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GeoTechnical Advisor

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

31 Jul 2026 at 13:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), through the Natural Environment Research Council, intends to appoint a geotechnical adviser for research, decarbonisation and related environmental programmes across the United Kingdom. The service will support project development from design and planning through to costing, helping UKRI improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its investments. The appointed organisation will provide the resources needed for a range of advisory roles, including principal adviser at project-board level, support for senior responsible officers and project directors, principal designer under CDM 2015, and technical adviser or analyst. The lead organisation may also assemble a pre-selected core team of specialist sub-advisers to provide broad expertise and consistent delivery. This is a geotechnical engineering and strategic environmental advisory service.

This procurement is at the planning stage: UKRI has stated an intention to procure and has not yet invited tenders. The expected approach involves a framework agreement, with one planned lot. The estimated value is £6,000,000 excluding VAT and £7,200,000 including VAT. The anticipated contract period is 14 December 2026 to 14 December 2030. UKRI expects to publish the next notice on 1 September 2026. It has planned an initial supplier webinar on Teams for 21 August 2026 at 13:00; suppliers wishing to attend were asked to email their attendee names and email addresses by 16:00 on 20 August 2026. The procurement is above the relevant threshold, and the lot is identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

The planned service is likely to suit established geotechnical engineering, environmental consultancy and technical advisory organisations able to support complex research and infrastructure-related programmes internationally. UKRI is seeking recent international experience on similar programmes, alongside capability in geotechnical engineering, decarbonisation and related environmental disciplines. Strong candidates will be able to advise across the full project-development cycle, including design, development, planning and cost assessment, and provide technical analysis that informs investment decisions. The work may require senior project-board advice, support to senior responsible officers and project directors, principal-designer responsibilities under CDM 2015, and a coordinated team of specialist sub-advisers. Organisations with broad in-house expertise or the ability to lead a consistent multi-disciplinary team should prepare for the future competition.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

GeoTechnical Advisor

Notice Description

UKRI-NERC are seeking to appoint a Geotechnical Advisor with recent international experience in similar programmes that can support UKRI in all stages of project development to include designing, developing, planning and costing our initiatives across the geo-technical, decarbonisation and related environmental areas, to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of our investments. This is a high-profile appointment that will provide opportunity to support and progress UKRI thinking in this key area of research over the next four years. The successful organisation will provide all necessary resources to fulfil a range of roles for UKRI acting, for example, as Principal Advisor (Project Board Level, SRO & PD support), Principal Designer (CDM 2015), or Technical Advisor / Analyst. The organisation may choose to take the lead role with other 'specialist' sub-advisors to provide a pre-selected core team for breadth of expertise and consistency of approach.

Planning Information

An initial Supplier Webinar will be held on Teams on 21st August at 13:00 hours, if any suppliers would like to attend the webinar, they are to email NERCProcurement@ukri.org no later than 16:00 hours on 20th August 2026. Emails are to include the Contact Names and Email Address of those who will be attending the webinar.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d8d4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/072716-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

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

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

71332000 - Geotechnical engineering services

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
31 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
1 Sep 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Dec 2026 - 14 Dec 2030 4-5 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
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
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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