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SETsquared Framework For Mentors

University of Bath

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

04 Sep 2026 at 12:14

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The University of Bath, through SETsquared, is procuring mentoring and business support services for researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, founders and businesses. The framework covers customer and market discovery, branding and marketing, sales, growth and impact, communicating and pitching, finance, operations and governance, equity investment, founder leadership, scaling, and legal, intellectual property and regulatory support. Suppliers can offer expertise in one or more of seven areas: advanced manufacturing; clean energy industries; creative industries; digital and technologies; defence; life sciences; and other sectors, including financial, professional and business services. Examples range from aerospace, offshore wind and artificial intelligence to arts, pharmaceuticals, cyber security and autonomous systems. The work will support University of Bath and SETsquared activity in these specialist sectors.

The procurement reached tender: the University invited offers through an open procedure, with electronic submission allowed in English. Questions were due by 25 September 2026 at 17:00, and offers by 16 October 2026 at 12:00. Award decisions are due by 1 December 2026 at 23:59. The estimated gross value is £700,000. It is a closed framework agreement using call-offs with and without reopening competition, and multiple suppliers are intended for each lot. There are seven lots, each valued at £100,000 gross. Each lot is planned to run from 1 January 2027 to 1 January 2031, with renewal options described as +1+1 and a maximum end date of 1 January 2033. Evaluation is 40% price and 60% quality. Suppliers are not charged a fee.

This opportunity suits specialist mentors, consultants and business-support organisations able to advise innovators, academics, founders and established businesses in a defined sector or across the wider business landscape. Relevant capability includes customer and market discovery, marketing and sales, growth and impact planning, pitching and communication, finance and governance, equity fundraising, founder leadership, scaling, and legal, intellectual property and regulatory matters. Sector expertise is particularly relevant in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative industries, digital and technology, defence and life sciences, while the other lot covers financial, professional and business services. The requirement is explicitly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. Successful suppliers will need to deliver specialist, qualified mentoring and support, with call-off work arising during the framework.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

SETsquared Framework For Mentors

Notice Description

The University of Bath & SETsquared is seeking to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of mentoring and business support services. The Framework will provide the University with access to suitably experienced and qualified Suppliers capable of delivering specialist mentoring and business support to a range of individuals and organisations, including researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, founders and businesses. The Framework is divided into seven Lots covering Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Digital and Technologies, Defence, Life Sciences, and General sectors. Services include support across the following business support areas: Customer and Market Discovery; Branding and Marketing; Sales, Growth and Impact; Communicating and Pitching; Finance, Operations and Governance; Raising Equity Investment; Founder Leadership; Scaling; and Legal, Intellectual Property and Regulations. The University intends to appoint multiple Suppliers to each Lot. Requirements arising during the Framework term will be called off in accordance with the Call-Off procedures set out within the tender documents. For further information, please review the documents within the tenderbox

Lot Information

Advanced Manufacturing

Examples include aerospace, automotive, agri-tech, batteries, space and advanced materials

Renewal: +1+1

Clean Energy Industries

Examples include offshore wind, hydrogen, grid upgrades, carbon capture and decarbonised freight corridors.

Renewal: +1+1

Creative Industries

Examples include arts and culture, advertising, architecture, design, publishing, film, television, music and video games development.

Renewal: +1+1

Digital and Technologies

Examples include artificial intelligence, cyber security, advanced connectivity, engineering biology, quantum technologies and semiconductors.

Renewal: +1+1

Defence

Examples include defence technologies, advanced sensing, autonomous systems and secure communications.

Renewal: +1+1

Life Sciences

Examples include pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical technologies, diagnostics and health data innovation.

Renewal: +1+1

Other

Including Financial Services, Professional and Business Services together with any other sectors not specifically covered by Lots 1-6.

Renewal: +1+1

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f229
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083861-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

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

CPV Codes

79410000 - Business and management consultancy services

79411100 - Business development consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£700,000 £500K-£1M
Lots Value
£700,000 £500K-£1M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
16 Oct 20265 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jan 2027 - 1 Jan 2031 4-5 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
University of Bath
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BATH
Postcode
BA2 7AY
Postcode Area
Bath
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK52 Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Bath and North East Somerset
Electoral Ward
Bathwick
Westminster Constituency
Bath

Further Information

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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