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Research Partners Framework contracts

ARMED FORCES COVENANT FUND TRUSTEE LIMITED

This public procurement record has 7 releases in its history.

Award

06 Oct 2026 at 15:17

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

06 Oct 2026 at 15:17

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

06 Oct 2026 at 15:16

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

06 Oct 2026 at 15:16

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

06 Oct 2026 at 15:15

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

11 Feb 2026 at 17:08

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

16 Dec 2025 at 15:58

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust appointed research partners to provide specialist research, evaluation, analysis and evidence synthesis. The work supports the Trust’s grant-making, programme design, organisational learning and strategic decisions across its portfolio supporting the Armed Forces community. Commissions may include impact and economic evaluations of grant-funded programmes, evidence reviews and research into the needs of specific communities. Delivery is UK-wide. The framework allows the Trust to commission work from its appointed partners as needed, either through requests to partners or a competitive call-off. It is a research consultancy service rather than a single defined study, with individual commissions shaped by the Trust’s objectives and agreed with trustees and other stakeholders.

The procurement is complete: an open procedure established a closed framework with five appointed suppliers: Alma Economics Limited, Edge Health Ltd, International Organisation Development Ltd, MEL Research Limited and RAND Europe Community Interest Company. The award date was 4 February 2026; contracts were signed on 23 February 2026 and run to 22 February 2030. The framework’s stated value is £400,000 excluding VAT (£500,000 including VAT); this is the framework value, not a separate award amount for each supplier. The framework permits call-offs with or without reopening competition. The single lot was evaluated on experience and capabilities (30%), team capacity and specialist expertise (30%), methodology (10%), quality assurance (10%), engagement, ethics and safeguarding (10%), and commercial rates (10%). Seventeen bids were received. SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises were considered suitable to participate.

This framework demonstrates demand for research and evaluation that informs decisions affecting the Armed Forces community. Credible competitors need a multidisciplinary team with enough capacity to manage multiple commissions and fluctuating workloads, alongside relevant delivery experience from the previous three years. Strong evidence includes up to three comparable projects and specialist expertise in research and evaluation involving serving personnel, veterans, families or similar communities. Suppliers must be able to design impact and economic evaluations, conduct evidence reviews and combine qualitative and quantitative methods, with defensible choices, reliable data and transparent handling of bias and limitations. Robust peer review and sign-off, ethical research practice, informed consent, confidentiality, data protection and safeguarding are central, particularly when participants may be vulnerable or have experienced trauma. Clear, competitive team day rates also matter, as does consistent delivery to agreed milestones, budgets and response times.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Research Partners Framework contracts

Notice Description

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust Research Partners Framework provides access to specialist research, evaluation, analytical and evidence synthesis services. The framework supports the commissioning of research and evaluation activities to inform grant-making, programme design, organisational learning and strategic decision-making across the Trust's portfolio of work supporting the Armed Forces community.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f70b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/094364-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73210000 - Research consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£400,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
6 Oct 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
23 Jan 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Feb 20268 months ago
Contract Period
23 Feb 2026 - 22 Feb 2030 4-5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ARMED FORCES COVENANT FUND TRUSTEE 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
LEEDS
Postcode
LS1 4AP
Postcode Area
Leeds
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE4 West Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE42 Leeds
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Leeds
Electoral Ward
Hunslet & Riverside
Westminster Constituency
Leeds South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
5
Supplier Names

Alma Economics

Edge Health

International Organisation Development Ltd

MEL Research

RAND Europe Community Interest Company

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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