Notice

Application Form Guidance

Updated 4 July 2023

SCIF Application Form Guidance

UK Space Agency: Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund

This document accompanies the SCIF Application Form. It should be read in conjunction with the Application Form to help ensure your submitted application to the challenge fund is compliant.

1. Section 1: Project Overview

Project title
Name of Lead Organisation
Size of organisation	Please state the size of your organisation, according to criteria in the following table, and state the type of organisation
Names of other project partners	Please state the full name of any project partners, noting the size of each organisation, according to the above table.
Primary sector	State which primary sector in which your organisation best fits: Space Manufacturing, Space Operations, Space Applications, Ancillary Services, Academia, Other Research and Innovation, Other.
Sub sector	State which sub sector into which your project best fits. If nothing in the list is appropriate, please respond with ‘Other’ with brief definition of the area of work (no more than 10 words).

Launch vehicles and sub-systems	Launch services	Space tourism	Processors of satellite data (eg. EO)
Satellites/payloads/spacecraft and subsystems	Launch brokerage services	In-space manufacturing	Applications leveraging satellite signals/data (eg. nav, geospatial, telematic)
Scientific instruments	Proprietary satellite operations (including sale/lease of capacity)	Spaceports	Launch and satellite insurance (inc. brokerage)
Ground segment systems and equipment	Third-party ground segment operation	Direct-to-home broadcasting	Legal and financial services
Suppliers of materials and components	Ground station networks	Fixed satellite communication services (incl. VSAT)	Software and IT services
Scientific and engineering support	In-orbit servicing	Mobile satellite communication services	Market research and consultancy services
Fundamental and applied research	Debris removal	Location-based service providers	Business incubation and development
Space test facilities	Space surveillance and tracking (SST)	Supply of user devices and equipment	Policy-making, regulation, and oversight

Abstract(Max 250 words).	Describe what your project proposal is about and how it will lead to a development impact during the Operational Phase. Note: UK Space Agency (UK Space Agency) reserves the right to reproduce this description to announce any successful projects and so the description should not contain any commercially sensitive information.
Please detail what problem is being solved by this project.	Briefly explain what this will bring to your organisation
Please detail the current status of your activities that this proposal will support.	What activities are currently underway that the project will influence.
Total project value	£
UK Space Agency grant applied for	£
Total match funding	£
Have you received any other public funding which relates to this project?	Yes/NoIf Yes, provide details including date of funds received, which fund, and why SCIF funding is required in addition.
Project length (in weeks)

2. Section 2: Strategic Value of Proposal to the UK Space Ecosystem (40%)

This section examines: How the proposal enables the development of mature, cutting-edge technology – relevant to today’s industry needs.

Rationale: At a macro level, the space economy is about market share, held at country level. As part of trying to encourage a growth mindset, UK Space Agency is attempting to steer industry away from direct competition with each other and to instead work towards bigger prizes that are more achievable as a result of collaboration.

Focussing on benefit to the UK Space Ecosystem and the gains made by the UK in the global market will promote proposals from industry that are complementary rather than in direct competition with UK industry players.

As part of your answer you should address the following points:

• How does your proposal enable exploitation of global markets and deliver a step change in the UK’s share of the commercial space market:

• How does the proposal meet a strategic need, i.e. provides a domestic capability that was previously only available overseas:

• Why is UK Space Agency funding required?

• Please explain the circumstances or barriers that you face that has led to you applying to this programme.

• Detail what the added value of public funding is for this project and why you cannot fund this project alone.

2.1 Marking Criteria

Highest scoring (8,9,10) : Proposals will provide a comprehensive demonstration of how the investment will impact the UK space market with a mature capability in defined markets. The proposals will demonstrate a high likelihood of success, with any weaknesses recognised alongside opportunities to address and correct. Proposals will detail and schedule realistic market projections, deliverables with strong consideration given to addressing technical or scientific risks of the project. Proposals will include detailed plans and evidence to demonstrate a clear strategy for adopting the solution

Moderate scoring (5,6,7) : Proposals will provide a good demonstration of how the proposal will impact the UK space market performance, with a slightly less mature capability in a slightly less defined market. Proposals will clearly demonstrate how the proposal will impact the UK space market. The proposals will demonstrate a good chance of success, with any weaknesses recognised alongside opportunities to address and correct. Proposals give some thought on the risk return potential of their proposal. Realistic project deliverables over the period covered by the grant with some thought given to technical risks, mitigation, or impact.

Low scoring (1,2,3,4) : Proposals will provide little or no evidence demonstration of how the proposal will impact the UK space market performance, with a capability that is not yet established. The proposals are not able to demonstrate anything more than a fair chance of success, with weaknesses not identified. Proposals give little or no thought on the risk return potential of their proposal. Basic project deliverables over the period covered by the grant with little thought given to technical risks, mitigation, or impact.

3. Section 3: Connectivity (20%)

Rationale:

Accelerating the pace of connecting our space clusters and wider space infrastructure directly supports the Levelling Up agenda. It will also bring together the skills and expertise from across the UK space eco-systems, to share learning, insights and to pursue scaled opportunities that might have previously been beyond their reach.

