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Improving innovation procurement for the Innovation & Research (I&R) Designated Fund

National Highways Limited

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

24 Aug 2026 at 11:56

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

National Highways Limited commissioned research and consultancy services to improve how it procures competitions under its Innovation and Research Designated Fund. The work covers a retrospective review of the Year 1 two-stage innovation competition, including the open call, market engagement, procurement and contract award. It also examines whether a simpler single-stage model could be used, and compares competitions delivered internally with external innovation services. Required outputs include lessons learned, future-process recommendations, an implementation plan and an optimised delivery-mechanism matrix. The purpose is to improve simplicity, fairness, supplier experience and internal resource efficiency while supporting access for the wider supply chain, including SMEs. Delivery locations cover the United Kingdom and international locations.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a selective call-off from an existing National Highways Framework Agreement. The award was made on 24 August 2026 to Connected Places Catapult Services Limited for £70,000 GBP. The contract period runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. The underlying tender submission deadline was 24 August 2026 at 12:00 BST. The requirement is classified as research services and is a services procurement. The appointed supplier is expected to assess the existing innovation-procurement approach, develop options for future competitions, recommend changes compliant with procurement legislation and subsidy-control requirements, and produce a plan for implementation in Year 2 of RIS3 or later.

For suppliers that did not win, this award demonstrates that National Highways buys specialist research and advisory support to review innovation-procurement models and improve access for its supply chain. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need experience of evaluating public-sector procurement processes, designing and comparing alternative competition models, and assessing internal delivery against external innovation services. It would also need to turn analysis into practical recommendations, implementation planning and delivery-mechanism choices. Knowledge of innovation competitions, market engagement, supplier experience, SME access, procurement legislation and subsidy-control requirements would be relevant. The selected supplier is an SME, indicating that organisations of this scale can compete for this type of specialist assignment.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Improving innovation procurement for the Innovation & Research (I&R) Designated Fund

Notice Description

This is a call-off from an existing National Highways Framework Agreement. This work directly impacts our Innovation and Research Designated Fund (I&R DF). In Year 1 of RIS3, NH used a two-stage innovation competition model. This starts with an open call and market engagement, followed by procurement. NH wants to assess whether this approach can be improved for Year 2. Including: - Exploring a single-stage model that may be simpler, more scalable and less resource intensive for Innovation, Procurement and the wider business. - Comparing the internal vs. external delivery of competitions. The overall aim is to make the process easier and more accessible for both NH and the wider supply chain, including SMEs. The appointed supplier will undertake a structured programme of review, analysis and option development to evaluate National Highways' current procurement approach associated with the Open Call and identify opportunities to improve simplicity, fairness, supplier experience and internal resource efficiency. This will include a retrospective assessment of the interim Year 1 activity, from initiation of the Open Call through to completion of the procurement exercise and contract award. Deliverables 1. Summary of lessons from using the two-stage model in Year 1 (interim year). 2. Review of whether a single-stage competition could work better in Year 2/future. 3. Comparison of internal delivery versus using external innovation services. 4. Recommendations to improve future innovation procurement, with a focus on simplicity, fairness, supplier experience and internal resource efficiency while ensuring compliance with procurement legislation and subsidy control requirements. 5. A plan to implement agreed changes in Year 2 of RIS3/future. 6. Delivery mechanism matrix reviewed and optimised.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-40e0f200-2914-4def-a192-ea16ffe29f3c
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/80a28d13-5227-4e09-ad7d-b2497bc56c4c
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£70,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£70,000 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Aug 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
24 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
24 Aug 20263 days ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
National Highways Limited
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B4 6GA
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Ladywood
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Connected Places Catapult Services Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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