{"start":0,"take":1,"total":1,"items":[{"activityNumber":"1000044519","budgetReference":"E/0534-03A - 5G-Other Act. Prod&T","classified":false,"closingDate":"2026-09-30T13:00:00","extensionRequestDeadline":"2026-09-16T13:00:00","clarificationRequestDeadline":"2026-09-16T13:00:00","description":"The objective of this activity is to design, develop and test a demonstrator of a Tx and Rx active antenna based on tiles for direct satellite-to-device 5G/6G communications in FR1.Targeted Improvements:Increase the antenna apertures up to 400% with respect tothe platform size while being highly storable and assessing simplification of the beamforming implementation.Description: The direct connectivity between satellites and standard mobile terrestrial user equipment such as smartphones, represents an essential feature of future non-terrestrial networks.Due to the RF characteristics of handheld devices, high antenna gains, and therefore large antenna apertures, are required on board the satellite. However, increasing the size of the array often leads to high complexity dueto the increasing number of phase shifters and/or digital signal processing units.This activity will develop and test a demonstratorof a Tx and Rx active antenna based on tiles for direct satellite-to-device 5G/6G communications in the FR1 L/S-band frequency band. A narrowband beamforming concept will be developed that allows to increase the size of the array while minimising its complexitybydividing the array into subarrays of groups of elements. The array is thus divided into multiple tiles that are deployed in orbit thanks to the same dedicated mechanism. This method reduces the number of weights to steer the beam at group level, thereby minimising complexity. Additionally, this has the advantage to split the beam forming network into two levels: subarray and array level, which simplifies the implementation compared to the fully analogue or digital beamforming approaches. Recent advances in the areas oflightweight material and RF/digital IC in ESA Member States would also naturally support the concept.The activity will design, manufacture, and validate in a laboratory environment a phased array active antenna full -scale engineering model (approximately 4m diameter) based on tiles with a fixed size, operating in L-/S-Band (FR 1). The activity shall seek synergies with the ARTES deliverables aswell as with ongoing direct satellite-to-device antenna projects within ESA Member States that are already being built-up. The activity will be implemented with a phased approach. In Phase 1, the bidder shall demonstrate the technology's feasibility through analysis and testing on a two-tiles scaled-down breadboard (TRL 4). In Phase 2, a reduced scale engineering model (TRL 5), based on afour-tile subarray with a deployable mechanism, shall be manufactured and tested. In Phase 3, a full-scale engineering model (TRL 6), including the full deployable mechanism and the thermal concept, shall be manufactured and tested. Procurement Policy: Open Competitive Tender Type: C","ecosrequired":false,"establishment":"ESTEC","firstPublicationDate":"2026-04-30T13:32:01","id":186336,"idEra":25022,"initiatingService":"CIP-PT","ipmeasure":"N/A","isArchived":false,"isCancelled":false,"isReissued":false,"isToBeReissued":false,"issueQuarter":"000","lastUpdateTime":"2026-09-25T12:00:28","lastUpdateUser":"rhamill","openDate":"2026-04-30T13:32:23","priceRange":"> 500 KEURO","programmeReference":"5G-Other Act. Prod&T","tanumber":"1-13052","title":"ACTIVE ANTENNA FOR DIRECT SATELLITE-TO-DEVICE 5G/6G COMMUNICATIONS IN FREQUENCY RANGE 1 (FR 1) (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 5B.253) - EXPRO+ - RE-ISSUE","directorate":"Dir. of Connectivity  Secure Comm.","countries":[{"id":1},{"id":168},{"id":67},{"id":62},{"id":26},{"id":25},{"id":24},{"id":23},{"id":22},{"id":19},{"id":16},{"id":15},{"id":13},{"id":11},{"id":10},{"id":9},{"id":6},{"id":2},{"id":17}],"products":[{"id":356}],"technologies":[{"id":202},{"id":350}],"status":{"id":2},"tenderType":{"id":5},"isFavourite":false,"eraVersion":2,"stageNumber":null,"isNew":false,"isUpdated":false,"declarationOfCompliances":["With regard to the technical requirements of the ITT, the tender is","The