Notice

Annex A-2 – Application Form Guidance

Updated 30 September 2022

Introduction

These Guidance Notes complement the Announcement of Opportunity and are designed to assist your completion of the Application Form (Annex A-1). Please note:

• The application template has been provided. No adjustments to the formatting, size, or other parameters are permitted, unless stated;

• All sections of the application form are mandatory;

• Should any part of the application overrun the specified page or word limit, we will only consider material up to the designated page limit that is in the correct format;

• All applications forms must be completed in Arial font, size 11, and submitted electronically as an A4 single document, in line with the template.

The application process

Please note the following information regarding this Announcement of Opportunity:

• All applications will be treated in confidence in accordance with the confidentiality section of the Call Document;

• The application process for this competition requires completion of the Application Form (Annex A-1) and the Budget Template (Annex B), the Catalysing Investment Template (Annex C-2) and the UKSA Overheads template (Annex D-2, if applicable)

• Documents must be submitted by the respective deadlines, via email to spaceflight@ukspaceagency.gov.uk – applications submitted to any other UK Space Agency email address will not be considered;

• If you are proposing minor amendments to the GFA, a marked-up copy of the GFA (Annex G) should also be included with your submission;

• Applications must not exceed 10MB and all documents must be attached electronically and submitted on the templates provided.

• We strongly advise that the Application Guidance notes below are read prior to submission;

• Upon receipt of an application, you will be issued with a receipt note within 24 hours of the application deadline. If you do not receive this, please contact the Spaceflight team;

• If you wish to submit several applications, each of these must be emailed separately;

• Only use acronyms where a term is mentioned frequently throughout the proposal. If you do choose to use an acronym, do not assume that the reader knows what it means, and be sure to define it, bearing in mind that individual sections of the application may be read separately during the selection process;

Below is a summary of the sections required in any proposal alongside a maximum number of pages for each section. Information provided over the number of pages specified below will not be considered by the advisory panel when proposals are scored.

Application Form:

Section 1: Main details

As per template

Short project introduction and funding requested.

Section 2: Organisation Details

As per template

2a) Details of lead organisation (the Prime)

As per template

2b) Details of nominated project lead at lead organisation

As per template

2c) Partner Organisations

As per template

Section 3: Subsidies

As per template

Section 4: Project Summary

Maximum 2 pages

Section 5: Technical Case

Maximum 4 pages

5b) Risk Table

As per template

Section 6: Competitiveness/Relevance

Maximum 3 pages

Describe the applicability of the innovation to space market/sector and the degree to which the product, technology or service has the potential to be disruptive in the market, fill a gap in the UK supply chain or bolster existing capabilities

Section 7: Innovation

Maximum 3 pages

Detail about the novelty, originality of the work proposed

Section 8: Benefit to the UK and Catalysing Investment

Detail why the project merits co-funding

Section 8a) Summarise the benefits expected to achieve based on this application up to 31 March 2023 and would expect to achieve in the 2 years following the grant funded period (to 31 March 2025).

As per template, maximum 1 page

8b) Detail the current strategy to catalyse additional investment as a result of a grant award for UKSA.

Max 4 pages

Section 9: Sound management and planning

As per template

Demonstrate how you will effectively manage the project with consideration for the timeframe and value for money and FY 22/23 deliverables

9a) Demonstrate how you will effectively manage the project to achieve the project aims on time and within proposed budget, including resources required for the project

(Max 3 pages, plus CV, project team structure, Summary Project Milestone Plan and Gannt chart)

9b) Describe any risks associated with this project

As per template

9c) Set out the rationale for the grant funding requested, including reference to the overall project cost where appropriate. Details of how grant funds will be distributed to other key parties should be included

Maximum 1 page

Section 10: Declaration

As per the template

Final declaration

Guidelines for completing the Application Form

1. Section 1: Main details

This section should be completed as per the template provided, with the following details:

1. Please confirm the full registered name of the single lead organisation making this proposal, to which any funding will be paid
2. Please specify the exact grant requested from the UK Space Agency. Costs should be to the nearest one pound and should be in GBP currency
3. Please specify the total project cost to the nearest one pound.

2. Section 2: Organisation details

This section should be completed with the following details:

1. Please confirm the nationality, employee count and estimated annual income of the lead organisation for this proposal, representative of the organisation.
2. Please identify the name of the person who will be the primary contact for the duration of the project.
3. Please identify any other organisations who are significantly involved in the application. In addition, a description of their expertise and role within the project should be provided. This may include:
   • Any organisations who are already committed to this project and will form part of the project delivery team
   • All other organisations who are involved in the project, either forming part of the project delivery team or otherwise supporting the project

3. Section 3: Subsidies

Please complete as per template.

4. Section 4: Project summary

Please provide a summary of your proposal that can be used in publications, for example on the UK Space Agency website or in a press release if the project is funded.

5. Section 5: Technical case/Technical Feasibility

Please provide a description of the technology proposed in the project and outline the technical case for the proposal – demonstrating a clear development route and technical feasibility of the project, including technical risks captured in the table provided.

6. Section 6: Competitiveness/Relevance

This section should detail the applicability of your proposal to space market/sector and why funding is required now from UK Space Agency. In particular, please specify:

1. What market your proposal will address.
2. How your proposal will be disruptive in the market, fill a gap in the UK supply chain or bolster existing capabilities.
3. What the potential returns are.
4. How it will make the UK launch market competitive.

7. Section 7: Innovation

This section should give a clear description of the product, service or technology is being proposed including its novelty, originality, newness to space sector and suitability of the work proposed, including assessment of risk and benefits. In particular, please specify:

1. What is novel about your innovation.
2. How the project work proposed in FY22/23 will demonstrate the advancement of you innovation.

8. Section 8: Benefit to the UK and Catalysing Investment

Please describe how the investment sought from the UK government provides value to the UK public and the UK economy. In particular, please specify:

1. Jobs: Consideration of the UK-based employment and contract opportunities that will arise from your proposal. How your proposal will benefit the UK economy.
2. Supply chain: how your proposal will bolster the UK supply chain.
3. IP
4. Spin outs
5. Investment
6. Contracts
7. Other

Please detail the current strategy to catalyse additional investment as a result of a grant award for UKSA.

• How and where will additional investment for this grant duration and further into the future be secured?
• What contracts are expected to be achievable as a result of furthering the innovation through this grant?
• What and where are the value points in the milestone schedule that will unlock, secure or put at risk further investment both within the grant funding period or afterwards on route to market entry/commercialisation.

Note, this should cross reference with the quantitative information provided in the Catalysing Investment Annex.

9. Section 9: Sound management and planning

Please demonstrate how you will effectively manage the project to achieve the project aims on time and within proposed budget, including resources required for the project. Please summarise the project team structure with key contacts (including a financial officer to validate the claims). Please include:

• CV of project lead
• A Gantt Chart
• Milestone plan: Complete the milestone proforma, clearly showing the milestone title, date of completion, associated grant value requested, the deliverables/work packages as evidence of
• Risks: Identify and explain any key risks, constraints or uncertainties that you anticipate, alongside any processes or measures in place to manage or mitigate these risks.

Set out the rationale for the grant funding requested, including reference to the overall project cost where appropriate. Details of how grant funds will be distributed to other key parties should be included

10. Section 10: Declaration

Please complete all of the check boxes and sign the declaration. Proposals will only be accepted if all the check boxes have been completed.