UKRI-5495 TechFirst: Payment Function

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                "description": "UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is undertaking preliminary market engagement to help shape an upcoming procurement supporting delivery of the TechGrad programme, part of the wider PS187m TechFirst initiative to strengthen the UK's domestic tech talent pipeline. TechGrad is an undergraduate scholarship programme supporting up to 900 UK students per year with a PS4,000 annual scholarship throughout their studies. It forms the core of TechFirst, building on the successful CyberFirst model, where graduates have achieved an 88% employment rate in the cyber sector. The programme also includes the Sparck AI scholarship, offering up to 100 fully funded AI master's degrees each year. Both scholarship schemes will provide wraparound support such as industry and government placements and training. Together, these initiatives aim to invest earlier in future tech talent, helping students gain the skills, experience, and networks needed to fill critical skills gaps and support growth in frontier tech industries. As competition for global talent increases, TechGrad seeks to incentivise domestic students and ensure the UK has a strong pipeline of skilled British nationals driving innovation and supporting national security. About This Procurement This procurement focuses on the payment processing function for the TechGrad programmes, delivered under a single contract of up to four years. The provider will manage the transfer of scholarship and other relevant payments directly to students on the TechFirst scholarship programme, ensuring compliance with all relevant legal, financial, and programme conditions. The TechFirst Scholarship Programme aims to support top domestic talent through their undergraduate studies. The first cohort will start in Autumn 2026, with approximately 600 students joining the programme (250 transferring from the existing CyberFirst bursary and 350 new students). There will be three further cohorts of up to 900 students recruited (2026/27, 2027/28, 2028/29). No recruitment is currently planned for 2029/30. The Sparck AI scholarship scheme aims to support domestic and international talent through their master's studies with a range of opportunities. The first cohort will start in Autumn 2026, with approximately 70-80 students that will sit across the nine partnered universities. There will be three further cohorts again of up to 100 students a year recruited (2027/28, 2028/29, 2029/30). Expected High-Level Requirements: Onboard TechGrad/CyberFirst students, including a route for students to submit identity and bank details for placement and scholarship payments. Cooperate with other TechGrad suppliers, IUK, and DSIT on data sharing while complying with robust data protection principles. Ability to securely manage data for individuals who have undergone national security vetting. Required for the TechGrad/CyberFirst scholarship programme, not for the Sparck AI scholarship programme. Ability to accept and process stipend budget from UKRI in the form of grants. The stipend money will be managed and delivered separately from the contract/service budget by UKRI. Ensure payment processes comply with all relevant guidance and regulations, including appropriate due diligence and counter-fraud processes. Make annual PS4,000 scholarship payments to TechGrad students each September. Process annual placement stipend payments (approx. PS2,000) for TechGrad/CyberFirst students, with first payments made between May and June 2026. Payments for the Sparck AI scholarship programme under this contract will take place for cohorts from 2027/28 onwards. Payments for the first cohort starting in Autumn 2026 will be managed through UKRI and universities directly. For the cohorts 2027/28 onwards, to make Stipend payments to Sparck scholars on a monthly/quarterly basis from the Autumn. The total stipend cost for each scholar over the course of their academic year will be between PS21-24,000, dependant on London/non-London weighting. Tuition fee payments to be made directly to each university on a quarterly basis from the Autumn that year. This will be around PS20,000 per scholar for the whole academic year. Universities will absorb the remainder of the scholar's tuition fee. Provide appropriate management information and programme data to IUK for contract management and evaluation purposes. Market Engagement Webinar: A market engagement webinar will take place on 16th December 2025 at 10:00 AM. Following the session, the presentation and Q&A will be shared with participants. This webinar is an opportunity to learn more about the TechGrad Programme and the procurement process, as well as to provide valuable feedback. If you would like to take part, please register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d3dfc304-1a01-4246-bd64-30b6b049571c@8bb7e08e-daa4-4a8e-927e-fca38db04b7e/registration Please note that not registering an interest will not prevent any organisation from participating in any future procurement, nor will any information shared during preliminary market engagement provide an advantage in any subsequent process.",
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        "title": "UKRI-5495 TechFirst: Payment Function",
        "description": "UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is procuring a managed payment services solution to administer and disburse scholarship-related payments at scale on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The service will provide an end-to-end payment processing function, covering the onboarding of students and universities, verification of identity and bank details, secure payment execution, reconciliation of funds, fraud prevention, and performance reporting. The scope of the procurement includes payment administration for the TechGrad (undergraduate) Scholarship Programme, the Sparck AI (master's) Scholarship Programme, and the Semiconductors Undergraduate Scholarship Programme. In addition, the supplier will continue to administer payments for CyberFirst students during the transition period to the TechFirst programme. The supplier will be responsible for administering all authorised payments to eligible students and higher education institutions in accordance with UKRI/DSIT instructions and applicable grant conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, scheduled and ad hoc payments such as scholarships, stipends, tuition fee payments, summer placement payments, reimbursements, and discretionary payments (for example, travel or hardship payments), delivered within timeframes specified by UKRI/DSIT. The supplier must establish and operate a straightforward, scalable onboarding process for all participating students and institutions, including secure mechanisms for the collection and verification of identity and bank account details to enable timely and accurate payments. The service must comply with all relevant legislation, regulatory requirements, and government guidance relating to payments, data protection, and information security. The supplier will be required to implement appropriate due diligence, counter-fraud, and risk management controls, and to provide regular management information and reporting against agreed key performance indicators (KPIs).",
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