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Pre-market engagement: Review of the business finance landscape in Wales

Development Bank of Wales

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

13 Aug 2026 at 14:56

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Development Bank of Wales intends to commission an economic consultancy or suitably qualified research provider to review the business finance landscape in Wales. Economic Intelligence Wales, the bank’s independent research arm, will sponsor the work and help shape the research and delivery. The review will examine whether public, private and alternative finance provision meets Welsh businesses’ current and future needs, including market gaps, frictions, affordability constraints, risks and opportunities. Phase 1 is expected to cover market mapping, supply and demand analysis, gap assessment, the public finance context, outlook, evidence gaps and headline policy and delivery implications. Potential later themes include venture, innovation and scale-up finance; ownership transition; commercial property; infrastructure and project finance; and capital structuring. Outputs must be independent, evidence-led, practical, policy-relevant and suitable for senior audiences.

This is a preliminary market engagement and soft-market-testing exercise at the planning stage, not a call for competition or formal invitation to tender. The buyer expects to use an Open Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, with a future tender currently anticipated for 3 September 2026. Engagement is expected to close on 20 August 2026, and suppliers should register on the relevant procurement portal to receive information and submit clarification questions. There is one planned lot, suitable for SMEs. The anticipated initial contract period is 26 October 2026 to 25 October 2027, with renewal or extension possible to 25 October 2030. The estimated maximum value is £125,000 excluding VAT (£150,000 including VAT), covering possible optional services, extensions and further phases; it is not a guaranteed spend.

The work will suit economic consultancies, market research firms and research providers with strong expertise in business finance, SME finance or regional economic development. Relevant suppliers should understand the Welsh economy, its policy context and business base, and be able to assess public, private and alternative finance provision. The buyer is looking for capability in market mapping, data analysis, evidence assessment and targeted stakeholder engagement, including identifying market failures, constraints and unmet demand. Suppliers should be able to produce independent, credible and decision-ready analysis for senior policy, delivery and stakeholder audiences. Experience across finance for venture, innovation, scale-up, ownership transition, commercial property, infrastructure, project finance or capital structuring would help firms prepare for potential later work packages, subject to future commissioning decisions.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Pre-market engagement: Review of the business finance landscape in Wales

Notice Description

Notice type: Pre-market engagement / soft market testing notice. This is not a call for competition or formal invitation to tender. It is intended to raise awareness, test supplier interest and capability, and encourage registration on the relevant procurement portal ahead of any future tender. Contracting organisation: Development Bank of Wales Commissioning body / project sponsor: Economic Intelligence Wales, the independent research arm of the Development Bank of Wales. 1. Overview of the requirement The Development Bank of Wales will act as the contracting authority for this procurement and will enter into any resulting contract with the successful supplier. Economic Intelligence Wales, the independent research arm of the Development Bank of Wales, is the project sponsor and commissioning body for the requirement and will be responsible for shaping the research scope, providing subject matter input and supporting contract delivery. Economic Intelligence Wales expects to procure an economic consultancy or suitably qualified research provider to review the business finance landscape in Wales. The review will assess how well current public, private and alternative finance provision meets Welsh businesses' current and future needs, and identify key gaps, frictions, affordability constraints, risks and opportunities. The work will provide the Development Bank of Wales, Welsh Government and wider stakeholders with an independent, evidence-led view of the Welsh business finance market. Outputs should be practical, policy-relevant and suitable for senior audiences. 2. Purpose of the pre-market engagement * raise awareness of the forthcoming opportunity; * assess supplier interest, capability and capacity; * encourage suitable suppliers to register on the relevant procurement portal. 3. Anticipated programme structure The initial commission is expected to focus on Phase 1: a review of the Welsh business finance landscape, including market mapping, supply and demand analysis, gap assessment, public finance context, outlook, evidence gaps and headline policy and delivery implications. Potential later work may include thematic deep dives on venture, innovation and scale-up finance; ownership transition and succession finance; commercial property, premises and development finance; infrastructure, project finance and capital structuring; and final synthesis. These work packages are not guaranteed and would depend on Phase 1 findings, priorities, budget and commissioning decisions. 4. Expected supplier skills and expertise * strong economic, policy and market research expertise, with experience of business finance, SME finance or regional economic development; * understanding of the Welsh economy, policy context and business base; * ability to map and assess public, private and alternative finance provision, including gaps, constraints and market failures; * experience of data analysis, evidence assessment and targeted stakeholder engagement; and * ability to produce independent, credible and decision-ready outputs for senior policy, delivery and stakeholder audiences. Estimated Contract Value The value included within this notice represents the Development Bank of Wales' current estimate of the potential maximum value of any future contract, including any optional services, extensions and additional phases of work. The initial contract for Phase 1 is not expected to utilise the full estimated value stated in this notice. Any subsequent phases, additional work packages or contract extensions would be subject to future requirements, budget availability, internal approvals and governance processes. This estimate is provided for information purposes only and should not be regarded as a commitment to spend, a guaranteed contract value or a guarantee that any additional phases of work will be commissioned. The final scope, duration and value of any resulting contract may change following market engagement and the completion of the procurement process.

Planning Information

Interested suppliers should register on the relevant procurement portal following publication of this notice and ensure their supplier profile and contact details are up to date. The procurement will be conducted as an Open Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, with all procurement documents issued through eTenderWales. As part of the engagement process, EIW is seeking to increase market awareness and provide suppliers with an opportunity to understand the requirement, anticipated contract scope, procurement timetable and submission requirements. Any clarification questions should be submitted through the portal to ensure equal treatment and transparency. Responses will be shared with all interested suppliers where appropriate. Suppliers are encouraged to review all published documentation and monitor the portal for updates, clarifications and any supplementary information issued during the engagement period. The engagement period will close on 20 August 2026 (estimated), after which the tender opportunity will proceed in accordance with the published procurement documents.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e3be
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077312-2026
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
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

75 - Administration, defence and social security services

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

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

75210000 - Foreign affairs and other services

79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£125,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
3 Sep 20261 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
26 Oct 2026 - 25 Oct 2027 6-12 months
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
Development Bank of Wales
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CARDIFF
Postcode
CF10 4BZ
Postcode Area
Cardiff
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Cardiff
Electoral Ward
Butetown
Westminster Constituency
Cardiff South and Penarth

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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