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Provision of External Impact Evaluation Services

HIGH VALUE MANUFACTURING CATAPULT

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

08 Sep 2026 at 15:45

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

27 Jul 2026 at 11:27

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

High Value Manufacturing Catapult commissioned an independent, evidence-based evaluation of the impact of its core grant-funded activities across the UK. The work covers the Catapult’s six technology and innovation centres: CPI, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, the National Composites Centre, the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Warwick Manufacturing Group. The evaluation is intended to assess how network-wide workstreams and centre activities produce outputs, outcomes and key performance indicators. It focuses on four strategic priorities: industrial sustainability, the clean-energy transition towards net zero, healthy living and national security capability. The procurement is for research and development and economic research consultancy services, delivered across the United Kingdom, with optional formative and learning evaluation services within scope.

The procurement is complete and SQW Limited was selected as the supplier on 8 September 2026. It used a single-lot open procedure, with bids submitted electronically, and attracted 10 bids, including seven from SMEs at the final stage. The awarded value is £310,000 excluding VAT (£372,000 including VAT). The initial award period runs from 28 September 2026 to 27 September 2028, with an option to extend by up to one year on at least three months’ written notice. The evaluation was weighted 75% to quality—37.5% each for methodology, analytical approach and evaluation judgement, and delivery capability, resourcing and contingency arrangements—and 25% to the fixed price for core services. An early findings report is due by 18 December 2026, with the final evaluation report due by March 2027.

This award demonstrates demand from a UK manufacturing innovation organisation for specialist impact evaluation rather than general management consultancy. Credible competitors would need to design and apply a coherent evaluation framework, test the rationale for public intervention, establish baseline measures and assess outputs, outcomes and KPIs across a complex, multi-centre network. Relevant capability includes robust qualitative and quantitative analysis, evidence-based judgement and experience evaluating grant-funded research, innovation or industrial programmes. Suppliers would also need to show they can resource delivery effectively, maintain a single line of accountability and provide credible contingency arrangements. Understanding industrial sustainability, clean-energy transition, healthy living and national security would support relevant analysis. The buyer considered the work suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of External Impact Evaluation Services

Notice Description

The HVM Catapult is a strategic research and innovation organisation for UK manufacturing. Established and supported by Innovate UK, it operates as a co-ordinated national network of six technology and innovation centres, working with industry, academia and government to accelerate industrial transformation and contribute to national missions. The HVM Catapult centres are: * CPI; * Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC); * National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS); * NCC; * University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC); and * Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG). Each centre provides distinct technological specialisms, sectoral focus and regional reach, while operating within a single Catapult framework. In addition to centre-level delivery, the Catapult undertakes network-wide functions including strategic leadership, cross-centre co-ordination, portfolio management, engagement with government and alignment with national missions. HVM Catapult is looking to commission an independent evidence-based evaluation of the impact delivered through its core grant-funded activities with the report due by March 2027. HVM Catapult require an Early Findings Report, due by 18 December 2026, focusing on validating the evaluation framework, evidencing the rationale for intervention and establishing baseline measures for subsequent impact assessment. This early stage is intended to support strategic decision-making and will not be a substitute for the final evaluation. The final evaluation report should focus on four strategic priority areas and consider how they deliver workstreams, centre activities and therefore outputs, outcomes and KPIs. The four strategic priority areas to be considered are: * Industrial sustainability; * Net zero: clean energy transition; * Healthy living; and * National security capability. HVM Catapult may also, at its discretion, call off optional formative and learning evaluation services under the contract. These optional services are within the scope of the contract as awarded and will be provided at pre-agreed rates. HVM Catapult is under no obligation to call off any of the optional services.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: Option for HVM Catapult to extend the contract by up to eleven months to accommodate the optional formative and learning evaluation, subject to HVM Catapult choosing to commission this formative and learning evaluation, and the timing agreed in the delivery plan at the initiation of the project.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d41b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/085035-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

79311400 - Economic research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£310,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£310,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
£310,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
8 Sep 20264 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
21 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
8 Sep 20264 weeks ago
Contract Period
28 Sep 2026 - 27 Sep 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
HIGH VALUE MANUFACTURING CATAPULT
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BIRMINGHAM
Postcode
B7 4BP
Postcode Area
Birmingham
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG3 West Midlands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG31 Birmingham
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Birmingham
Electoral Ward
Nechells
Westminster Constituency
Birmingham Ladywood

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

SQW Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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