Application Stages
Process Steps & Submission Deadlines
- Announcement of Opportunity Published
- Preliminary Submission
- Pre-Selection Notification
- Q&A Session 1
- NDA Signature and Issuance of MIURA 5 Payload User Guide
- Final Application Submission
- Candidate Final Selection
- Matchmaking Session
- Signing of Launch Service Agreement
Announcement of Opportunity Published
PLD Space publishes the Announcement of Opportunity to select worldwide satellites for the launch opportunities presented by MIURA 5’s first Demonstration Flights.
Preliminary Submission
The candidate submits a Preliminary Payload Questionnaire with high-level mission requirements on the Submission Form, indicating an interest in the Announcement and an intent to complete the application process.
Deadline: 30 July 2024
Pre-Selection Notification
PLD Space pre-selects candidate missions.
Deadline: 30 August 2024
Q&A Session 1
Virtual session open to pre-selected candidates only. Details shared via website link available at a later date to relevant parties.
Deadline: First week of September, stay tuned for an update on the specific day.
NDA Signature and Issuance of MIURA 5 Payload User Guide
Candidate missions making it through the pre-selection process will be asked to sign an NDA; thereafter, PLD Space will share the latest version of the MIURA 5 Payload User Guide which includes maximum expected environments.
Deadline: 07 September 2024
Final Application Submission
The candidate submits their final application which must include the Full Payload Questionnaire (this form is similar to the Preliminary Payload Questionnaire, but includes more mandatory fields) and a completed Statement of Compliance. PLD Space will then confirm receipt of the necessary documents.
Deadline: 30 September 2024
Schools final selection: School teams complete the Submission Form to the best of their knowledge to qualify them for consideration and partnership with a Commercial entity; only a Final Submission is required (i.e., there shall be no pre-selection process for Schools).
Deadline: 31 October, 2024
Candidate Final Selection
PLD Space will perform the final selection of satellites following a feasibility analysis based on the information provided by the candidate.
The proposed missions shall be evaluated against technical, safety and legal requirements. PLD Space will also review any requested deviations identified. Further information may be requested from the candidate which might necessitate a virtual, telephonic or face-toface interview. By the end of this step, the combination of satellite aggregates would be optimized, the final mission parameters established and associated costs identified. Selected “candidates” shall be considered to be “customers”.
Deadline: 30 November 2024
Matchmaking Session
Commercial entities indicating an interest in partnering with Schools shall be offered the opportunity to pair up accordingly during a Virtual Session hosted by PLD Space (link to be made available to relevant parties at a later date).
Deadline: 10 December 2024
Signing of Launch Service Agreement
Following the final selection, a Launch Service Agreement (LSA) will be signed by both PLD Space and each satellite customer; the contents of this LSA shall include the financial contribution, if any, to be paid by the customer.
Deadline: 30 December 2024
Applicant Profile & Requirements
Priority shall be given to those entities whose country of origin is Spain, followed by EU member states, NATO member states and Major Non-NATO Ally states. The question as to whether an enterprise should be considered to belong to a specific country shall be settled in the light of the following criteria: location of the enterprise’s registered office, decision-making centres and research centres, and territory in which the work is to be carried out. In doubtful cases, PLD Space’s legal counsel shall decide whether an enterprise shall be considered to belong to a specific country or not.
Candidates have the option to submit multiple satellites or collaborate with other eligible entities (eg. student teams). In this scenario, they must appoint a consortium manager as the sole negotiation representative and cover all costs associated with the consortium’s activities.
Entities are ineligible to participate in this Announcement under the following circumstances:
- Country of origin under EU sanctions.
- Legal incapacity to enter into contracts.
- Bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar situations.
- Conviction for professional misconduct.
- Grave professional misconduct impacting credibility.
- Non-compliance with tax and social security obligations.
- Involvement in fraud, corruption, money laundering, or other serious offenses.
- Suspension by any public agency for misrepresentation or misconduct in procurement processes.
Selection Criteria
Impact
- Country of origin, with first priority given to Spanish entities, followed by EU member states, NATO member states and Major Non-NATO Ally states
- Type of entity, with first priority given to candidates (including consortia) comprising student teams
Technical Considerations
- Compliance with payload mass requirements
- Orbit Flexibility
- Compliance with the MIURA 5 Payload User Guide (to be evaluated following the Final Application)
- Compliance with relevant technical and safety standards (to be evaluated following completion of the Statement of Compliance as part of the Final Application)
- Compatibility with other satellites selected (to be evaluated following the Final Application)
Programmatic Considerations
- Launch window
- Schedule flexibility
- Satellite development plan, status (including ITU registration progress)
- Satellite and associated launch campaign operational risks
Commercial Considerations
- Financial contribution proposed by candidate towards launch
- Attractiveness of the proposed mission (potential for future missions, cooperation with other parties, transfer potential, etc.)
