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FTS051 Research, Appraisal, Delivery and Support Framework - Lot 2 Research

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

22 Jul 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum
Tender

13 Jul 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is procuring a research services framework for itself and other organisations under its control or funding, including South of Scotland Enterprise, Wave Energy Scotland, HIE Orkney, HIE Ventures and Cairngorm Mountain. This opportunity covers Lot 2, Research, and is intended to support work across Scotland. The requirement includes primary quantitative and qualitative research, secondary and tertiary research, socio-economic and sectoral research, scenario planning, customer research and economic intelligence. The framework may be used by organisations based in Inverness, Dumfries, Aviemore and elsewhere in Scotland. It is a services opportunity, classified under CPV 79300000 for market and economic research and related services. Suppliers may tender for and be appointed to one or both lots of the wider framework.

The buyer invited offers through an open procedure for a framework agreement, with electronic tenders submitted through the designated online postbox. This tender stage has been reached. The deadline for Lot 2 tenders, amended from 18 August 2026, is 24 August 2026 at 12:00. The framework is expected to start in November 2026 and run for three years, with an option to extend by up to one further year; its stated duration is 1,440 days. The estimated value for Lot 2 is £1,380,000, within a total framework value of £3,200,000 across both lots. Up to six suppliers may be appointed. Price accounts for 40%; a prompt-payment requirement is pass/fail, with further scoring and minimum quality thresholds in the tender documents. Bids must remain valid for 90 days.

This opportunity suits established research consultancies, economic intelligence firms, universities or specialist partnerships able to deliver mixed-method research at framework scale. Relevant capability includes designing and delivering quantitative and qualitative primary research, analysing secondary and tertiary evidence, conducting socio-economic, sectoral and customer research, developing scenarios and producing economic intelligence. Bidders must provide staff names and qualifications and hold, or commit to obtaining before framework work begins, professional indemnity insurance of £5 million per claim, employers’ liability insurance of £5 million per claim and public liability insurance of £1 million per claim. Firms using subcontractors need resilient supply-chain management and tracking systems. The requirement includes community benefits, and suppliers must be able to meet the stated payment-performance and supply-chain conditions.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

FTS051 Research, Appraisal, Delivery and Support Framework - Lot 2 Research

Notice Description

The Research, Appraisal, Delivery and Support (RADS) Framework is divided into two lots: -Lot 1 Support, Appraisal and Delivery -Lot 2 Research This notice relates solely to Lot 2 of the two-lot framework procurement. Separate Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) notices have been published for each Lot, each with the description 'FTS051 Research, Appraisal, Delivery and Support Framework'. The estimated value of Lot 2 is GBP 1,380,000. The total estimated value of the framework across Lots 1 and 2 is GBP 3,200,000, which is the value stated in this notice. Suppliers may tender for, and be appointed to, one or both Lots. Lot 2 covers a mix of primary (both quantitative and qualitative), secondary and tertiary research - this will include socio-economic research, sectoral research, scenario planning, customer research and economic intelligence.

Lot Information

Lot 1

The framework will be let from November 2026 for a period of 3 years, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Framework Agreement, with HIE having the option to extend for a further period or periods together no exceeding 1 year. Although HIE will be the primary user, the Framework (both lots) will also be available for use by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), Wave Energy Scotland Limited (WES), HIE Orkney, HIE Ventures Ltd (HIEVL), Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd (CMSL), as well as any other Contracting Authority wholly or partly under the control of, or funded by HIE, at any point during the term of this Framework (subject to case-by-case approval by HIE). Each Framework User listed above will enter into a direct contract with the Framework Suppliers on the same terms and conditions as those applying between HIE and the Framework Suppliers. The Framework will be non-exclusive, Framework Users reserve the right, in certain circumstances, to procure services out with the Framework, where required.. Economic operators may be excluded from this competition if they are in any of the situations referred to in Regulation 58 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Options: HIE reserves the right, on giving reasonable written notice from time to time, to require changes to the Services under the Framework Agreement, including the removal of Services, the addition of new Services, increases or decreases to the Services, or changes to the order in which the Services are to be performed or the locations where the Services are to be provided. HIE shall not require any such change other than where it is permitted by Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015. Framework Users may also modify their own call-off contracts where permitted by Regulation 72 and in accordance with the terms of the relevant call-off contract. The Framework Agreement and/or call-off contracts may be modified where permitted by Regulation 72 of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015 and in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreement or contract. Such modifications may include, but are not limited to the following circumstances: -Changes to budget availability. -Where a Framework User brings the services in-house (fully or partially) such that the services are no longer required or reduced services are required. -Reduction or removal of services are required for example where services are no longer required due to changes in organisational strategy or priorities -Cancellation or pausing of a call-off contract due to changes in project status. -The addition of similar services, for example due to increased demand, where significant inconvenience and/or substantial duplication of costs to the Framework User can be avoided. -Increases to the volume of the services required. -Change in legislative requirements resulting in increased, reduced or amended services. -Where demand under one Lot is lower than anticipated and requirements are instead commissioned under the other Lot, subject always to the overall maximum Framework value not being exceeded.

Renewal: It is anticipated that the framework will be let from November 2026 for a period of 3 years, unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Framework Agreement, with HIE having the option to extend for a further period or periods together no exceeding 1 year

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000835557
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=JUL560695
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F14 - Corrigendum
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

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

CPV Codes

73110000 - Research services

73210000 - Research consultancy services

79300000 - Market and economic research; polling and statistics

79310000 - Market research services

79311000 - Survey services

79311100 - Survey design services

79311200 - Survey conduction services

79311300 - Survey analysis services

79315000 - Social research services

79330000 - Statistical services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,200,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£3,200,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Jul 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
18 Aug 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
HIE reserves the right to re-tender for these services upon termination of the contract or at the end of the contract period, including any extension period.

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Additional Buyers

Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd

HIE Orkney

HIE Ventures Ltd.

South of Scotland Enterprise

Wave Energy Scotland Limited

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV2 5NA
Postcode Area
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM6 Highlands and Islands, TLM9 Southern Scotland
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness South
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

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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