technical proposal is free from any plagiarism. When use is made of material being quotations or citations from existing public literature, such use is clearly indicated and due reference indications (source and author) are provided.","With regard to the managerial requirements of the ITT, the tender is","With regard to the financial requirements of the ITT, the tender is","With regard to the Contract conditions of the ITT (please refer to the Draft Contract and to the Proposal Template, Section 6.1), the tender is","With regard to the IPR requirements of the ITT (please refer to the Draft Contract and to the Proposal Template, Section 6.2), the tender is","With regard to the export/import requirements of the ITT (please refer to the Proposal Template, Section 6.4), the tender is","With regard to the Agency’s “Right to Audit” (see Part 2, section 2.2.8 of the ESA Tender Conditions), the tender is","With regard to the requirements in ESA’s Policy on the Prevention, Detection and Investigation of Fraud (special reference is made to paragraph 5.8), the tenderer is","With regard to the requirement that the “consortium structure” in esa-star mirrors the Proposed Project Team in the Cover Letter, the tender is","With regard to the validity period of four (4) months from the date of tender submission with implicit extensions as per Article 27, paragraphs 3 & 4 of the Contracting Regulations ESA/REG/001, the tender is"],"keyAcceptanceFactors":["The tender contains a technical description.","The tender Cover Letter and the tender contain a price type compliant with the one requested in the ITT.","The tender is compliant with the budgetary limit(s) applicable to the tender for both Phase 1 and Optional Phase 2.","ARTES 4.0 Strategic Programme Line: Space for 5G/6G and Sustainable Connectivity:\nSupporting evidence of the authorisation of funding from the relevant Participating State(s) is provided as part of the tender cover letter and in accordance with the requirements of section 2.4 of the Cover letter to the present ITT.","The Tenderer satisfies the qualification requirements established under Article 12. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Contracting Regulations. The Tenderer further certifies that it, and when applicable any of its subcontractors, does not fall under any of the exclusions laid down in the Contracting Regulations under Article 12, paragraphs 3 and 14.","The Tenderer confirms, on its behalf and on behalf of its Subcontractor(s), to be compliant with the requirements listed in the “Certification of free competition” (see section 2.2.3 of the ESA Tender Conditions).","The Tenderer confirms, on its behalf and on behalf of its Subcontractors, the acceptance of the conditions listed in the “Non commitment by the Agency” (see section 2.2.12 of the ESA Tender Conditions ).","The Tenderer confirms, on its behalf and on behalf of its Subcontractors, to be compliant with the requirements listed in the “Certification of non-benefit” (see section 2.2.4 of the ESA Tender Conditions ).","The tender Cover Letter and the tender contain a binding price for Phase 1.","The Proposal includes the three (3) mandatory elements for Optional Phase 2 "],"evaluationCriterias":[{"criterion":"Background and experience (general and related to the particular field concerned) of the companies and staff, including adequacy of proposed facilities.","weightingFactor":"20%"},{"criterion":"Understanding of the requirements and objectives and discussion of problem areas.","weightingFactor":"25%"},{"criterion":"Quality and suitability of proposed programme of work; adequacy of engineering approach.","weightingFactor":"30%"},{"criterion":"Adequacy of management, costing and planning for the execution of the work.","weightingFactor":"10%"},{"criterion":"Compliance with administrative tender conditions and acceptance of Contract conditions.","weightingFactor":"5%"},{"criterion":"Understanding of the scope, capability to implement and motivation and benefit to carry out the Optional Phase 2 of the activity.","weightingFactor":"10%"}],"entities":[],"procurementProposal":null,"responsible":"Nathalie Dorval","updateReason":"Tender Clarification has been published"}],"totalNew":0,"totalUpdated":0}