This section examines: How connected the proposal will be to the wider space ecosystem and how the proposal supports the accelerated growth of a connected network of local space clusters.

As part of your answer you should address the following points:

• Please detail terms and plans including any outreach activity that will be made to enable access to this proposal by other industry stakeholders:

• Aim to include details such as percentage of time reserved for external users, costs, when this time will be available (from launch or later?), and how work will be scheduled/prioritised.

• For the purposes of this question, if you are applying as a consortium, consortium members are included as ‘other stakeholders’. It may be useful to explain how the consortium will operate after the grant has concluded.

• Briefly explain any work undertaken to explore compatibility considerations included in the proposal including geographic, technology and user needs:

• Describe the tools and techniques you will deploy.

• Please detail how this project supports sector or cross-sector connectivity

3.1 Marking Criteria

Highest scoring (8,9,10) proposals will provide extensive, detailed evidence of stakeholder need and offer examples of how this proposal addresses all stakeholder needs geographically (location / proximity), technically (compatibility) , and functionally (capability). Showcasing an extensive stakeholder engagement strategy, with a significant number of external contacts already engaged. The proposal is able to demonstrate how and when it will provide access and under what types of arrangements and to whom. A total cost of ownership model has been included where any types of cost recovery is suggested.

Moderate scoring (5,6,7) proposals will provide a broad if not deep evidence of stakeholder need and offer examples of how this proposal addresses most stakeholder needs geographically (location / proximity), technically (compatibility), and functionally (capability). Showcasing a robust stakeholder engagement strategy, with a number of external contacts already engaged. The proposal is able to demonstrate they types of situation and periods it will provide access and to whom. A total cost of ownership model has been included where any types of cost recovery is suggested.

Low scoring (1,2,3,4) proposals will provide limited evidence of stakeholder need without examples of how this proposal addresses those needs geographically (location / proximity), technically (compatibility), or functionally (capability). There is no engagement strategy, with a number of external contacts still to be engaged. The proposal is unable to demonstrate the types of situation and periods it will provide access or to whom. A total cost of ownership model has been included but is found to be lacking

4. Section 4: Catalysing Investment

Rationale:

The UK Space Agency North Star Metric is used extensively throughout the Agency and measures the total value of investment and income the Agency helps the sector to raise.

This section examines: The future contract revenue and capital investment generated from UK Space Agency’s investment.

As part of your answer you should address the following points:

4.1 How does UK Space Agency’s funding leverage other investments, prospects for follow-on fundraising and commercial revenue:

Explain how the proposal will continue to be funded, once the grant funding has ceased.

• You must describe how you expect the project will continue after the grant funding ends. Covering sufficient detail including, but not exclusively, the expected users, customer, willingness to pay, revenue sources, opportunity to reduce costs. Explain also what the commercial opportunity is for your organisation(s).

• Capacity building and training is critical to ensure on-going maintenance and evolution of the product – so describe how will this be achieved.

4.2 Narrative Theory of Change:

Provide a narrative explanation of your Theory of Change that will align and support the interpretation of your Diagrammatic Theory of Change (see Annex). The Theory of Change should be for what you expect the Operational Phase to achieve.

Please consider and explain the short-, medium- and long-term outcomes and impacts that you foresee from your proposed project in your Theory of Change. Example outcomes and impacts may include but not limited to changes in employment, changes in productivity, development of skills, enabling commercialisation of products or services, exports, or other effects. Please include any assumptions or rationale that supports your assessment of the proposed outcomes and impacts.

4.3 Diagrammatic Theory of Change:

See Annex: Theory of Change

Provide a visual representation of your Theory of Change, for example a flow chart, describing the logical explanation and flow between project inputs and activities, to project outputs, to outcomes and finally to impact. Please complete this using the template in the Annex: Theory of Change.

4.4 Marking Criteria

Highest scoring (8,9,10) proposals will provide extensive, detailed evidence of the benefits that the funding would enable them to provide to the UK economy, including UK-based employment and contract opportunities. It will include a coherent and coordinated strategy to catalyse investment through new investment or contract revenue and include a quantitative assessment as to the potential scale of additional revenue and investment unlocked as a result of further developing the project. The costs of any activities proposed for grant funding will be very well justified and strongly linked to outcomes and benefits. Risk, maturity and uncertainty will be well developed and made clear through the application with regards to the projects benefits and investment realisation plan.

Moderate scoring proposals will provide some evidence of the benefits that the government funding would enable them to provide to the UK economy and some justifications for grant funding are adequately linked to outcomes and benefits. The proposal will include direction and aims to catalyse investment although without a robust strategy.

Low scoring proposals provide little, poor or no evidence of the benefits that the government funding would enable them to provide to the UK economy OR the costs of any activities proposed for grant funding are poorly justified and not linked to outcomes and benefits. There will be little to no evidence of a strategy to catalyse investment.

