Guidance

Annex A-2: Application form guidance

Published 15 August 2024

1. 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:

1. the application template has been provided. No adjustments to the formatting, size, or other parameters are permitted, unless stated
2. all sections of the application form are mandatory
3. 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
4. all applications forms must be completed in Arial font, size 11, and submitted electronically as an A4 single document, in line with the template.

2. Application process

Please note the following information regarding this announcement of opportunity:

1. all applications will be treated in confidence in accordance with the confidentiality section of the call guidance
2. the application process for this competition requires completion of the application form (Annex A-1), the budget template (Annex B), and the UK Space Agency overheads template (Annex C-2, if applicable)
3. documents must be submitted by the respective deadlines, by email to [email protected]. Applications submitted to any other UK Space Agency email address will not be considered
4. if you are proposing minor amendments to the GFA, a marked-up copy of the GFA (Annex F) should also be included with your submission
5. applications must not exceed 10MB and all documents must be attached electronically and submitted on the templates provided
6. we strongly advise that the application guidance notes below are read prior to submission
7. 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 by email at [email protected]
8. if you wish to submit several applications, each of these must be emailed separately
9. 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.

3. Application Form:

Section	Page limit	Notes (if applicable)
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) Organisation eligibility	As per template
2d) Partner organisations	As per template
2e) Consortium structure	As per template
2f) CVs	As per template
Section 3: Subsidies	Not applicable
Section 4: Project summary	Maximum 2 pages
Section 5: Skills development
(and risk table template)	Maximum 2 pages
Section 6: Strategic alignment	Maximum 1 page	Describe the applicability of the skills acquired through the competition to spaceflight. For example, the extent to which the skills developed may improve the UK’s spaceflight offering and the future UK workforce.
Section 7: Benefit to the UK	Maximum 2 pages	Detail why the project merits co-funding.
Section 8: Sound management and planning	Maximum 1 page	Demonstrate how you will effectively manage the project with consideration for the timeframe and value for money and deliverables for financial year 2024 to 2025.
8a) 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	Maximum 3 pages, plus CV, project team structure, summary project milestone plan and Gannt chart)
8b) Describe any risks associated with this project	Maximum 1 page
8c) 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 9: Implementation	As per the template
9a) Outline the planned milestones, deliverables and costs you propose for the project after completion of the milestones	As per the template
9b) Describe the risks associated with this project	As per the template
9c) Summary of implementation phase project costs set out in 7a)	As per the template
9d) Set out the rationale for the grant funding requested.	As per the template
Section 10: Declaration	As per the template	Final declaration

4. Guidelines for completing the application form

4.1 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

4.2 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

4.3 Section 3: Subsidies

This section is not required.

4.4 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.

4.5 Section 5: Skills development  

Please provide a description of the activities proposed in the project and outline the skills to be developed through the proposal – including the risks to be captured in the table provided.

4.6 Section 6: Strategic alignment

This section should detail the applicability of your proposal to the space market/sector and why funding is required now from the 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

4.7 Section 7: Benefit to the UK

Please describe how the investment sought from the UK government provides value to the UK public and the UK economy.

In particular, please specify the new skills to be developed by the competition participants and what will be the additional long-term impact on the competition participants (For example, increased interest in STEM subjects).

It is recommended to also include information on what skills gaps of the UK Spaceflight sector will be addressed and what will be the long-term impact on the UK Spaceflight market.

Also provide details of how will the newly acquired skills improve the participants’ employability in the next 5 years, as well as how will the participants impact the UK workforce and the UK skills provision in the next 5 years.

4.8 Section 8: 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 the CV of project lead and a Gantt chart.

4.9 Section 9: Implementation phase

1. milestone plan: complete the milestone proforma, clearly showing the milestone title, date of completion, associated grant value requested, the deliverables/work packages as evidence
2. 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

4.10 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.