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    ContractsHabitable Worlds Observatory Detector Development and Testing
    Awarded contract

    Habitable Worlds Observatory Detector Development and Testing

    Awarded
    £585k
    Published 20 Aug 2026

    Develop and qualify specialized UVIS detectors for the NASA Habitable Worlds Observatory mission, with deliverables including detector processing, packaging, test equipment, and firmware updates due by early 2027.

    🇬🇧United Kingdom· South EastPublished 20 Aug 2026· 1 months agoviaFind a Tender
    Awarded
    £585k
    Published 20 Aug 2026

    Decision brief

    4 fields
    • Contract value
      £585,000
      Pounds sterling
    • Closing date
      Not published
      No closing date published
    • Sector
      Research & Innovation
      Browse related listings
    • Location
      🇬🇧United Kingdom
      South East

    Suppliers

    1 supplier
    • TU
      Teledyne UK Limited
    Lead contractor

    Lifecycle

    Awarded

    Contract awarded. Originally published 1 months ago.

    20 August 2026
    Awarded — no open tender advertised

    Brief

    This opportunity involves qualification testing and development of specialized CIS300 series UVIS detectors for the NASA-led Habitable Worlds Observatory mission. The work is funded by a UK Space Agency (UKSA) research grant and is being conducted by the Open University. Suppliers are invited to support the completion of critical deliverables by 31 February 2027, including: part thinning of 10 wafers containing unyielded detector devices (6 wafers with 4 devices each for CIS303-33 series; 4 wafers with 1 device each for CIS303-66 series); procurement and assembly of 8 Invar PCB packages and 4 Silicon Carbide packages; preparation of a back-thinning report; supply and integration of CIS300 test equipment including the latest Te2v CEB build standard, interconnect board, and flex-rigid PCB; and FPGA firmware updates (scope subject to requirements confirmation). A Phase 2 extension may follow through 31 March 2030 if needed. This is a high-precision optical detector program requiring expertise in semiconductor processing, detector qualification, and space-qualified test equipment.

    Track record

    3 awards · 3 winners
    Open field

    No single supplier dominates the field.

    In research innovation, THE OPEN UNIVERSITY has awarded 3 contracts to 3 suppliers.

    Who wins here
    1. Paul Rauschert Steinbach GmbH1× · 33%
    2. Teledyne UK Limited1× · 33%
    3. MBraun Inertgas-Systeme GmbH1× · 33%

    Across research innovation, the most active winners are WOLF LABORATORIES LIMITED, BRUKER UK LIMITED, ALTIUM INTERNATIONAL SRO — the field to beat, or your route in as a partner.

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    Take action
    View on sourceFind a Tender

    Award notice and full record on the publisher's site

    Publisher
    UK Cabinet Office
    Licence
    OGL v3.0
    Source
    find-tender.service.gov.uk
    Record ID
    ocds-h6vhtk-06e87e

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    Buyer
    THE OPEN UNIVERSITY
    Sector
    Research & Innovation