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Data Services for REF 2029

UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

04 Aug 2026 at 10:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), located in Swindon, is initiating a public procurement process for the "Data Services for REF 2029" project. This procurement falls under the category of services, specifically focusing on data services, and involves preparing for the Research Excellence Framework 2029, a major exercise for assessing UK higher education institutions. The procurement is currently in the planning stage, with a pre-market engagement phase scheduled. Interested suppliers are required to complete validation questions before 2 p.m. on 19th August 2026. This engagement aims to gather insights into the market's capacity, capability, and interest. The procurement process will cover operations from January 2027 to April 2030.

This tender presents an excellent opportunity for businesses specialising in data services, particularly those skilled in handling bibliographic matching, metadata provision, and citation data. Companies with robust, automated, and scalable solutions are ideally suited to meet the requirements of processing approximately 200,000 research outputs. By participating, businesses can position themselves as key players in supporting the REF 2029, potentially influencing the procurement strategy through shared insights. The engagement offers a platform to propose innovative approaches that may enhance data management for academic assessments, fostering potential collaborations and expanding market presence in the higher education sector.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Data Services for REF 2029

Notice Description

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 team seeks a provider to provide research output data, metadata and related services required for REF 2029. The service must integrate with REF 2029 submission and assessment systems and support classification, validation, assessment allocation and audit of submitted outputs. REF 2029 is expected to handle a volume of research outputs comparable to REF 2021 (approximately 200,000 outputs). The requirement is therefore for a robust, automated and scalable service covering bibliographic matching, metadata provision, citation data, provision of versions of record, and associated support for audit and eligibility checking. The REF is the system for assessing research excellence in UK higher education institutions. The next exercise will conclude in 2029. REF 2029 submissions will be made to up to 34 units of assessment and assessed by expert sub-panels using peer review. Submission components include research outputs, disciplinary-level evidence statements, impact case studies and environment information. The services will support two operational phases: the submission phase, in which outputs are classified and validated, and the assessment phase, in which outputs are allocated to reviewers, supporting materials are supplied, and audit analysis is undertaken. Through this notice, the Buyer is seeking to understand the current market's capability and appetite in relation to the requirement. * Assess whether suppliers can deliver the requirement and to identify suitable framework and relevant lot. * Determine the level of supplier interest in bidding should a formal tender be issued. * Help the Buyer to understand indicative costs and approaches available within the market. * Gather market insight to support the refinement and development of the specification and procurement strategy. Suppliers are invited to provide information on their capabilities, proposed approach, and any considerations that may assist the buyer in shaping the future tender requirement. To Access the full specification draft document which provide further details on the requirement, please contact ddatprocurement@uksbs.co.uk, referencing DDaT26374- Data Services for REF 2029 pre market engagement so that we can issue you the Document together with the Validation Questions. Within the RFI Document it details the indicative timelines for the procurement process. Please note that the route to market remains undecided at this stage. It is expected that this pre-market engagement will provide valuable insights to help determine the most appropriate route to market.

Planning Information

The Contracting Authority UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) would like to conduct pre-market engagement. As part of this information gathering exercise, we have developed a series of questions to ascertain the capability, the capacity and the appetite of the current market and would welcome your responses. Please contact ddatprocurement@uksbs.co.uk, referencing DDaT26374 Data Services for REF 2029 - pre market engagement to access the requirement detail and questions. Due to the timeframe required, please ensure to complete the validation questions before 14:00 hrs on 19th August 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06dae8
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/073578-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

72300000 - Data services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Aug 2026Yesterday
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Aug 20262 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 30 Apr 2030 3-4 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 AND INNOVATION
Additional Buyers

UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LTD

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
Post Town
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)

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. 

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