predictability for companies, the UK Space Agency has set a clear eligibility threshold for Contract Change Notices.听Contract Change Notices听can be supported up to a maximum value of 鈧�850,000听through听this听delegated approval process designed to keep minor changes moving at pace听

Any request above听拢850,000听must instead be brought forward through a competitive call, rather than via听the听Contract Change Notice听process. This ensures that larger funding decisions are made transparently and competitively, giving all eligible organisations the opportunity to bid.听听

For industry, this means听Contract Change Notice听s should only be used for targeted, proportionate adjustments, while more substantial extensions or new work packages will be considered through open competition to ensure fairness and value for money across the sector.听

2.4.2. Number of听Contract Change Notice听requests per UK entity听

To ensure fairness, consistency, and the efficient use of public funding, the UK Space Agency听will limit each activity to a single听Contract Change Notice听request that can be approved outside a competitive process. Only one听Contract Change Notice听per听existing听activity may be considered under this route; any further requests, or any听Contract Change Notice听exceeding the听拢850,000听threshold, must instead be brought forward through a full competitive call, ensuring transparent access for industry and alignment with听UK Space Agency鈥檚听commitment to running open, fair and strategically鈥慸riven competitions.听

2.4.3. Essential听Non-UK听Spend听Requests鈥�听

Products and services from non-UK suppliers that are considered essential to deliver successful projects, may be included in proposals. However, all proposals must听demonstrate听their value to the UK and non-UK spend requests are unlikely to score highly against other, UK-based activities. Any non-UK spend requests should be clearly听stated听in your听Contract Change Notice听application form.听

2.4.4. Match-Funding鈥�听

ESA eligibility on match funding states companies can apply for up to听80% funding for programmes,听whereas听in the UK two funding limits are available depending on the size of the company applying:鈥�听

1. For all large or non-small,听medium听enterprise (SME)听companies, including companies who are wholly owned by large companies or groups of companies, or for SMEs undertaking very high-value programmes 鈥撎齯p to 50%.鈥�听

2. For all other SME companies and activities 鈥撎齯p to听75%.鈥�听
3. For听Universities,听Research听Institutes, and听Public听Sector听Entities whose work as subcontractor is requested, justified, and supervised by the Industry consortium, and provided they do not retain any commercial (i.e. financial) interest in the future exploitation of the final product or service, and their funding does not exceed 30% of the total allowable cost听-听up to听100%.听
4. For听Universities and听Research听Institutes听pursuant to听the听previous听paragraph, which have a demonstrated commercial interest in the future exploitation of the final product or service听-听up to听75%.听

However, all matched funding decisions听remain听at the discretion of the UK Space Agency and rates will be applied to individual organisations relative to their individual projects.鈥�鈥�听

2.4.5. Regulation, Licensing and Spectrum Use and Filing鈥�听

The UK Space Agency will not fund licensing or regulatory compliance activities, either in the UK or overseas.听

We expect to see听a viable听approach to spectrum use in projects and we will not fund activities that are not supported by current UK Government policy. Where activities involve the novel use of spectrum, we will expect to see evidence of engagement with relevant regulators which听demonstrates听programmes are听viable.鈥�听

2.4.6. Travel and Subsistence鈥�听

The following outlines the guidelines for travel and subsistence costs. Value for money must always be considered. The UK Space Agency will only support reasonable travel and subsistence costs. No claims for alcohol or entertainment will be accepted.鈥�鈥�听

All projected expenditure must be recorded in the relevant ESA proposal. The UK Space Agency reserves the right not to support projects where costs appear excessive, and any challenges may delay your application to ESA.鈥�鈥�听

The following expenditures are ineligible:鈥�听

• Marketing activity and conference attendance.听

• Payment that supports lobbying or activity intended to influence or听attempt听to influence Parliament, Government or political parties, or听attempting听to influence the awarding or renewal of contracts and grants or听attempting听to influence legislative or regulatory action.鈥�听

