Planning

Procurement of (Pan-Defra) Research and Development Evidence Portal

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

28 Apr 2026 at 09:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

27 Apr 2026 at 17:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), a central government public authority based in London, is initiating a procurement process titled "Procurement of (Pan-Defra) Research and Development Evidence Portal" falling under several industry categories including IT services, software development, and research. The project is currently in the planning stage, with a strong focus on modernising technology services to facilitate open access to Defra's research and development outputs, enhance publication capability, and support knowledge curation activities. Key dates include a market engagement event scheduled for 14th May 2026, with confirmations required by 12th May 2026, and the contract period planned from 2nd November 2026 to 1st November 2031. Future notices are expected around 1st July 2026.

This tender represents significant opportunities for businesses in the tech and consultancy sectors, particularly those specialising in software development, database services, and research consultancy. It specifically invites small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate, making it well-suited for innovative firms looking to collaborate on government projects and make an impact within the environmental sector. Additionally, businesses with expertise in modern research data management technology can help Defra transition from legacy systems, offering growth opportunities through enhanced public sector collaboration and access to Defra's wide-ranging data resources.

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How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Procurement of (Pan-Defra) Research and Development Evidence Portal

Notice Description

Defra is the UK government department which is responsible for improving and protecting the environment. Defra aims to grow a green economy and sustain thriving rural communities, and also support the UK's world-leading food, farming and fishing industries. The Defra Research Evidence Portal project has been established to modernise the technology services that enable the delivery of the Defra organisations requirements to publish Defra's research and development information and capabilities for open access publication, to support integrated discovery and exploitation of Defra Group R&D (Research and Development), facilitating evidence synthesis and to also manage publications and knowledge curation activity where required for staff only. Defra also has a requirement to publicly release its Research and Development (R&D) reports to modern, accessibility and timeliness standards, for open access dissemination and exploitation and reuse. Currently there are multiple assurance, publication processes and document storage facilities in use across the Defra group, many reliant on legacy technologies. Modern Research Data Management technology services offer publication capabilities and interoperability with data and analytics services to maximise the dissemination and potential exploitation of R&D both by Government, industry and publicly to speed innovation for growth and societal benefits. The Defra Library provides scientists, researchers, and policy makers, in Defra, Natural England and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) with specialist library services. It also provides services to customers in other Defra group organisations on a call-off basis. The Defra Library provides a wide range of print and digital assets to users. A range of technology services are used to deliver these, however currently, the technology used is fragmented and incudes several legacy technology services and has not been historically associated with the assurance and publication of Defra produced R&D outputs (historically positioned within the Central Science Division, under the Chief Scientific Adviser, (CSA)).

Planning Information

The purpose of this notice is for Defra to make known its requirement to explore future opportunities in the market and to commence the market engagement process to seek the expertise from market leaders and other experts on any potential future solution. Pre-market engagement activities will likely consist of three activities – a Market Engagement event, a Request for Information and further Clarification Workshops (if required). Interested suppliers are requested to read this microsite and to request information on the upcoming market engagement event, contact the email address as part of this microsite and an MS Forms invite will be sent over to you. For reference, the Market Engagement event is planned for the 14th May 2026 and therefore please confirm attendance by the 12th May 2026 at 1500hrs.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068c18
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038375-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
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

48 - Software package and information systems

72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

48160000 - Library software package

48900000 - Miscellaneous software package and computer systems

48931000 - Training software package

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

72320000 - Database services

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£500,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Jul 20262 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
2 Nov 2026 - 1 Nov 2031 Over 5 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
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

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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