UK Space Agency

11/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/21/2024 17:11

Two-Way Satellite Time and Frequency Transfer (TWSTFT) Capability Project

Project purpose and concept

Positioning, Navigation and Timing () services play a critical and growing role for the UK's economy and society. The UK's is almost completely provided through global navigation satellite systems (), primarily the owned Global Positioning System (). services from are susceptible to incidental and intentional disruptions, with detrimental effects on Critical National Infrastructure () and wider society. This project has three objectives:

  1. remove the dependence from the eLoran transmitter at Anthorn
  2. proof of concept to inform future UK projects
  3. proof of concept to link the two government timing assets at Teddington and Dstl Porton Down

The National Office has identified the opportunity to progress some of the actions outlined in the UK National Framework for Greater Resilience via a Element 3 project focussing on two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (). These actions are Crisis Plan, National Timing Centre, and eLoran. The Project must deliver a link between three nodes:

  1. UTC() currently sourced from the National Timing Centre at Teddington
  2. the eLoran transmitter at Anthorn as the current eLoran infrastructure in the UK and a method of disseminating time
  3. the timing laboratory at Porton Down as the secondary Government timing capability after the National Timing Centre

Full technical requirements can be found in the Statement of Work (above), but in general require the use of a geostationary communication satellite to achieve high accuracy timing synchronisation, capability to switch time source with no discontinuity in phase and monitoring of these services.

How to apply

The application process will progress through the following steps:

  1. submit an Outline Proposal to . This should be in line with the Statement of Work for this project, which is attached above
  2. complete the 'Additional information' questionnaire, which is also attached above
  3. send copies of both the Outline Proposal submitted to , and the 'Additional information' questionnaire by email to [email protected].
  4. all 3 of the above steps must be completed before 11:59pm on 11 December 2024

At this point, the UK Space Agency will assess the outline proposals and choose one (1) winner to move forward to the next stage. Results will be sent out to the contact emails you provide by 11pm on 16 December 2024. If you are successful we will ask you to move on to the next stage, which will be to furnish us and with a full proposal, by or about 17 February 2025, details to be discussed on completion of the competition phase. will provide a template document to work from when preparing the full proposal. Ideally, negotiations will begin in February, and contracts will be signed in March.

Further information

If more information or clarifications on the information are needed, please get in contact via email: [email protected].