This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

29 May 2026 at 08:54

Tender

16 Jan 2026 at 17:39

Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process titled "Towards A National Collection – Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype" is conducted by Historic Environment Scotland, based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. It falls under the industry category of research and development services and related consultancy services. This contracting process has moved from the tender stage initiated on 16th January 2026 to an award stage, with the contract being awarded on 21st May 2026 to Oxford University Innovation Limited for a contract value of £265,275. The procurement method used is an open procedure, ensuring that all interested suppliers have the opportunity to participate. The main aim of the project is to enhance the digitisation capability for cultural heritage collections to support advanced research and interoperability, with activities focusing on creating computation-ready digital collections data. The project is associated with the UKM75 region.

This procurement opportunity is significant for businesses specializing in digital consultancy, research and development, and those involved in cultural heritage and GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sectors. Businesses with expertise in developing scalable digital solutions and standards for data interoperability and computational access will find this tender particularly attractive. Given the emphasis on innovative digitisation standards and collaboration with partner institutions, companies with strong capabilities in AI-enabled methods and rich data creation processes can leverage this project to establish their expertise in a growing digital heritage domain, thereby creating avenues for organisational growth and further project engagements.

How relevant is this notice?

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.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-060817
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/050619-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

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
Large

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
£265,275 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 May 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
27 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 May 20261 months ago
Contract Period
10 May 2026 - 27 Nov 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

OXFORD UNIVERSITY INNOVATION

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

JSON Markdown

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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