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UK5 - Transparency Notice

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

20 Jan 2026 at 12:49

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The public procurement process overseen by the Ministry of Defence involves a direct award contract titled "UK5 - Transparency Notice," aimed at assessing the UK nuclear sector’s labour market to inform future recruitment strategy. This process, categorized under research consultancy services, is being carried out by Cogent Skills Services Ltd, recognized for their unique expertise and proprietary datasets pivotal for the Nuclear Workforce Assessment. Located in Bristol, UK, the contract's procurement stage is currently at the award phase, with a scheduled contract period from 9 February 2026 to 31 March 2028. The award is valued at £1,382,400 gross, reflecting services above the threshold, and is set to be formally signed by 6 February 2026.

This tender presents significant opportunities for growth, particularly beneficial to businesses with specialized proficiency in nuclear workforce analytics and labour market modelling. Companies equipped with the ability to provide comprehensive research consultancy services, maintain rigorous data methodologies, and build strategic relationships within the nuclear sector will find this contract an advantageous proposition. SMEs capable of delivering critical insights into the nuclear sector's workforce dynamics without the need for extensive new investments in data redevelopment are ideally suited to compete for similar opportunities in the future.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UK5 - Transparency Notice

Notice Description

UK Nuclear Sector labour market assessment to drive future recruitment strategy.

Procurement Information

In accordance with Schedule 5, paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023, the Authority considers a direct award to be justified on the basis that Cogent Skills Services Ltd are the only supplier capable of delivering the required Nuclear Workforce Assessment (NWA) service without disproportionate cost, delay, or risk to value for money. Cogent holds unique and non replicable capabilities essential to the successful delivery of this requirement, including: * Proprietary historic datasets underpinning the Nuclear Workforce Assessment (NWA), developed and maintained since 2015; * Specialist technical expertise in nuclear labour market modelling, built over multiple iterations of the NWA; and * Established relationships and data sharing arrangements with nuclear sector organisations formalised through the Nuclear Sector Executive Council (NSEC). Cogent has been the sole developer and publisher of the NWA for over a decade, independently refining the methodology and recovering costs directly from sector organisations through individual contributions. The Authority does not own, nor does it hold rights to, previous iterations of the NWA or the underlying datasets. Continuity of methodology and data is critical for tracking trends, ensuring comparability across years, and measuring the effectiveness of the Nuclear Skills Plan (NSP). No alternative provider could replicate the existing dataset or methodology without incurring substantial development time and cost, which would materially undermine both value for money and the timely delivery of the NSP. On this basis, Cogent is the only provider capable of delivering the required service in a way that preserves continuity, avoids duplication of cost, and protects the integrity of the sector-wide evidence base.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0609ed
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004801-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£1,152,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 Jan 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
20 Jan 20261 months ago
Contract Period
9 Feb 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
dne-supplychain@mod.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BRISTOL
Postcode
BS34 8JH
Post Town
Bristol
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
South Gloucestershire
Electoral Ward
Stoke Park & Cheswick
Westminster Constituency
Filton and Bradley Stoke

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

COGENT SKILLS SERVICES

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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