5. Section 5: Sound Management and Planning (20%)

(Minimum 7 pass)

Rationale

The technical credibility of a proposal is secondary to the team’s ability to deliver it. Therefore a minimum score of 50% is required for functional and technical expertise (i.e. Chief Engineers Office) proposal to successfully pass through the other evaluation criteria.

This section examines: The Agency’s confidence in the delivery and operation of the proposal, on time and to budget. the realisation of benefits, management of risk; Examines the strength of the proposal including background, experience and track record of the team, the credibility of the proposed project delivery plan, and the value for money aspects of the project. All proposals will need to demonstrate that they have:

• an effective structure in place for managing the administration and monitoring delivery against the grant request:

• a robust plan underpinned by a recognised methodology, including mitigation plans for critical path items:

• the ability to deliver within the grant funding limit, and plans that will be deployed in the event the forecast outturn exceeds the grant funding limit.:

• background, knowledge and experience of all key participants:

Describe the background, knowledge and experience of all organisations and key project staff involved in the project. It is expected that all applicants will have a mix of skills and experience relevant to the delivery of your project. Do not include CVs in your application.

All proposals should also include enough information to assure UK Space Agency that the project will be correctly and appropriately managed. The following items must be included:

• Milestones are used by UK Space Agency to monitor performance of the project and understand how effectively your objectives are being met. KPIs associated with these should be SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and time bound).

KPI	Quantified/Measurable Metric
KPI 1
KPI 2
KPI 3
KPI 4
KPI 5

• Work packages and deliverables should be clearly defined.

• Milestone table - Milestones must be linked to grant payments and payment will only be released once the milestone has been achieved and approved by UK Space Agency. Milestones should be clearly linked to work packages.

• Budget Breakdown – see Financial Model section.

• Defined risks and evidence of risk management. When rating risk scores, applicants should use the chart below, with impact in columns and probability in rows.

	1	2	3	4	5
5	5	10	15	20	25
4	4	8	12	16	20
3	3	6	9	12	15
2	2	4	6	8	10
1	1	2	3	4	5

Probability Scores: V High 5, High 4, Med 3, Low 2, V Low 1

Impact Scores: V High 5, High 4, Med 3, Low 2, V Low 1

Please note that only the information submitted in the bid application will be considered. If the required information is insufficient or of insufficient quality, then the application will be rejected.

Highest scoring (8,9,10) Proposals will demonstrate a robust approach to risk and programme management that is aligned with industry best practice. The team will be made up of SQEP, named and under contract to enable the grant funding to be administered correctly. The proposal clearly describes how the team drive both the delivery of the proposal and a commitment to securing the benefits outlined in the proposal. Risks will be clearly identified with detailed mitigations, providing a clear picture of the practicality and viability of the proposal. Proposals will demonstrate a robust supply chain strategy with value for money demonstrated in the sourcing and development of the proposal.

Moderate scoring (5,6,7) Proposals will demonstrate an approach to risk and programme management that is partially aligned with industry best practice. The team will be made up of SQEP, roles to enable the grant funding to be administered correctly. Some evidence of risks will be provided, alongside general mitigations, Proposals recognise supply chain risk are able to demonstrate a broad understanding of how the supply chain will be managed to meet delivery milestones as planned. Proposals will consider value for money as well as project documentation

Low scoring proposals provide limited evidence or fail to demonstrate consideration of suitable risks and mitigations. No or little consideration of value for money and poor explanation of supply chain management.

6. Annex: Theory of Change

The Theory of Change is required in both a narrative and diagrammatic flow chart form. The narrative form should align to and support the interpretation of the diagrammatic form.

The Theory of Change should be for what you expect the project to achieve.

It is a comprehensive description and illustration of how and why a desired change is expected to happen in a particular context. It is an explanation of how you expect your project to result in the ultimate changes you seek. It provides the logical explanation and flow between project inputs and activities, to project outputs, to outcomes and finally to impact.

It should include:

• activities: the specific activities which you will deliver (these can be linked to key work packages)

• outputs: the deliverables, (products, training events, tools etc.) that you will produce.

• outcomes: the changes that you see as a direct result of your project, usually with immediate target groups, which you have some degree of control over. These may include changes in peoples’ knowledge or capacity, changes in processes or systems, changes in regulatory frameworks, or others.

• impacts: the ultimate, large-scale changes that you seek to achieve.

• assumptions: The external factors which you assume will hold true and require to be true for your logic to remain valid. Assumptions are the key links between each level of outputs/outcomes/impacts, which are outside of your control.

7. Annex: Gantt chart

Attach a detailed Gantt chart (1 page). Complete by work package, clearly identifying key milestones and deliverables. Milestones should be linked to grant payments. Payment will only be released once the milestone has been achieved and approved/evidenced to UK Space Agency.

8. Annex: SCIF Budget Template

Please complete all sections of the included template.

9. Annex: Letter of Support

Please insert any letters of support from local clusters or other relevant parties here.

10. Annex: Catalysing Investment and Other Benefits Template

Please see the guidance document at the beginning of this workbook.