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Towards A National Collection - Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype

Historic Environment Scotland

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

29 May 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

16 Jan 2026 at 00:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process for the "Towards A National Collection – Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype" is being managed by Historic Environment Scotland, a central purchasing body located in Edinburgh. This contract, categorised under services with a focus on heritage, tourism, conservation, and the built environment, has reached the award stage as of May 2026. The project involves creating digital collections data to support cultural heritage research, with Oxford University Innovation Limited being awarded the contract. The open procedure used for this procurement indicates a transparent selection process. The contract was signed on 21 May 2026, valued at £265,275, and targets delivery within the UKM75 region of Edinburgh.

This tender presents numerous opportunities for businesses involved in digitisation, data analysis, and heritage conservation sectors. It seeks to develop computation-ready digital collections, creating a market for firms with innovative solutions for digital data structuring and advanced computational access. Companies with strong capabilities in creating interoperable data for large-scale analysis and AI-enabled research can greatly benefit. The open procurement process used, with a significant 60% weight on technical quality and 10% on price, is ideal for established businesses looking to showcase technical expertise and innovative approaches. Additionally, the involvement of a well-respected academic institution as a supplier could provide significant networking and collaboration opportunities for partnering businesses.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Towards A National Collection - Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype

Notice Description

Towards A National Collection - Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype

Lot Information

Lot 1

The Digitisation Capability Pilot is one of the two core work packages delivered through the N-RICH Prototype, alongside the Digital Research Infrastructure Prototype. Its role is to address the supply-side constraints that currently limit the use of cultural heritage collections in computational and data-driven research. While digitisation activity across the UK GLAM sector has expanded access to collections, it has not consistently produced data that is structured, documented and interoperable enough to support large-scale analysis, AI-enabled methods or cross-collection research. The Pilot responds to this gap by focusing on the creation of computation-ready digital collections data, providing a foundation for subsequent infrastructure development and research use. The objectives of the Digitisation Capability Pilot are to: - Define a shared, open and scalable digitisation standard for priority GLAM collection types, specifying baseline, enhanced and aspirational levels of practice; - Ensure the standard is oriented towards interoperability, computational access and reuse, embedding FAIR and CARE principles; - Support data creation, augmentation and computational readiness, including standards for rapid, rich and non-destructive digitisation appropriate to different collection types and research purposes; - Design the standard to be modular and incrementally adoptable by institutions of differing scale, capacity and resource; - Test and refine the standard through limited application with partner GLAM institutions; - Generate evidence on cost, skills and organisational implications to inform future investment decisions; - Publish the standard openly and propose an appropriate model for its future stewardship and evolution.

Options: Historic Environment Scotland reserves the right to request additional deliveries by the Successful Tenderer, either intended as partial replacement of services or as extensions of existing services. Historic Environment Scotland may at it's sole discretion exercise this option.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000820927
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY556829
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£225,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£225,000 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£265,275 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
29 May 20263 months ago
Submission Deadline
27 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
11 May 2026 - 27 Nov 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Historic Environment Scotland
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURGH
Postcode
EH9 1SH
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Southside/Newington
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh South

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

OXFORD UNIVERSITY INNOVATION LIMITED

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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