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UKRI-6017-METIUS

UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Tender

22 Oct 2026 at 10:49

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) is seeking evaluation research services for the METIUS programme, a UK research infrastructure investment using artificial intelligence to make evidence synthesis faster, more relevant and more accessible to decision-makers. The evaluation is intended to assess whether the programme has increased policymakers’ use of synthesised evidence in policy development and to examine benefits for evidence-informed public policy in the UK and internationally. It will also produce practical insights to inform future research investment design and delivery. The programme is co-funded by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and the Natural Environment Research Council. The procurement is classified as research services. Delivery is in the United Kingdom; the published location is Swindon, Wiltshire.

UKRI invited offers through an open procedure. The enquiry deadline set by the buyer was 5 November 2026 at 11:00 UTC, and the bid deadline was 16 November 2026 at 11:00 UTC. The buyer planned to decide the award by 30 November 2026. The contract period is 17 December 2026 to 16 December 2030. The estimated value is £166,666.67 excluding VAT (£200,000 including VAT). There is one lot, and small and medium-sized enterprises are considered suitable. Evaluation is weighted 85% on quality and 15% on price. Bids may be submitted electronically in English.

This opportunity is suited to research and evaluation consultancies with the ability to assess the influence of an AI-enabled evidence-synthesis programme on policymaking, and to examine the resulting public-policy benefits in both UK and international contexts. Suppliers should be equipped to develop and deliver a robust evaluation and translate findings into actionable recommendations for future research investment. The work calls for experience engaging with policy development and assessing how research evidence is used by decision-makers. SMEs are identified as suitable, making this a potential fit for specialist firms as well as larger research providers. The evaluation spans a multi-year programme and requires a perspective that can connect evidence synthesis, policymaker practice and policy outcomes.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

UKRI-6017-METIUS

Notice Description

The METIUS programme is a new infrastructure investment with a total UK funding allocation of PS14.5 million. It aims to harness cutting-edge AI to improve the speed, relevance and accessibility of evidence synthesis for decision-makers tackling urgent challenges. METIUS is co-funded by the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and forms part of the UKRI Creating Opportunities and Improving Outcomes strategic theme. The investment started on 1 October 2025 and will run for five years. The purpose of the evaluation is to assess the extent to which the project has increased policymakers' use of synthesised evidence to inform policy development, and to evaluate the associated benefits for evidence-informed public policy in the UK and internationally. In addition, the evaluation will generate actionable insights to inform the design and delivery of future research inve

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078d9c
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099849-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
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
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£166,666 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£166,666 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
16 Nov 20263 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
17 Dec 2026 - 16 Dec 2030 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
UK RESEARCH & 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, WILTSHIRE
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
TLK14 Swindon
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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