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    GSTP Element 1 - Building Blocks Framework

    Dear Madam or Sir,
    The European Space Agency (“the Agency” or “ESA”) invites you to submit an Outline Proposal under the General Support Technology Programme, Element 1 Develop: “Preparation of Enabling Space Technologies and Building Blocks” Framework.

    Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality - Dietmar Pilz

      Matthew Robert Bullock

        Important Announcement: 

        We are pleased to inform you that this channel will be closed on the 1st of September 2026, after that date will be possible to submit Building Block proposal using the new platform Open Space Innovation Platform - OSIP - Channel: ‪ORBIT Portal – Open R&D for Boosting Industrial compeTitiveness portal‬ 

        Thank you for your attention to this important update. We look forward to your continued participation and successful proposals.

        The maximum validity of proposals is 4 months starting form the first submission date

        The objective of the activities under this framework is to prepare and to develop enabling capabilities and the associated building blocks for space related systems and the associated sub-systems. An additional aim is to enable the targeted and coordinated development of the capabilities and building blocks (i.e. among academia and industry) in a given ESA Participating State or across different Participating States (in a collaborative manner). The results are intended to provide industry with a stronger foundation (i.e. building on this acquired know-how) in order to contribute to new space related system opportunities at national or international levels (institutional, commercial…). The enabling capabilities and building blocks are to be developed to a level such that the industrial entities may then be able to perform developments and eventually produce for concrete/more specific space related developments. The developments may go from a proof-of-concept (via simulation or experiment) up to an engineering qualification model (EQM).

        Eligibility Criteria

        • Activities should address any of the following application domains: Earth observation, science, exploration, human spaceflight, space transportation, satellite navigation, space safety or generic technologies.
        • Procurement of assets (equipment and other physical facilities) is not the objective of this Framework.
        • The maximum contribution of the Agency per activity shall not exceed 1,000,000 (one million) Euro.
        • The maximum duration for an activity shall be 24 months.
        • To be eligible for procurement, a Letter of Support (LoS) from the respective National Delegations is required -  if the activity foreseen a transnational cooperation, a separated LoS from each from the respective National Delegations covering the respective financial support is required.
        • All Outline Proposal shall be prepared using the Outline Proposal template attached below.
        • Before submission of the Outline Proposal, Tenderers shall at least have already completed the “Light Registration” as described in “ESA-star” Registration User Manual
        • The Agency will admit for evaluation only proposals from economic operators – being as Prime or Subcontractor – residing in any of the following GSTP Element 1 Participating States: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Canada.

         

         

        Please note that the Agency’s written invite is a pre-requisite for submitting a Full Proposal.

        Procurement process flow overview

        The activities falling under the building block framework are procured using an Outline Proposal template (ESA will not issue a dedicated Statement of Work). For this reason, is mandatory that all required information and technical details are clearly included in the submitted Outline Proposal. Only information inside the Outline Proposal will be taken under consideration.

        To streamline the activity procurement, the technical part of the Outline Proposal is identical to the technical part of the Detailed Proposal.

        After the Outline Proposal submission, the activity will be reviewed by ESA experts and informally iterated with the Tenderers to improve:

        • Clear and credible definition of the technical objectives, key requirements, technical steps and risks to be addressed in this activity.
        • Clear indication of the application and potential users of the technology.
        • Clarity of the management approach and the adequacy of the proposed costs with the work to be performed in the Building Block activity.

        Following positive Outline Proposal review iteration, the Tenderers will be invited by email by the Agency to submit in the “ESA-star” tendering system a Detailed Proposal.

         

        Attachments

        Background Information

        Innovation Area

        General Support Technology Programme (GSTP)

        In the frame of the General Support Technology Programme (GSTP), the European space industry develops leading edge space technologies that enable missions to discover the Universe, understand our environment, navigate, educate and save lives.

        Learn More

        GSTP Element1 - Preparation of Enabling Space Technologies and Building Blocks Framework

        The European Space Agency (“the Agency” or “ESA”) invites you to submit an Outline Proposal under the General Support Technology Programme, Element 1 Develop: “Preparation of Enabling Space Technologies and Building Blocks” Framework.