Tenders in Research & development services

Technical Support for Steel and Metals

Department for Business and Trade

The Government recognises the vital role a resilient domestic steel industry plays in a modern economy, underpinning many sectors, from construction to advanced manufacturing. The Government's recently published Steel Strategy sets out a long-term vision to revitalise the UK steel sector, restore domestic production to sustainable levels and secure the industry's role in supporting critical sectors. DBT requires expert technical input to further its engagement with the UK steel and aluminium sectors, potentially including in the consideration of new and emerging technologies. This relates primarily to engineering advisory expertise within these sectors, and may also encompass market monitoring, benchmarking, commercial analysis, and demand analysis. The supplier will be expected to support the DBT team in their discussions with key firms within these sectors, aimed at securing pathways to commercial sustainability.

Delivery Partner for Development of Fifth Street as part of the Durham County Council Horden Master Plan

Durham County Council

Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) Delivery Partner for Development of Fifth Street as part of the Durham County Council Horden Master Plan Durham County Council are inviting suppliers to participate in this Preliminary Market Engagement (PME) to gain insight from the market with the purpose of making any potential future exercise, well framed, feasible, focused and of likely interest to the market in the context of the delivery of the Fifth Street development of the Horden Masterplan. This PME will shape the council's approach to securing delivery partner(s) to deliver upon the aims and objectives of the masterplan. The Council is aware in order to deliver the full scope of the masterplan and transform the area of Horden that involvement from a delivery partner will be required in order to maximise the delivery potential of the various sites within the masterplan phases. However, this PME is specifically focused on the development of Fifth Street, Horden which is part of Phase 1 of the Horden Masterplan. Further information can be found in the PME documents to be downloaded from www.open-org.uk and insert reference Open 20261579

Future Ready Programme: Strategic Partner for Transformation

The Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London

We are seeking to understand the art of the possible by drawing on market insight, innovation and experience to inform future options, rather than defining fixed solutions or deliverables at this stage. Transformation ambition Our ambition is to establish a future ready organisation that is: Financially sustainable and outcome focused Digital and data enabled by design Able to collaborate across traditional boundaries Equipped with the skills, tools and culture needed to continuously improve Successful transformation will focus on value creation (improving service outcomes, operational efficiency and staff experience) while maintaining the City Corporation’s distinctive strengths and responsibilities. This organisation carries nearly 1,000 years of history. Our transformation approach must honour that heritage while confidently shaping the organisation for the future.

Innovation Marketplace

Government Commercial Agency

The Commercial Innovation Hub (CIH) is a cross-government centre of excellence that is pioneering new approaches to service design and procurement, established to drive procurement of innovation across government and the wider public sector. The CIH was created in the context of the Procurement Act 2023 coming into force and is framed as a joint DSIT–GCA initiative announced as part of the National Procurement Policy Statement. The CIH will tackle a persistent set of barriers that limit procurement-led innovation Traditional procurement approaches are not suited for acquiring novel technologies and not always accessible for SMEs and Start Ups” and there is a perceived risk culture that limits “psychological safety to ‘fail fast’”. The CIH rationale highlights the need to improve awareness and practical use of “commercial innovation opportunities” through briefs, tools and templates, and to help departments pilot innovations and contract with new supply chains. This agreement will provide a marketplace for public sector buyers to access suppliers who specialise in innovation covering a wide range of services. As part of the collaboration with DSIT, this will be preceded by collaboration areas, referred to as Digital Commercial Innovation Hub. In these sandboxes problems and solutions will be reviewed and the Innovation Marketplace will then provide the contractual route for any potential solutions that are taken forward to delivery. This part of the proposition will be owned and delivered by DSIT. There is no physical (IT solution or otherwise) between the Hub and Innovation Marketplace Dynamic Market When contacting GCA regarding this agreement, please ensure that you reference the agreement details in all correspondence

Existing Water Treatment Solutions

Mining Remediation Authority

The Mining Remediation Authority (MRA) manages the effects of past coal mining, including managing mine water pollution from both coal and metal mines, handling subsidence damage claims which are not the responsibility of licensed coal mine operators, and managing other mining legacy issues. The MRA seek to understand the current capabilities and limitations of, and opportunities presented by, treatment technologies used to remove saline and other mine water contaminants, opportunities for reducing or repurposing wastes, and opportunities for reducing the energy consumption of treatment plant. This will allow MRA to effectively plan future operational work such as purge- and pumping tests where treatment may be required and will potentially be used in the final design of long term MWTS. More information on the scope requirements, procurement strategy and how to register your interest and information on the virtual event will be sent to interested parties on receipt of interest. This notice is issued for information and engagement purposes only and does not constitute a call for competition.

