Award

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

PS26196 - Comms operational support

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

17 Jul 2026 at 10:34

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation commissioned communications operational support services. The requirement is described as creating communications operational support, with the procurement classified under research consultancy services (CPV 73210000). Delivery covers the United Kingdom. UKRI is the buying organisation, while UK Shared Business Services Ltd managed the procurement as its shared service provider. The work is a service rather than the supply of goods or construction. It concerns operational communications support for UKRI, so relevant businesses are those that provide communications consultancy or operational delivery, particularly where their services can also meet a research consultancy classification. The recorded requirement relates to one completed lot and was delivered nationally rather than at a single named site.

The procurement has been awarded and the tender is complete. It used a below-threshold direct award without competition because the buyer stated there were no reasonable alternatives to the required services. Luther Pendragon Limited was selected for the completed lot. The contract was signed on 1 July 2026 and runs from 1 July 2026 to 3 August 2026. Its value is £10,000 excluding VAT, or £12,000 including VAT. The award is recorded as active and the contract is active. The procedure was therefore not an open competition: the outcome resulted from a direct award under the buyer’s stated rationale. The requirement was evaluated through that non-competitive route rather than competing bids against published award criteria.

This procurement shows UKRI’s demand for short-term, nationally delivered communications operational support, with the work recorded within the research consultancy services category. A credible future competitor would need to provide practical communications support rather than only strategic advice, and to present a service capable of meeting UKRI’s operational requirement. The selected supplier, Luther Pendragon Limited, is recorded as an SME, indicating that this type of requirement can be delivered by a smaller specialist business. The direct-award route and the stated lack of reasonable alternatives suggest that demonstrating a distinctive fit for the requirement would be important if a comparable need is considered again. Businesses with communications consultancy and operational delivery capability should monitor UKRI requirements in this area.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

PS26196 - Comms operational support

Notice Description

***** THIS IS A CONTRACT DETAILS NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** This procurement is being concluded without competition due to there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works. Brief Description of Requirement UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have a requirement to create an Comms operational support

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06cd87
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/067577-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
Not specified
Contracts Value
£10,000 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jul 2026 - 3 Aug 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

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
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

LUTHER PENDRAGON LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

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.

Loading OCDS record...