Planning

Scientific Advice Framework

MHRA

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

15 Jan 2026 at 09:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is in the planning stage for establishing a "Scientific Advice Framework." As part of this process, they intend to enhance their traditional in-house expertise by seeking partnerships with external suppliers who can deliver specialised services related to the evaluation of regulatory data. Central to this process is a virtual pre-market engagement event scheduled on 26th January 2026, which aims to gather industry insights and feedback. MHRA, located in London at 10 South Colonnade, is a central government public authority, and they are inviting qualified suppliers to partake in discussions on how to improve the specification and procurement strategy. The project is due to start on 1st June 2026, with an end date of 31st May 2029, and potential renewal extending to 2030. The procurement is above threshold, indicating a significant opportunity within the research and development services sector.

This tender offers substantial growth opportunities for businesses in the life sciences sector, particularly those with strengths in research, development, and regulatory consultancy services. The collaboration with MHRA presents a chance to engage directly with a key regulatory body responsible for safeguarding public health in the UK. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to apply, as the framework seeks to establish a flexible supplier pool to aid MHRA's advisory services tailored to marketing authorisation and clinical trial applications. Businesses that are capable of adapting resources quickly would find this opportunity particularly beneficial, as it aligns with MHRA's goal to enhance service delivery speed and support the burgeoning life sciences industry in the UK.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Scientific Advice Framework

Notice Description

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is the regulator of medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK. MHRA carries out a wide range of activities to fulfil its role as a patient safety regulator. This includes carrying out assessments of the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines, assessing the safety of proposed clinical trials of medicines and medical devices, inspecting the premises of those manufacturing, supplying or distributing medicines and monitoring the ongoing safety of all medical products, taking swift action where necessary to prevent harm to patients. The MHRA also engages with companies within the regulated sector to provide specific, scientific advice on the development of products. The aim of such advice is to ensure the developer understands the requirements of the regulator, ensuring that the developer can provide the required information to support a properly informed assessment. With a wide range of critical deliverables, MHRA is seeking opportunities to add to its traditional in-house expertise through the establishment of additional sources of both capacity and capability. These will enable MHRA to deliver innovative, new and improved services at increased pace, safeguarding public health and supporting the growth of life sciences in the UK. MHRA is seeking suppliers with the capacity and capability to deliver assessments of complex clinical and non-clinical regulatory data and provide carefully evidenced judgements within an MHRA assessment and quality assurance framework. Such assessments may relate to marketing authorisation applications, clinical trial applications and a variety of other compliance activities. Deployment of supplier resources will be on a flexible basis to enable MHRA greater discretion in flexing established capacity as needed to support increased growth in UK life sciences through new and improved advice and support services. To achieve this ambition, MHRA wishes to establish a framework of specialist providers.

Planning Information

MHRA will hold a virtual pre-market engagement event on Monday 26th January at 2pm inviting suitably qualified and experienced suppliers to attend a presentation by the Healthcare Quality and Access team where high-level information about the requirements will be shared followed by an opportunity to participate in a Q&A session. The objective of this session will be to: • Understand supplier appetite and opinion and gain an understanding on the viability of the concept • Understand barriers, risks and issues and any potential innovative solutions • Inform a high-quality specification, procurement strategy and the structure of the contract/framework Suppliers are also invited to express their interest in a separate 1:1 engagement session immediately following the event to share any useful intelligence. Requests will be accommodated based on capacity and no guarantees are made. Suppliers attending the event will not have any advantage over organisations who do not participate, and this market consultation is in no way a guarantee of future work. Material shared at this event including a summary of the Q&A will be made available as part of any future tender pack ensuring all participating suppliers have access to the same information. Suppliers wishing to attend the event should email Commercial@MHRA.gov.uk to receive joining instructions.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060643
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003329-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

85 - Health and social work services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

85148000 - Medical analysis services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Jan 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Mar 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2026 - 31 May 2029 3-4 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
MHRA
Contact Name
Alison Finn
Contact Email
commercial@mhra.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 4PU
Post Town
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

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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