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UKRI-6031 Civils. Groundworks and Associated Services

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

11 Sep 2026 at 15:47

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

22 May 2026 at 12:04

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation, through its Science and Technology Facilities Council, is planning a civil engineering, groundworks and associated services contract. Work will be commissioned through individual task orders and may cover planned and reactive maintenance, construction projects, asset replacement and works supporting future developments. Likely activities include ground investigations, site preparation and clearance, drainage, paving and asphalting, fencing, safety equipment and street furniture installation. The main sites are Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, Chilbolton Observatory in Hampshire and The Cosener’s House in Abingdon, with the potential to include other UKRI-managed sites across the UK. The work is classed as construction and civil engineering works and will take place in operational scientific environments alongside UKRI-STFC’s in-house maintenance and design team.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is intended to inform a future competition; it is not an invitation to tender. UKRI expects to publish the next notice by 20 October 2026. It is planning one lot, with an estimated value of £6,000,000 excluding VAT, or £7,200,000 including VAT. The anticipated contract period is from 22 December 2026 to 21 December 2029, with an option to extend to 21 December 2030, giving a possible four-year term. The buyer will hold an on-site market engagement event at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory on 23 September 2026. Businesses wishing to attend were asked to register by 21 September 2026. The procurement is above the applicable threshold and the planned lot is identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

This will suit established civil engineering and groundworks contractors able to deliver varied planned, reactive and project works through task orders across multiple scientific and public-sector sites. Relevant capability includes investigation and preparation of sites, drainage, surfacing, paving, fencing, safety installations, street furniture and asset replacement. Suppliers should be prepared to work safely in operational scientific environments, coordinate with an in-house maintenance and design team, and maintain service quality, asset reliability and value for money. The buyer describes the requirement as seeking a suitably qualified and experienced supplier, so businesses should prepare evidence of comparable civil engineering and grounds works, safe delivery in live environments, responsive capacity and effective task-order management. The stated SME suitability may make this relevant to smaller firms with the necessary specialist capacity or delivery partnerships.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-6031 Civils. Groundworks and Associated Services

Notice Description

UK Research and Innovation-Science and Technology Facilities Council (UKRI-STFC) manages a diverse scientific estate supported by an established in-house maintenance and design team. UKRI-STFC is undertaking pre-market engagement to inform a future procurement for a suitably qualified and experienced supplier to deliver civil engineering, groundworks and associated services. The services will be commissioned through individual call-off task orders and may include planned, reactive and project works, asset replacement, and works supporting future developments. The contract will principally cover the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire, Chilbolton Observatory in Hampshire and The Cosener's House in Abingdon, with provision to include other UKRI-managed sites. The successful supplier will be expected to work safely alongside UKRI-STFC's in-house team within operational scientific environments, delivering high-quality services, asset reliability and value for money. The anticipated contract term is three years, with an option to extend for a further year (3+1 years).

Planning Information

UKRI will be holding an on-site Market Engagement Event at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory on 23rd September 2026, providing an overview of the upcoming requirement and the opportunity for bidders to ask questions. If you are interested in attending, please email the below details to STFCprocurement@ukri.org, quoting the UKRI reference number (UKRI-6031) by Monday 21st September 2026. Details for Registration: Attendee Name: Attendee Email Address: Company Name: Vehicle Registration:

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06a0e2
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/086573-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45111200 - Site preparation and clearance work

45111250 - Ground investigation work

45200000 - Works for complete or part construction and civil engineering work

45232450 - Drainage construction works

45233222 - Paving and asphalting works

45233293 - Installation of street furniture

45340000 - Fencing, railing and safety equipment installation work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£6,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
20 Oct 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
22 Dec 2026 - 21 Dec 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON, WILTSHIRE
Postcode
SN2 1FL
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
TLJ14 Oxfordshire CC
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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