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Researchfish Explorer Subscription 2026-2027

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

15 Oct 2026 at 08:19

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, through the UK Space Agency, procured continued access to Elsevier’s proprietary Researchfish Explorer platform. This subscription provides access to grant outcome data used to monitor and analyse research and innovation outcomes arising from funded activities. The requirement is for a software platform and information system (CPV 48000000), supplied exclusively by Elsevier because it controls the relevant intellectual property, software and access rights. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. The work is focused on continued platform access and research-outcome data, rather than development of a new system or general research services.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to Elsevier B.V. through a direct award without competition, on the basis of exclusive intellectual property and supply rights. The contract was signed on 8 October 2026 and runs from 8 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its value is £28,530.18 excluding VAT, or £34,236.22 including VAT. The procurement was below the relevant threshold and was handled as a single lot. The stated basis for the direct award is that only Elsevier, as the rights holder and exclusive supplier of Researchfish Explorer, can provide the required access. No separate evaluation criteria are set out; the award followed from the exclusivity of the platform and its associated rights.

For suppliers considering comparable future requirements from the Department or UK Space Agency, the decisive capability is control of, or authorised access to, the relevant proprietary research-outcome platform and its underlying data. The selected supplier’s position depended on exclusive intellectual property, software and access rights, so a credible competitor would need to demonstrate that it can lawfully provide the specific Researchfish Explorer service or an acceptable route to those rights. The requirement also indicates demand for dependable subscription access to grant-outcome data that supports monitoring and analysis of publicly funded research and innovation. This is a focused software subscription rather than a broad IT implementation, and the route used reflects the buyer’s reliance on a platform available exclusively from its rights holder.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Researchfish Explorer Subscription 2026-2027

Notice Description

This contract is a direct award under Schedule 5, Paragraph 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 (intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights). The requirement is for continued access by UK Space Agency to the proprietary Researchfish Explorer platform, owned and supplied exclusively by Elsevier B.V.. The subscription provides access to grant outcome data to support the monitoring and analysis of research and innovation outcomes arising from funded activities. As the intellectual property, software and access rights are controlled by Elsevier B.V., competition is absent because the requirement can only be supplied by the holder of the relevant exclusive rights.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-07880c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/097250-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Goods
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

48 - Software package and information systems

CPV Codes

48000000 - Software package and information systems

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£28,530 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Oct 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
8 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1A 2EG
Postcode Area
South West London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Elsevier B.V.

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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