---
title: "CR20063 - Strength in Places Fund (SIPF)"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-033d9867-0ca6-46f1-8008-6a5e440330b6"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-033d9867-0ca6-46f1-8008-6a5e440330b6"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-033d9867-0ca6-46f1-8008-6a5e440330b6.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-033d9867-0ca6-46f1-8008-6a5e440330b6.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED"
published: "2026-03-31"
---

# CR20063 - Strength in Places Fund (SIPF)

Buyer: UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-033d9867-0ca6-46f1-8008-6a5e440330b6

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## Summary

The procurement process for the Strength in Places Fund (SIPF) is overseen by UK Shared Business Services Limited (UKSBS), located in Swindon, England. This initiative falls under the category of research and development consultancy services, specifically aimed at fostering regional economic growth through place-based research and innovation funding. The procurement stage has progressed from planning to award, with Frontier Economics Limited being the successful supplier. The process utilises a selective procurement method via a call-off from the CCS Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) framework agreement RM6018. Key dates include the contract award on 18 December 2020 and start on 4 January 2021, with the end date recently extended from 31 December 2026 to 31 March 2028. The original engagement event took place on 17 September 2020.

This tender presents significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the fields of research and market analytics, particularly those with expertise in economic evaluations and consultancy services. The project aims to deliver a comprehensive evaluation of the UKRI's Strength in Places Fund, spanning impact and process evaluation to maximise the value of public funding and guide future policy improvements. Businesses proficient in research methodologies and economic impact analysis are well-suited to compete for similar opportunities in the future, enhancing their portfolio and contributing to national policy development. Given the ongoing nature of the fund, participating organisations have the potential to establish long-term relationships within government sectors.

## Notice

***Modification of the Contract*** 001 - Contract has been to modified to change original milestone for Phase 2 Baseline 002 - to extend the contract end date from 31 Dec 2026 to 31 March 2028 **** ** THIS TENDER IS CLOSED ** Award of contract via the CCS DPS Agreement RM6018 via further competition. DO NOT apply directly to the buyer. All tender information MUST be submitted through the Delta eSourcing Portal. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have a requirement to procure a programme evaluation of the UKRI Strength in Places Fund (SIPF). The SIPF is a new competitive funding scheme that takes a place-based approach to research and innovation funding, to support significant regional economic growth. The aim of the evaluation is to inform ongoing and future improvements to the fund, to maximise the value of public funding (in particular, the possibility of future growth of the SIPF), to demonstrate what the fund delivered for taxpayers, and to help UKRI build the evidence base on 'what works' in place-based funding of Research and Innovation (R&I) as part of UKRI's wider efforts to understand 'what works' in R&I policy and delivery. The evaluation will consist of both impact and process evaluation, and will be at the fund-level, covering Waves 1 and 2 of the SIPF.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/327d1ef9-9297-48ee-b952-27e01c5a8279 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a framework agreement |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Planning, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 31 Mar 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 2 Dec 2020 |
| Future notice date | 17 Sep 2020 |
| Award date | 18 Dec 2020 |
| Contract period | 4 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £799,987 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED |
| Locality | SWINDON |
| Post town | Swindon |
| Postcode | SN2 1FL |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLK South West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire |
| ITL 3 | TLK71 Swindon |
| Local authority | Swindon |
| Electoral ward | Rodbourne Cheney |
| Westminster constituency | Swindon North |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | FRONTIER ECONOMICS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
- 79300000 - Market and economic research; polling and statistics

## Release History

- 31 Mar 2026 at 09:36 - AwardUpdate - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/327d1ef9-9297-48ee-b952-27e01c5a8279
- 13 Jan 2021 at 14:22 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/327d1ef9-9297-48ee-b952-27e01c5a8279
- 4 Sep 2020 at 09:33 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0940a0ca-4b72-4430-9909-cd5e3588fcb3

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/327d1ef9-9297-48ee-b952-27e01c5a8279
  31st March 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/0940a0ca-4b72-4430-9909-cd5e3588fcb3
  4th September 2020 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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