• Using contract funding to petition for听additional听funding.鈥�听

• Payments for activities of a political or exclusively religious nature.鈥�听

• Licensing or regulatory compliance activities, either in the UK or overseas, including spectrum filings.鈥�听

• Goods or services that the Contract鈥疪ecipient鈥痟as鈥痑 statutory duty to provide.鈥�听

• Payments reimbursed or to be reimbursed by other public or private sector contracts or grants.鈥�听

• Gifts to individuals.鈥�听

• Entertaining (entertaining for this purpose means anything that would be a taxable benefit to the person being entertained, according to current UK tax regulations).鈥�听

• Employee paid benefits and bonuses.鈥�听

• 础濒肠辞丑辞濒.鈥�听

If you are in any doubt about what is reasonable you should contact the team.鈥�听

2.4.7. Exchange Rates听

Successful applications under the ESA-administered ARTES contracts route will need to听comply with听the ESA requirements highlighted in the Financial Proposal. Further information can be found on ESA鈥檚 website here:听.

2.5. Confidentiality听

The procedure for handling and assessing the applications for project funding will be as follows:鈥�听听

• Completed applications must be听submitted听to the UK Space Agency听via听telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk听. All bids will be held in confidence.鈥�听听

• Once听submitted,听electronic copies of all eligible documents will be distributed to the independent assessment panel members. UK Space Agency confidentiality rules will apply.鈥�听听

• For those bids not recommended by the panel for funding, documentation will be听retained听by the UK Space Agency听and European Space Agency听for reference. The proposals will not be visible to any others, and the names of any unsuccessful bidders will not be published.听听

• Information听submitted听for those projects selected for funding will be听retained听by UK Space Agency听and European Space Agency听but remain confidential.鈥�听听

• Summary information about the projects selected for funding may be published on the UK Space Agency website.鈥�听听

The听European听Space Agency, on听behalf of the UK Space Agency,听will听monitor听the funded project through project reports and the submission of project deliverables. The Agency听requests听that any confidential information is clearly marked Commercial in Confidence.

3. How to Apply:听UK听Space听Agency ARTES听Contract Change Notices

3.1. When to Apply听

This听Contract Change Notice听process will听remain in place until November 2028. Proposals (limit to one per activity) may be听submitted听at any point within this period.听听

3.2. How to Apply: Step-by-Step Guide听

This Call is run in coordination with ESA, who will support the review of applications.听Below is an overview of each stage, with key actions highlighted for clarity:

Stage One:听UK Space Agency听Contract Change Notice听Application Form听

• Applicants should begin by completing and听submitting听the听UK Space Agency听Contract Change Notice听application form.听The form can be found online听-听听

• After听submission听to听the UK Space Agency,听submissions will be reviewed by a panel of experts from听the UK Space Agency听and听the听European听Space听Agency.听

• All applicants will be notified of the outcome听after 20 working days听from submission.听Successful applicants will be invited to听proceed听to the next stage.听听

• If you are not successful, you听will听receive feedback on the reasons why.听听听

• You should not contact the team before this date and any enquiries may not be dealt with until after this date. We reserve the right to extend this date if听required.

Stage Three: ESA听Contract Change Notice听Submission to听the听UK Space Agency听

• Applicants progressing to this stage must听submit听their ESA Full Proposal to the UK Space Agency听within 20 working days of the outcome.听听

• The听UK Space Agency will听review the proposal to ensure it aligns with the original support provided. If approved, an Authorisation of Funding Letter will be issued听

• Note: You must听submit听your completed ESA Full Proposal to the UK Space Agency.听If you do not, your proposal听will not receive National Delegate support.

