Expressions of interest are being sought for a partner to operate the Common User Facility (CUF) within the Australian Space Park (ASP), Australia’s first dedicated space manufacturing hub, Defence and Space Industries Minister Susan Close made the announcement at the International Astronautical Congress in Paris this weekend, while addressing the meeting for MPs and ministers.
The CUF will enable local space manufacturers to increase capacity which will help to accelerate the country’s sovereign space manufacturing capability.
With space companies co-located around the CUF, we will see the expansion of manufacturing of small satellites, payloads and rockets right here in Adelaide.
Private companies Fleet Space Technologies, Q-CTRL, ATSpace and Alauda Aeronautics have already signed on as partners and co-investors.
The Malinauskas government is investing $20 million in the Australian Space Park, while the Federal Government is providing an additional $20 million in funding to support the expansion of the CUF.
Expressions of interest are sought from either a single entity (prime contractor) or a consortium with the capability, capacity, and resources to operate the CUF, to drive the development of Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration, and Test (MAIT) activities across space manufacturing projects.
The successful CUF operator will be selected in a two-stage procurement process. This EOI stage focuses on developing a shortlist of respondents with the appropriate approach to operate the CUF. Media contact: Pam Perre 0447 525 822 premier.sa.gov.au
Applicants interested in operating the CUF are encouraged to present their best proposal at EOI stage, as shortlisting will be finalised at this stage.
The shortlisted respondents will be invited to participate in a request for proposal (RFP) process and the submission of a proposal.
Further information on proposed site location, building size and layout will be provided to shortlisted EOI respondents as part of the RFP process.
Industry and interested organisations are invited to a virtual industry briefing to find out more about the EOI. Full details on the briefing are available in the Expression of Interest document available on the South Australian Tenders and Contracts website.
Expressions of interest will only be accepted through the SA Tenders and Contracts website Display Tender DTTI051993 (www.tenders.sa.gov.au) and must be submitted prior to 2.00pm (ACST), Monday 31 October 2022. For further information about the Australian Space Park visit www.invest.sa.gov.au/australianspacepark
“The Australian Space Park, located here in South Australia, will accelerate the nation’s space manufacturing capability and capacity. It will help to drive collaboration between local space manufacturers and manufacture at scale. The CFU will provide vital infrastructure to position Australia’s space community to deliver the entire space value chain through the design, manufacture and launch of New Space capabilities to orbit and beyond.” said Susan Close, Deputy Premier.
“The Australian Space Park’s Common User Facility presents an opportunity for industry to partner with the South Australian Government on an exciting project that is set to shape the future of Australia’s space industry. It aligns with Australia’s space strategy that aims to triple the space sector’s contribution to GDP to over $12 billion per annum, creating an additional 20,000 jobs by 2030.” said Nick Champion, Minister for Trade and Investment.
