Tender

Towards A National Collection - Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype

HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

16 Jan 2026 at 17:39

Summary of the contracting process

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is currently in the tender stage for their project titled "Towards A National Collection – Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype," classified under the industry category of Research and Development services. This procurement involves services specifically focused on the digitisation of cultural heritage collections located in the Edinburgh region and has an estimated value of £225,000. The submission procedure is open, and interested parties must submit electronic responses by 27th February 2026, with the contract period planned from 11th May 2026 to 27th November 2026. The project aims to address supply-side constraints in computational and data-driven research, providing computation-ready digital collections data.

This procurement presents a significant opportunity for businesses involved in digital services and technology, particularly those specialising in digitisation and data management. Companies with expertise in developing open and scalable digitisation systems that adhere to interoperability and data reuse standards will find this tender particularly advantageous. The project seeks companies able to test and refine digitisation standards, making it suitable for organisations with a robust track record in technical innovation and collaboration with cultural heritage institutions. With HES open to considering additional services from successful tenderers, there is further potential for long-term business growth and collaboration in future infrastructure development initiatives.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Towards A National Collection - Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype

Notice Description

Towards A National Collection - Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Digitisation Capability Pilot is one of the two core work packages delivered through the N-RICH Prototype, alongside the Digital Research Infrastructure Prototype. Its role is to address the supply-side constraints that currently limit the use of cultural heritage collections in computational and data-driven research. While digitisation activity across the UK GLAM sector has expanded access to collections, it has not consistently produced data that is structured, documented and interoperable enough to support large-scale analysis, AI-enabled methods or cross-collection research. The Pilot responds to this gap by focusing on the creation of computation-ready digital collections data, providing a foundation for subsequent infrastructure development and research use. The objectives of the Digitisation Capability Pilot are to: - Define a shared, open and scalable digitisation standard for priority GLAM collection types, specifying baseline, enhanced and aspirational levels of practice; - Ensure the standard is oriented towards interoperability, computational access and reuse, embedding FAIR and CARE principles; - Support data creation, augmentation and computational readiness, including standards for rapid, rich and non-destructive digitisation appropriate to different collection types and research purposes; - Design the standard to be modular and incrementally adoptable by institutions of differing scale, capacity and resource; - Test and refine the standard through limited application with partner GLAM institutions; - Generate evidence on cost, skills and organisational implications to inform future investment decisions; - Publish the standard openly and propose an appropriate model for its future stewardship and evolution.

Options: Historic Environment Scotland reserves the right to request additional deliveries by the Successful Tenderer, either intended as partial replacement of services or as extensions of existing services. Historic Environment Scotland may at it's sole discretion exercise this option.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060817
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004095-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services


CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£225,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£225,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Jan 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
27 Feb 20262 months to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
10 May 2026 - 27 Nov 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement@hes.scot
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH9 1SH
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Southside/Newington
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South

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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