Engaging with ESA

1. Anyone wanting to understand how to initially engage with the European Space Agency and get an introduction to ESA’s tendering system and proposal requirements 
2. Anyone wanting to learn a proven proposal process to increase efficiency and proposal success rate, primarily for ESA,  but applicable to any funding bid
3. Project and Programme Managers, who are soon to be, or recently involved in, space programmes
4. Managers, Engineers and Executives who want to gain an overview of the key aspects of managing space proposals and programmes for ESA 

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Describe ESA as an organisation and the ways to best interact with it
• Register with ESA and respond to Invitation to Tenders
• Identify the key elements of an ESA Invitation to Tender [ITT] document pack and the EXPRO Proposal Template
• Complete ESA’s PSS Costing sheets & apply IP Policy
• Apply a proven, successful and efficient process to ESA proposals to make them “sell well”  
• Identify the main principles and practices of space programme management
• Describe the European Cooperation on Space Standardisation [ECSS] framework and how it applies to space programmes within an SME context

Part 1: Doing Business with ESA

• What is ESA and how is ESA organised
• Ireland and ESA
• Registering with ESA, esa-star & the ESA Financial system
• Introduction to PSS forms
• ESA Procurement Process
• Introduction to a typical ESA ITT
• Introduction to the EXPRO Proposal Template
• Tender Evaluation Process

Part 2: Writing Winning Proposals 

• The Bid/No Bid process
• Key ingredients of a successful Proposal Baseline
• Identifying Win Themes
• Governing the Proposal Process
• Writing to Win
• Identify key aspects of the EXPRO Proposal Template & desired responses
• Review of an exemplar best practise response
• Immediate practice applying the proposal process in a team exercise to build a “storyboard-level” proposal  
• Evaluation of story-board proposals in a mock Tender Evaluation Board

Part 3: Space Programme Management

• What SME managers need to know from the European Council on Space Standards [ECSS] for Programme Management
• Project Planning and Implementation
• Key activities when planning a space project
• Project breakdown structures
• Project phasing
• Organisation and Conduct of Reviews
• The formal review process
• Roles in a formal review
• Managing Review Item Discrepancies [RIDs]
• Configuration and Information Management
• Scope, Cost and Schedule Management
• Risk Management
• Risk Assessment Classification and Risk Register Tool
• Risk Mitigation
• Contingency: expressing risk as a cost or schedule impact
• Technology Readiness Levels
• The SME Space PM and their key interactions with:
• Product and Quality Assurance, Contracts, Engineering, Business Development, Space Law

You will be better positioned to understand ESA and the space industry in Europe, respond efficiently to opportunities, write compelling proposals and manage space projects to the level expected by ESA and Prime Contractors. 

You will receive a takeaway pack with detailed guides on How to Do Business with ESA; a “how to” guide to increase win probabilities for ESA proposals, and a guide on the key principles of Space Programme Management.

This course will consist primarily of online live lectures and workshops with resources made available through the UCD online learning platform (Brightspace). As a UCD student, you will have full access to the library. This is a 5 ECTS course and involves approximately 100 hours of learner effort.

Relevant background in industry, or a qualification in a relevant discipline required. 

For non-native speakers, an English language requirement must be met via an IELTS score of 6.5, unless the primary degree was conducted through English. 

All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Participants will be assessed for each part of the module in a way that maximizes usefulness for their company. 

Part 1: Doing Business with ESA: Register your company with esa-star [if not done already] and complete a full company presence on esa-match and Entity Capability Mapping; Produce a full set of costing [PSS] sheets with a short description of the process; provide a written review of a relevant open ITT on esa-star.  

Part 2: Writing Winning ESA Proposals: Either provide a critical review of your company’s proposal process and a submitted proposal [against the principles taught in the course] with a “lessons learned” for your next proposal OR provide a simplified response to a mock Invitation to Tender provided by course instructor

Part 3: Space Programme Management: Provide a critical review of your company’s current programme management approach with respect to the principles taught in the course. 

General: Your assignments will be informally presented and discussed with course tutor. You may also be required to complete up to three [TBC] online quizzes.

Space Industry Skillnet Funding

Space Industry Skillnet, an organisation dedicated to fostering skills and expertise in the field of Space technology, is partnering with UCD micro-credentials to develop and support the course fee for eligible learners* on relevant, space-focused, micro-credentials.

How to access the funding:

Apply for one of the applicable micro-credentials through the UCD website.
Clearly indicate on your application that you are applying with the intention of receiving a subsidised place on the course through Space Industry Skillnet’s partnership and that you believe you are eligible for this funding.
If you are successful, you will receive an offer from UCD.
Once you have accepted your offer, and provided you meet the eligibility criteria*, you will make payment of the fees for the micro-credential fee directly to Space Industry Skillnet.
Once payment has been made, you can register and join your micro-credential.

*The eligibility criteria, as set out by the Space Industry Skillnet, are as follows:

Companies must be private enterprises based in the Republic of Ireland.
Skillnet Ireland funding is not available to public sector bodies or publicly funded organisations, such as community-based not-for-profit companies or charities.
Commercial semi-state companies are eligible, providing that income contributed to a Network is not sourced from the public purse.
Sole traders are eligible as Companies.

Eligibility for Trainees:
Key requirements regarding trainee eligibility:

Trainees must be based in the Republic of Ireland.
Trainees must be employed within private enterprise.
Space Industry Skillnet is required to collect data on the profile of trainees supported and record this data for Skillnet Ireland.
 

Visit the Space Industry Skillnet website page regarding the Micro Credential course details. (opens in a new window)www.spaceindustryskillnet.com 

Written feedback will be provided on the assignment.

This module may be considered as prior learning for the MSc Space Science & Technology [F060].

If you have any questions about this micro-credential, or would like to speak to a UCD staff member, please contact (opens in a new window)microcredentials@ucd.ie.