Satellite Procurement Support
Satellite procurement programmes are complex and highly
specialized. Organisations and emerging Space agencies entering the
satellite industry for the first time need advisors and external
expertise to help realise a reliable, cost-effective and successful
programme.
How does VEGA deliver Satellite Procurement Support?
Satellite procurement support offers the important role of
“customer friend”, advising the client on all elements of
procurement throughout the lifecycle of a satellite programme. VEGA
offers the full range of services for advising and reviewing any
item of the programme before and after contract signature, from
early concept study, providing all the required information for
decision makers; national needs, investment, operational budget,
technology, etc) to the acceptance and operation of the
spacecraft.
VEGA’s satellite procurement support offering also includes all
aspects of the programme: technical, contractual, legal, and
financial and issues, technology transfer, quality control and
operations training.
Our procurement support can also significantly help to accelerate
contract negotiations, providing substantial savings in the
negotiation process, with the satellite primes while procuring the
satellite.
The main objective of VEGA’s satellite procurement support is to
strengthen the client’s team with experienced experts in satellite
and ground segment technologies, and in project management
methodologies. We can facilitate the buyer-supplier relationship
throughout the programme.
Satellite Procurement Support Requirements
In order to provide successful satellite procurement support, an
organisation must:
- Be independent of the satellite supplying company
- Be experts in Space technologies, particularly in successful
satellite programs
- Have experience of project methodologies for satellite systems
development and for contract understanding and for project
monitoring
- Advise the buyer on the main satellite characteristics (mission
definition, orbit, altitude, controls, commands, platform
architecture and resources, lifetime expectation, stabilization,
power, ground segments architecture and operations)
- Be able to advise the buyer on key documents, key events and
reviews
- Have the flexibility to work in the purchaser’s country
- Possess in-depth knowledge of the local country on any issues
related to the projects
- Assist the client in defining the system specifications
(satellite; on-board instruments and technologies; control ground
segment; data processing ground segment; data dissemination)
- Help the client understand all aspects of the industrial
proposal(s) and assist the client in negotiations before
signature
- Assist the client in acceptance tests, typically factory
acceptance before shipping and launching
- Represent the client for some minor intermediate reviews
- Advise the client on any possible misunderstanding or possible
discrepancy with the supplier, in order to facilitate the best
project results and performance
VEGA has been working in the Space domain for over 30 years and
has unrivalled experience in many areas of Space technologies,
operations, training and support. As customer friend to satellite
procurement organisations, we provide expertise in supporting the
management of major satellite programmes from the Phase A study
through to operations. We will attend initial meetings to
understand the requirement, help with contract negotiations,
provide a senior expert in the satellite payload (eg. for remote
sensing, experts in imaging instruments, sensors, optics and image
quality) and in contract negotiations for satellite projects,
through to signing of the contract.
VEGA’s satellite procurement offering is based on a modular
approach covering all or part of a satellite programme:
- Feasibility study – High-level requirements definition -
financial pre-study (Phase A study)
- Support to mission design – technical specifications definition
(satellite and ground segment)
- Support to the Request For Quotation (RFQ) document
writing
- Support to the analysis of candidate’s answers and selection of
prime contractor
- Development and AIV phases follow-up
- Final acceptance of spacecraft and launch campaign support
- In-orbit commissioning support and support to operations
Contact VEGA for more information about
Satellite Procurement Support