Met Office Communications Framework

Met Office

Link to the opportunity to register your interest and download the information relating to the PME (Copy this link into the search engine to take you to the opportunity): https://procontract.due-north.com/Advert?advertId=5b508e02-4c6a-f111-813c-005056b64545&p=cca2f054-f21a-e711-80dd-005056b64545 The Met Office has commenced market engagement activities to inform its approach to sourcing a new Framework for Communications. The Met Office is seeking suppliers who we can work with to help us deliver impactful, innovative, cost-effective and on-brand campaigns and communications related projects. Our ambition is that we can be much more agile in bringing on board suppliers, agencies and specialists for short-term projects and campaigns - making it quicker, easier and simpler for us and you. It is the intention to procure this requirement via an Open Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23). The proposed structure of the framework is split into four Lots: Lot 1 - THINK: Communications Strategy, Campaigns and Reputation Lot 2 - MAKE: Content, Studio and Technical Delivery Lot 3 - IDENTITY: Brand, Identity and Experience Lot 4 - DELIVER: Events and Engagement Delivery Note: Suppliers can bid for a single lot or multiple lots. The total estimated value of the framework is £1,000,000, covering all four Lots over a 4-year period. Supplier Engagement Event A virtual supplier engagement event will be held as follows: Date: 5th August 2026 Time: 13:30 - 15:00 Location: Microsoft Teams This session will provide an opportunity for suppliers to contribute to the development of the Met Office's approach to sourcing these capabilities. The event will primarily consist of: A presentation outlining current thinking A Q&A session A briefing on next steps Attendance Registration Suppliers interested in attending must register via the Proactis portal, providing: Attendee name(s) Email address(es) Please note that attendance is limited to a maximum of two representatives per organis

Request for Information (RFI) relating to Education, Research, Technology, Innovation Open Framework

JISC

This is an information gathering exercise. The purpose of this Request for Information is to gain market insight into current consultancy market capability and capacity to test the market appetite, shape the new open framework design and ensure that it is accessible and attractive to a diverse and sustainable supplier base. Jisc is interested in engaging with a broad range of suppliers (experts) who can contribute to these areas of delivery. This includes, but is not limited to: Large multidisciplinary consulting firms Specialist SMEs Niche consultancy providers Digital, transformation and strategy consultancies Organisational development and change specialists Commercial, financial and advisory consultancies Jisc welcomes responses from suppliers with varied expertise, delivery models and organisational structures, recognising that diversity of capability and perspective is key to supporting the evolving needs of the UK tertiary education and research sector. However please be aware that Jisc is a complex company therefore our specific call off requirements are often niche. It is paramount that the companies we ultimately accept onto our framework understand Jisc, our projects and our contribution to the education sector. The proposed lots for the open framework are: 1. Research, innovation, technology and management 2. Immersive and simulated technology services 3. Scholarly communications, information and library services 4. Research to support the digital transformation of teaching, learning, assessment and the student experience 5.Market horizon scan, trends, insights and competitor analysis research 6.Specialist Insight and Advisory in Digital Licensing and Emerging Markets

Meet The Buyer Event

West Berkshire Council

This is a notice for a Meet the Buyer event, not a procurement exercise.

University Interactions - NDA Research Portfolio

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

DCMS Place-Based Philanthropy Plan - CoP Delivery Market Engagement

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

MARKET ENGAGEMENT ONLY All information contained and shared in this publication may be subject to change. This is not a call for competition or expressions of interest, but we would like interested suppliers to respond with any relevant feedback to these 4 documents. DCMS is planning to conduct a procurement of a delivery partner to establish and manage a national Community of Practice (CoP) for place-based organisations, as outlined in DCMS's place-based philanthropy plan, ‘Our Place to Give’. Interested suppliers should paste the link into their browser, and download a copy of each relevant document. This includes an outline of the engagement and appendix A: DCMS Statement of Requirements as well as appendix B Market Research and Appendix C: Price Response Template. Completed documents with feedback should be returned to: commercial@dcms.gov.uk by Monday 22nd June 2026, at 2.30pm referencing ‘105077 DCMS Place-Based Philanthropy Plan - CoP Delivery Market Engagement’ in the subject line. Link to supplier engagement documents: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10HZ2w6qIJAOIpWAZ5k-5e-zGNhci2Eys?usp=sharing

