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UKRI-4643 UK- wide Celebration of Research and Innovation.

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

30 Sep 2026 at 15:28

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

04 Dec 2025 at 14:43

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

04 Aug 2025 at 16:00

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) commissioned a UK-wide public engagement programme celebrating and showcasing research and innovation, with a particular focus on young people, people from minoritised communities and groups underrepresented in research and innovation. The work combines coordinated local and regional activities, community-led events and school activities supported by grants, and deliberative dialogues that gather young people’s views to inform decision-making. It also involves sharing learning with knowledge festivals, museums, science centres and other relevant organisations, plus formative and summative evaluation of what works in informal engagement. The supplier is responsible for delivering all five work packages. The work is delivered across the United Kingdom and is classified as business and management consultancy services.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to the British Science Association, also named as the British Association for the Advancement of Science. The award was made on 4 December 2025. The contract was signed on 3 September 2026 and runs from 4 September 2026 to 31 August 2032. Its value is £3,297,384.18 excluding VAT (£3,956,861.02 including VAT). The contract was awarded through an open procedure. There was one lot, and bids were assessed on quality (90%) and price (10%). Twelve bids reached the final stage, including nine from small and medium-sized businesses and one from a voluntary, community or social enterprise. The contract covers the full programme, with all five work packages to be delivered by the successful supplier.

For suppliers considering similar future work for UKRI, this award demonstrates demand for a single organisation able to manage a sustained, UK-wide research and innovation engagement programme across multiple workstreams. Credible competitors would need to combine public engagement delivery with the ability to coordinate local and regional partners, run grant programmes and community-led events, and engage young people through deliberative dialogue. The requirement also favours experience of working with schools and groups underrepresented in research and innovation, building relationships with museums, science centres and festivals, and sharing learning across organisations. Strong programme management and the ability to evaluate both activity and outcomes are central: the supplier must provide formative and summative evaluation, and connect evidence about informal engagement to practical learning. Quality was the dominant evaluation consideration, with price carrying a smaller weighting.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-4643 UK- wide Celebration of Research and Innovation.

Notice Description

UKRI want to commission a supplier to deliver a new UK-wide celebration to engage the public, particularly young people, with research and innovation(R&I). This will be delivered through the following 5 work packages over the duration of the six years: * Work package 1: coordinated UK-wide activities that celebrate and showcase R&I and supports people Main Category (particularly young people and those from minoritised communities and those underrepresented in R&I) to engage with R&I through co-produced local and regional activity. * Work package 2: grants programmes to support those from minoritised communities and underrepresented groups to engage with R&I through community-led events and local activities in schools throughout the year. * Work package 3: a programme of deliberative dialogues with young people to explore their views and concerns about R&I, providing unique insights into young people's relationship with R&I and enabling their views to inform and influence decision-making in R&I. * Work package 4: support for sharing learning between this programme of activity and existing knowledge festivals, museums, science centres and other relevant organisations. * Work package 5: summative and formative evaluation to understand and share what works in informal engagement with R&I. N.B. UKRI will require the successful supplier to deliver all the work packages detailed above.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05808d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/092498-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,300,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£3,300,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£3,297,384 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£3,297,384 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Sep 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
4 Sep 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Dec 202510 months ago
Contract Period
4 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active, Pending
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON, WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

British Science Association

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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