Procurements

Scope Overview The SKAO will conduct an Invitation to Tender (ITT) procedure, the objective is to select a suitably qualified service provider to enter into a bespoke Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the SKAO for the supply of electricity at the SKA-Low Telescope site, located at Inyarrimanah Ilgari Bundara, CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in the Murchison area of Western Australia. The selected provider will be responsible for designing, building, and operating a remote power station, while maximising the contribution of renewable energy sources under a long-term PPA. The purpose of this initial Market Survey, is to seek input from the market to assess the readiness, capability, and interest of potential suppliers in delivering a hybrid power solution that may integrate with existing power station infrastructure at the SKA-Low site. The appointed supplier will play a critical role in supporting one of the most significant scientific endeavours of the 21st century. Their success will rely on demonstrated technical expertise and experience in the design, construction, and operation of hybrid power systems, and in supplying power under long-term, bespoke PPAs. The provision of power for the SKA-Low telescope site has been split in two phases. The Central Power Station (CPS) Phase 1 project consists of a diesel-powered system that will be installed and operated by SKAO. CPS Phase 1 is expected to be operational in early 2026. The CPS Phase 2 project aims to integrate a high-level fraction of renewable energy into the existing Phase 1 system by establishing a long-term PPA with an Independent Power Producer (IPP). The intention is for the Phase 1 system to be integrated into the new Phase 2 design by the IPP and the IPP will therefore adopt full responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the complete power system. Whilst the CPS Phase 2 design is the responsibility of the IPP, it is envisaged that the design will be a diesel / solar photovoltaic (PV) / battery hybrid system, with the PV array capacity being in the range of 8-16MWp. The SKA-Low site is powered from a central location with power being reticulated throughout the site via an existing 11kV HV network. The electrical power from the CPS is supplied to the SKA-Low telescope facilities via the Receiving Substation to the Central Processing Facility (CPF) which then reticulates HV power out to the telescope core and the spiral arms. The connection point of CPS Phase 2 is the existing 11kV Receiving Substation that is located adjacent to the power station location. Local & Indigenous Engagement The SKAO is committed to supporting economic participation and development opportunities for the Wajarri Yamaji, the traditional owners and Native Title Holders of Inyarimanah Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory, the lands on which the SKA-Low telescope is being built. As part of this commitment, we encourage submissions from local and Indigenous businesses and consortia that include meaningful participation. In alignment with our procedures, preference may be given to proposals that demonstrate one or more of the following elements: ● The business is at least 50% Wajarri-owned and registered with Wajarri Business Directory OR the Aboriginal Business Directory WA OR Supply Nation. ● The proposal includes subcontracting or partnering with local and Indigenous businesses. ● The proposal includes initiatives that deliver sustainable economic and social benefits to the Indigenous community, such as employment, training, or community engagement programs.

The SKAO is progressing construction of the SKA-Low telescope, at Inyarimanah Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory in Western Australia. To meet delivery milestones and optimise internal resources, SKAO intends to award a contract for the assembly and deployment of approximately 50,000 lightweight, aluminium SKA-Low antennas to a suitable contractor. Under this model SKAO will retain responsibility and oversight of specialised technical tasks such as power and signal distribution (PASD), integration, and system-level commissioning. The total contract value is estimated at AUD $5,000,000 (£2.8 million), with the contract expected to commence in early 2026 and run for 12–24 months until completion of the antenna assembly and deployment within the central core area. The selected contractor will be responsible for assembling each antenna & clipping on to pre-installed steel mesh at ground level. Each SKA-Low antenna, stands approx 2 metres tall, weighing roughly 11kg and consists of: 4 x aluminium antenna arms 3 x plastic spacers 2 x Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA’s) 2 x coaxial cables 1 x base plate The contractor will be supplied with all fixings & fasteners and will be provided full access to a suite of ergonomic assembly tools to support this work. Camp accommodation/lodgings will be provided by SKAO on site at no additional cost to the contractor. The successful contractor will: ● Assemble and deploy antenna stations within the designated core area; ● Coordinate with SKAO-provided Antenna assembly facilities on site; ● Manage and transport personnel, including provision of light vehicles; ● Comply with SKAO’s QA/QC and technical requirements; ● Comply with site HSE requirements. SKAO will provide: ● Assembly facility and tools; ● Detailed assembly documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP); ● Accommodation & meals; ● QA/QC verification checklist; ● Daily engagement and oversight by SKAO personnel. Local and Indigenous Engagement: The SKAO is committed to supporting economic participation and development opportunities for the Wajarri Yamaji, the traditional owners and Native Title Holders of Inyarimanah Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory, the lands on which the SKA-Low telescope is being built. As part of this commitment, we encourage submissions from local and Indigenous businesses and consortia that include meaningful participation. In alignment with our procedures, preference may be given to proposals that demonstrate one or more of the following elements: ● The business is at least 50% Wajarri-owned and registered with Wajarri Business Directory OR the Aboriginal Business Directory WA OR Supply Nation. ● The proposal includes subcontracting or partnering with local & Indigenous businesses. ● The proposal includes initiatives that deliver sustainable economic and social benefits to the Indigenous community, such as employment, training, or community engagement programs.

