Planning

Ask AI about this notice

Summarise, research or assess it with AI

View Markdown

Share this notice

Send this contract to a colleague

Data Services for REF 2029

UK Research and Innovation

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

04 Aug 2026 at 11:25

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research and Innovation is preparing data services for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029, the UK-wide assessment of research excellence in higher education. The requirement covers research output data, metadata and related services, including bibliographic matching, metadata and citation data, versions of record, classification, validation, assessment allocation, audit analysis and associated support. The service will integrate with REF 2029 submission and assessment systems. It will support submissions covering up to 34 units of assessment, with outputs reviewed by expert sub-panels. Work is expected to cover the UK, supporting research outputs and related assessment activity for higher education institutions. UK Shared Business Services Ltd is managing the procurement process for UKRI.

This procurement is at the planning stage and is currently a pre-market engagement exercise, not an invitation to tender. UKRI is asking suppliers about capability, capacity, market interest, indicative costs and possible procurement routes, including suitable frameworks and lots. The route to market remains undecided and the formal procedure has not been settled. The planned service period is 1 January 2027 to 30 April 2030. The requirement is above the relevant threshold. The buyer expects suppliers to complete validation questions by 14:00 on 19 August 2026; access to the draft specification and questions is arranged through UK Shared Business Services Ltd using ddatprocurement@uksbs.co.uk and the reference DDaT26374 Data Services for REF 2029 – pre-market engagement.

This engagement will suit suppliers with established research information, bibliographic, scholarly communications or assessment-data services. Relevant capability includes handling large volumes of research outputs, automated and scalable data processing, bibliographic matching, metadata enrichment, citation data, versions-of-record provision, classification and validation. Suppliers should be able to integrate with submission and assessment platforms and support reviewer allocation, audit analysis, eligibility checking and related operational support across both submission and assessment phases. The expected scale is comparable to REF 2021, at approximately 200,000 outputs, so demonstrated capacity, resilience and robust automation will be important. UKRI is seeking market insight on delivery approaches and supplier appetite, making this particularly relevant to businesses that can help shape the eventual specification and procurement strategy before a formal competition.

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 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
19 Aug 2026Expired
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
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

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...