Planning

UKRI-4681 Construction Partner for Science and Technology Facilities Council

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 May 2025 at 13:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) has announced a procurement opportunity aiming to establish a construction partnership for the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The project, titled "UKRI-4681 Construction Partner for Science and Technology Facilities Council," is in the planning stage and is set to transform key infrastructure across several national sites, including locations in Oxfordshire, Warrington, Edinburgh, and Cleveland. The contract is estimated at around £120 million annually over a 15-year period, starting March 2026. The procurement process is under the legal framework of the UK Public Contract Regulations 2015, and this planning stage follows market engagement activities completed in April 2025, including site visits and questionnaires.

This tender, valued at approximately £960 million for the entire programme, presents significant opportunities for growth in the construction sector, particularly for firms experienced in both simple and complex builds. Considering the span of projects across national sites, companies with robust logistical capabilities and strong performance in previous high-value, multi-site construction partnerships will likely be well-suited to contribute. The lead partner will deliver various projects encompassing new builds and infrastructure upgrades, with a focus on decarbonisation and subsequent scheme participation linked to meeting Key Performance Indicators. Businesses looking to expand their portfolio in scientific and research facilities will find this tender particularly aligned with their strategic interests.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Start Free Trial Book a Demo
All Features Pricing

Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-4681 Construction Partner for Science and Technology Facilities Council

Notice Description

STFC is a world-leading research and innovation organisation, with a unique role within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). STFC are looking to establish a construction partnership to deliver its proposed estate transformation programme. This is a national contract, covering STFC's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and The Cosener's House, Oxfordshire, Chilbolton Observatory, Stockbridge, Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, The Royal Observatory Edinburgh, and Boulby Underground Laboratory, Cleveland. STFC have identified an investment programme to address backlog maintenance, future growth and decarbonisation of its buildings and infrastructure. The programme is national, valued at approximately PS120m per year and is expected to span around 15 years. The exact investment value and programme details will be confirmed. The contracting partner would be assessed on agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and overall performance to secure subsequent schemes within the programme. The contract will not include exclusivity. STFC is seeking to engage a single partner, to lead the construction delivery programme. This programme will consist of multiple national projects running concurrently. The construction projects will range from simple shell-and-core buildings to complex scientific facilities. The programme will also include infrastructure upgrades and reinforcements. A Prior Information Notice (PIN) was published under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004024-2025?origin=SearchResults&p=1 To view this notice, please click here: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=945853842

Planning Information

A Prior Information Notice (PIN) was published under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004024-2025?origin=SearchResults&p=1 As outlined in the PIN, UKRI- STFC held two Supplier Engagement Sessions at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory site on the following dates: 17 March 2025 and 20 March 2025, these sessions included a presentation, site visit and Q&A session. A follow up questionnaire was issued to the suppliers who attended the Supplier Engagement Sessions to gather further information on the market. There are no further anticipated market engagement sessions planned.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050c4b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018786-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45000000 - Construction work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£800,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 May 20259 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
10 Mar 2026 - 9 Mar 2033 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
STFC Procurement
Contact Email
stfcprocurement@ukri.org
Contact Phone
+44 1793442000

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Post Town
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-050c4b-2025-05-02T14:05:21+01:00",
    "date": "2025-05-02T14:05:21+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-050c4b",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDQJ-7126-JDHG",
            "name": "UK Research & Innovation",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDQJ-7126-JDHG"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Polaris House, North Star Avenue",
                "locality": "Swindon",
                "postalCode": "SN2 1FL",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKK14"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "name": "STFC Procurement",
                "email": "STFCprocurement@ukri.org",
                "telephone": "+44 1793442000"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PDQJ-7126-JDHG",
        "name": "UK Research & Innovation"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "A Prior Information Notice (PIN) was published under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004024-2025?origin=SearchResults&p=1 As outlined in the PIN, UKRI- STFC held two Supplier Engagement Sessions at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory site on the following dates: 17 March 2025 and 20 March 2025, these sessions included a presentation, site visit and Q&A session. A follow up questionnaire was issued to the suppliers who attended the Supplier Engagement Sessions to gather further information on the market. There are no further anticipated market engagement sessions planned.",
                "dateMet": "2025-04-04T00:00:00Z",
                "status": "met"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "018786-2025",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018786-2025",
                "datePublished": "2025-05-02T14:05:21+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-050c4b",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "UKRI-4681 Construction Partner for Science and Technology Facilities Council",
        "description": "STFC is a world-leading research and innovation organisation, with a unique role within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). STFC are looking to establish a construction partnership to deliver its proposed estate transformation programme. This is a national contract, covering STFC's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and The Cosener's House, Oxfordshire, Chilbolton Observatory, Stockbridge, Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, The Royal Observatory Edinburgh, and Boulby Underground Laboratory, Cleveland. STFC have identified an investment programme to address backlog maintenance, future growth and decarbonisation of its buildings and infrastructure. The programme is national, valued at approximately PS120m per year and is expected to span around 15 years. The exact investment value and programme details will be confirmed. The contracting partner would be assessed on agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and overall performance to secure subsequent schemes within the programme. The contract will not include exclusivity. STFC is seeking to engage a single partner, to lead the construction delivery programme. This programme will consist of multiple national projects running concurrently. The construction projects will range from simple shell-and-core buildings to complex scientific facilities. The programme will also include infrastructure upgrades and reinforcements. A Prior Information Notice (PIN) was published under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004024-2025?origin=SearchResults&p=1 To view this notice, please click here: https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=945853842",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "UKRI-4681",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "45000000",
                        "description": "Construction work"
                    }
                ],
                "deliveryAddresses": [
                    {
                        "region": "UK",
                        "country": "GB",
                        "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "UKRI-4681"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 960000000,
            "amount": 800000000,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "works",
        "aboveThreshold": true,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "UKRI-4681",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-03-10T00:00:00Z",
                    "endDate": "2033-03-09T23:59:59Z"
                },
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}