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Coflein: Next Generation Heritage Platform

Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

22 Oct 2026 at 12:35

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales is considering a major redevelopment of Coflein, its online catalogue for the National Monuments Record of Wales. The service gives the public access to information on more than 120,000 archaeological sites, monuments, historic buildings and maritime sites across Wales, as well as archive records and digital collections including photographs, drawings, reports, video and 3D content. The potential work goes beyond a website refresh: it may renew the platform architecture, redesign its Welsh- and English-language experience, improve search and mapping, link records and digital assets more effectively, and support rich media and future expansion. The service supports researchers, heritage professionals, educators, students, decision-makers and the wider public. Delivery is across Wales.

This is at planning stage: the Commission is developing requirements and its procurement strategy, and is engaging with the market before any formal competition. A future procurement is anticipated after this preparatory work, with a further notice expected around 15 January 2027. Suppliers interested in being kept informed are asked to send their organisation name, contact details, a brief summary of relevant experience and confirmation of interest by 30 November 2026. The estimated value is £112,500 excluding VAT (£135,000 including VAT). The anticipated contract period is 1 June 2027 to 31 March 2028. This is a single planned procurement, with SME suitability indicated. The project is subject to capital funding being secured and business case development being completed; any procurement will also depend on funding approval and governance requirements.

The work is likely to suit digital agencies and technology suppliers able to deliver and sustain a substantial public-facing heritage platform, rather than a supplier focused only on visual redesign. The Commission highlights experience in digital heritage platforms, archive and collections management, public sector digital services, GIS integration, bilingual services, accessibility-led design, and large-scale search and discovery. Relevant capability may include platform architecture, Welsh- and English-language user experience, accessible design to WCAG 2.2, integrating catalogue records with digital assets, and presenting images, video and 3D content alongside geospatial information. Suppliers should be prepared to describe their organisation, contact details and relevant experience when registering interest, and to request updates on the procurement. The Commission is still shaping requirements, so experienced providers across these connected disciplines may be well placed to contribute to market planning.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Coflein: Next Generation Heritage Platform

Notice Description

Preliminary Market Engagement for the redevelopment of the National Monuments Record of Wales online discovery service. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) is seeking to raise market awareness of a potential future procurement opportunity relating to the redevelopment of Coflein, the online catalogue of the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW). Coflein provides public access to information on more than 120,000 archaeological sites, monuments, historic buildings and maritime sites across Wales, alongside archive catalogue records and a substantial collection of digital resources including photographs, drawings, reports, video and 3D content. The service supports researchers, heritage professionals, educators, students, decision-makers and the wider public in accessing information about the historic environment of Wales. Subject to the successful securing of capital funding and the completion of business case development, RCAHMW is considering a significant redevelopment of the Coflein platform. The intention is to move beyond a simple website refresh and deliver a modern, sustainable and scalable platform capable of supporting future enhancement and growth. At this stage, the anticipated project scope may include: renewal of the underlying platform architecture; a redesigned bilingual user experience in Welsh and English; improved accessibility in line with WCAG 2.2 standards; enhanced search and discovery capabilities; improved integration between site records, archive catalogue records and digital assets; support for rich media including images, video and 3D content; enhanced geospatial and mapping functionality; greater flexibility in the presentation and management of content; and provision for future development and enhancement of the service. RCAHMW is currently developing the detailed requirements and procurement strategy. A formal procurement opportunity is anticipated to be advertised following completion of this preparatory work. This notice is intended to provide the market with early visibility of the proposed opportunity and to assist suppliers in forward planning. The Commission would particularly welcome expressions of interest from organisations with experience in areas such as: digital heritage platforms; archive and collections management; public sector digital services; geospatial systems and GIS integration; bilingual digital services; accessibility-led design; and large-scale search and discovery platforms. This notice does not constitute a call for competition, invitation to tender or commitment by RCAHMW to commence a procurement process. Any future procurement will be subject to funding approval, governance requirements and the publication of appropriate procurement documentation.

Planning Information

Interested suppliers should provide: organisation name; contact details; a brief summary of relevant experience; confirmation that they would like to be informed when the procurement commences.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078dd6
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099951-2026
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

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

CPV Codes

72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£112,500 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Oct 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
15 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Jun 2027 - 1 Apr 2028 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
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments 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
ABERYSTWYTH
Postcode
SY23 3BU
Postcode Area
Shrewsbury
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL4 Mid and South West Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL41 Mid Wales
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Ceredigion
Electoral Ward
Aberystwyth Morfa a Glais
Westminster Constituency
Ceredigion Preseli

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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