Meta-analysis of the variability of hemp (Cannabis sativa)

Food Standards Agency

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking early market input to inform a potential future procurement relating to the analysis of variation in the composition of hemp (Cannabis sativa). This work forms part of the FSA Novel Foods Programme and would contribute evidence to protect consumers from unacceptable risks associated with food consumption and to safeguards their interests in relation to food. This is not a call for competition. The purpose is to: • Test feasibility • Understand market capability • Inform potential future procurement design • Details provided are subject to change. Premarket engagement for Additional Analytical Methods for NDNS Biomonitoring. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking early market input to inform a potential future procurement relating to the development of analytical methods to support biomonitoring of food additives and chemical contaminants. This work forms part of the FSA Chemical Hazards Programme and aims to improve understanding of UK consumer exposure through novel biomonitoring approaches. The information gathered will be used solely to shape the FSA’s understanding of the market and to refine a potential future competitive procurement. Participation is voluntary, and non-participation will not disadvantage suppliers in any subsequent procurement process. All documents and communication for FSA funded projects must be submitted through the health-family single e-Commercial System (Atamis), using the following link: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Housing 21 - Seeking ‘Expressions of Interest’ (EOI) for DEI Resident Profile Research Project

Housing 21

Housing 21 are planning a future below - threshold quotation exercise to seek an experienced research company to conduct comprehensive resident research on Diversity, Equality and inclusion. We are looking for a specialist partner to deliver actionable insights into our residents' needs, satisfaction levels, and future living requirements. This data will be vital for shaping our upcoming service improvements and insights will directly contribute to our future journey and drive our internal strategy. In the first instance, interested agencies who would like to be considered to quote must demonstrate a strong track record of conducting similar pieces of research and submit their initial Expressions of Interest (EOI) by email to procurementteam@housing21.org.uk : •Provide a brief company overview •Describe the piece of research you did, highlighting its successes and impact Please title the email subject : EOI-Research partner [ add your company name] Please note this is not a tender. Companies with the most experience in this research area, may be invited to quote

Workforce Technology Systems 2

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Reopening of Open Framework For Workforce Technology Systems (RM6387) for locally delivered Workforce Systems which seeks to continue to support the NHS Long Term Plan and People Digital Plan by providing a route to market for all software systems and digital solutions in use, to support the management, deployment and development of jobs and staff and associated reporting and analytics.

AI Tutoring Tools Pioneer Programme – Subject-Matter Exemption - Research and Development - 6th of May 2026 Update

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

UPDATE to notice https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039400-2026 SOURCING PROCEDURE: The AI Tutoring Tools Pioneer Programme contracts (a maximum of eight (8) identical contracts) will be awarded under a Procurement Act 2023 Section 3) (6) and Schedule 2, Part 2, paragraph 22, 2) (b), (c) subject-matter exemption for research and development services. The contracts to be awarded are exempt contracts and for that reason the procurement is not subject to the Procurement Act 2023. The outputs of the proposed contracts are intended for the benefit of the public and do not include the provision of AI Tutoring Tools. The latter would be procured via other sourcing procedures separate from this Pioneers Programme procurement. These contracts answer the need for research and development of a high-quality standard for AI Tutoring Tools. Although there is a wide range of Tutoring Tools available on the market, there is no established offer that meets the complete specification to a high-quality standard, encompassing all the necessary elements of an exceptional AI Tutoring Tool. Elements being for instance the digital curriculum (to be published) and multiple sources of data which require review. AI driven Tutoring Tools currently on the market are limited in quantity, scope and evidence base with few providing full tutoring capacity and with limited public access to the research and development that underpins them. The proposed contracts seek to research and co-design a high-quality, all-encompassing standard for AI Tutoring Tools and to initiate the development of innovative, effective and safe AI Tutoring Tools to that high-quality, all-encompassing standard thereby being the most transformative for educational outcomes. The aim of the Programme is to research, trial, develop and enable the future scalability and commercialisation of AI Tutoring Tools of the highest calibre which, alongside teachers, will improve the academic attainment of pupils across England,