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260158 Contract for the Provision of a Research Intelligence Tool

Queen's University Belfast

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

24 Aug 2026 at 15:07

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

21 Aug 2026 at 13:31

UK4 - Tender Notice
Planning

20 Aug 2026 at 17:04

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Queen’s University Belfast is procuring a research intelligence tool: a software platform and associated database and information technology services. It will support institutional research and innovation strategy, planning and evaluation by benchmarking research performance, identifying emerging strengths, monitoring collaboration and partnership activity, and supporting research assessment exercises and strategic planning across Faculties and Schools. Expected users include academic staff, research deans, research strategy and policy teams, research development and partnerships teams, the Library’s open research function, business alliance, marketing and reputation teams, and research intelligence staff. The service will need to address data quality, usability, interoperability, responsible metrics and research culture, with sustainability also considered. Delivery is for Queen’s University Belfast in the United Kingdom.

The procurement has reached the tender stage: the university invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission allowed in English. This is a single-lot services contract. Questions had to be submitted by 10 September 2026 at 16:00, and offers by 15 September 2026 at 16:00. The intended award decision date was 9 October 2026. The contract is scheduled to run from 4 January 2027 to 3 January 2032, with renewal arrangements described as 60 months and a maximum extent to 3 January 2037. The estimated value is £900,000 excluding VAT and £1,080,000 including VAT. Evaluation gives 90% to technical quality and 10% to price, with detailed technical scoring covering functionality, data, analytics, reporting, integration, implementation, resilience, sustainability and social value.

This opportunity suits software providers and specialist research-information suppliers able to deliver a robust research intelligence platform for a university environment. Strong candidates will have demonstrable capability in research performance benchmarking, emerging-strength analysis, collaboration and partnership intelligence, impact analytics, reporting, visualisation and data export. The platform must provide reliable, transparent and well-covered data, an accessible and usable user experience, interoperability and API capability, and a sound technical architecture. Suppliers should be able to implement the service, maintain continuity, provide responsive support and demonstrate platform resilience. Experience of responsible research metrics and alignment with research culture will be important, alongside credible sustainability and social value measures. The procurement is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

260158 Contract for the Provision of a Research Intelligence Tool

Notice Description

Queen's University Belfast requires a Research Intelligence Tool to support institutional research and innovation strategy, planning, and evaluation. The tool will enable benchmarking of research performance, identification of emerging research strengths, monitoring of collaboration and partnership activity, and support planning for research assessment exercises and strategic planning across Faculties and Schools. Queen's will develop requirements based on institutional needs, including functional fit, data quality, usability, interoperability, alignment with research culture and responsible metrics principles, and value for money. Key users will include academic staff, Faculty Deans of Research, Research Strategy & Policy Team, Research Development, Global Research Partnerships, Business Alliance, Library (Open Research), Global Marketing and Reputation, and the Research Intelligence Team.

Planning Information

Queen’s has conducted Preliminary Market Engagement with a number of suppliers in order to: • develop the understanding of our requirements and the proposed approach to the procurement; • gain a better understanding of what the market can offer and if the market was capable of responding to a tender in relation to this requirement; • identify potential suppliers for the requirement; • understand potential lead times; • gain an understanding of the commercial profile for the requirement; • communicate sustainability targets and minimum requirements to confirm the market has the capability to deliver on these. • identify opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of the requirement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e910
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/080446-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

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

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

48610000 - Database systems

72222300 - Information technology services

72320000 - Database services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£900,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£900,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
24 Aug 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
15 Sep 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
21 Aug 2026Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
4 Jan 2027 - 3 Jan 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Queen's University Belfast
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT7 1NN
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

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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