Stage Four: ESA听Contract Change Notice听submission听

• Applicants should听submit听their ESA听Full Proposal, including the听UK Space Agency听Authorisation of Funding Letter, to ESA听within two working days of receiving the UK Space Agency Authorisation of Funding Letter.听听

• ESA will review the submission, raise any questions, and begin negotiations if the proposal is approved.听

• Contract听negotiations are听subject to听a number of听factors which may delay your application.听

Stage Five:听Contract Change Notification听Implementation听

• Once contracting听are听complete, successful applicants should听commence听their听additional听activities.听听

Throughout each stage, applicants are encouraged to:听

• Ensure all forms and supporting documents are听submitted听via the correct portals and by the specified deadlines.听

• Remain proactive in seeking clarification and ensure all information provided is听accurate听and complete.听

Important Information for Applicants:听

• This听new approach听is designed to help successful applicants progress at pace. If your proposal is not ready for this听timeframe, or if you are seeking funding for a听Contract Change Notice听outside the听eligibility of this process,听we recommend waiting for one of our听Competetive听Calls, which will be announced听in due course.听

• We expect you to stay in touch throughout the life of the programme, from contracting to completion. We expect to publicise most funding awards in coordination with winning听applicants听and to be kept informed of any changes or developments for the duration of the project. This ensures we can support you if any adjustments are needed.鈥�听

• Only the lead organisation听should听submit听an application. It is the lead organisation鈥檚 responsibility to ensure that all required information is complete and accurately听submitted听before the deadline.鈥�鈥�鈥�听

• Any听correspondence,听or听additional听documentation听that has听explicitly been requested by the UK Space Agency,听should听be sent to the Telecommunications Team at听telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk听quoting听ARTES CCN and听your unique听UK Space Agency听Reference Number听in the subject line.

4. Additional Information听

4.1. Complaints鈥�听

If you are unhappy with either the outcome of your application or how the process was managed, or for any other reason, you can make a complaint by contacting the team at听telecoms@ukspaceagency.gov.uk.听Please set out the nature of your complaint in detail. The team will try to resolve a complaint in the first instance but, if resolution is not possible, we will refer it to the UK Space Agency central complaints process, where it will be independently assessed.鈥�听

4.2. Relevant听Documents鈥�听

The full list of documents听for the 鈥淯K Space Agency听ARTES Contract Change Notice听Process鈥澨齛re as follows:鈥�听

• UK Space Agency ARTES Contract Change Notice -听Microsoft Form听

• ESA Full听CCN听Proposal听(including all PSS Forms)听- Provided by ESA Technical Officer.

4.3. Assessment听of Applications鈥�听

Completed application forms will be assessed by the UK Space Agency with the support of听the European Space Agency.鈥�听

Applicants may be asked for further evidence or clarifications after their application has been听submitted.鈥�听

The听UK Space Agency听reserves the right in its absolute discretion to:鈥�听

• Waive or change the requirements听of this funding opportunity from time to time through a formal amendment,听initiated听by the Agency;鈥�听

• Seek clarification in respect of a participant鈥檚 proposal;鈥�听

• Disqualify any participant that does not听submit听a compliant proposal听in accordance with听the instructions in this funding opportunity;鈥�听

• Disqualify any applicant that is guilty of misrepresentation in relation to its proposal or the proposal process;鈥�听

• Withdraw this funding opportunity at any time, or to re-invite proposals on the same or any alternative basis;鈥�听

• Disqualify applicants where support may conflict with the government鈥檚 foreign policy and international commitments or may pose a threat to national security;鈥�听

• Choose not to support any proposal听as a result of听the proposal review process鈥痑nd the findings of due diligence (including sound听financial management).鈥�听

To achieve the programme鈥檚听objectives, we will fund a balanced portfolio of high-scoring projects across a variety of technologies.鈥�听

4.4. Additional听requirements鈥�听

• The UK Space Agency will not fund licensing or regulatory compliance activities, either in the UK or overseas.鈥�听

• Projects must听comply with听the rules听stated听in this guidance document both during the pre-award and post-award delivery period.