The overall purpose of this audit is to evaluate the processes in the SKA Engineering Management Plan [Ref. 1 and Attachment 6] and other SKA Engineering processes and the resources to determine their adequacy to support the ongoing effort by SKAO to acquire the world’s largest telescope to within a reasonable margin of the SKAO’s budget performance and schedule. This procurement is limited to suppliers in SKAO Member countries only.

The SKA-Low Telescope consists of 512 field stations, each station consisting of 256 antennas. Antennas are located within the telescope site based in a central area known as ‘the core’ and connecting ‘spiral arms’, with a maximum distance between these arms of 74km. The SKAO will appoint a contractor to assemble and deploy 199 antenna field stations (50,944 individual antennas) from a semi-permanent, centralised on-site warehouse facility and deploy antennas by clipping on to steel mesh within the core and specific areas located nearby.

Scope Overview The SKAO will conduct an Invitation to Tender (ITT) procedure, the objective is to select a suitably qualified service provider to enter into a bespoke Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the SKAO for the supply of electricity at the SKA-Low Telescope site, located at Inyarrimanah Ilgari Bundara, CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory in the Murchison area of Western Australia. The selected provider will be responsible for designing, building, and operating a remote power station, while maximising the contribution of renewable energy sources under a long-term PPA. The purpose of this initial Market Survey, is to seek input from the market to assess the readiness, capability, and interest of potential suppliers in delivering a hybrid power solution that may integrate with existing power station infrastructure at the SKA-Low site. The appointed supplier will play a critical role in supporting one of the most significant scientific endeavours of the 21st century. Their success will rely on demonstrated technical expertise and experience in the design, construction, and operation of hybrid power systems, and in supplying power under long-term, bespoke PPAs. The provision of power for the SKA-Low telescope site has been split in two phases. The Central Power Station (CPS) Phase 1 project consists of a diesel-powered system that will be installed and operated by SKAO. CPS Phase 1 is expected to be operational in early 2026. The CPS Phase 2 project aims to integrate a high-level fraction of renewable energy into the existing Phase 1 system by establishing a long-term PPA with an Independent Power Producer (IPP). The intention is for the Phase 1 system to be integrated into the new Phase 2 design by the IPP and the IPP will therefore adopt full responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the complete power system. Whilst the CPS Phase 2 design is the responsibility of the IPP, it is envisaged that the design will be a diesel / solar photovoltaic (PV) / battery hybrid system, with the PV array capacity being in the range of 8-16MWp. The SKA-Low site is powered from a central location with power being reticulated throughout the site via an existing 11kV HV network. The electrical power from the CPS is supplied to the SKA-Low telescope facilities via the Receiving Substation to the Central Processing Facility (CPF) which then reticulates HV power out to the telescope core and the spiral arms. The connection point of CPS Phase 2 is the existing 11kV Receiving Substation that is located adjacent to the power station location. Local & Indigenous Engagement The SKAO is committed to supporting economic participation and development opportunities for the Wajarri Yamaji, the traditional owners and Native Title Holders of Inyarimanah Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO’s Murchison Radio-Astronomy Observatory, the lands on which the SKA-Low telescope is being built. As part of this commitment, we encourage submissions from local and Indigenous businesses and consortia that include meaningful participation. In alignment with our procedures, preference may be given to proposals that demonstrate one or more of the following elements: ● The business is at least 50% Wajarri-owned and registered with Wajarri Business Directory OR the Aboriginal Business Directory WA OR Supply Nation. ● The proposal includes subcontracting or partnering with local and Indigenous businesses. ● The proposal includes initiatives that deliver sustainable economic and social benefits to the Indigenous community, such as employment, training, or community engagement programs.