---
title: "Improving innovation procurement for the Innovation & Research (I&R) Designated Fund"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-40e0f200-2914-4def-a192-ea16ffe29f3c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-40e0f200-2914-4def-a192-ea16ffe29f3c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-40e0f200-2914-4def-a192-ea16ffe29f3c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-40e0f200-2914-4def-a192-ea16ffe29f3c.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "National Highways Limited"
published: "2026-08-24"
---

# Improving innovation procurement for the Innovation & Research (I&R) Designated Fund

Buyer: National Highways Limited  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-40e0f200-2914-4def-a192-ea16ffe29f3c

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## Summary

National Highways Limited commissioned research and consultancy services to improve how it procures competitions under its Innovation and Research Designated Fund. The work covers a retrospective review of the Year 1 two-stage innovation competition, including the open call, market engagement, procurement and contract award. It also examines whether a simpler single-stage model could be used, and compares competitions delivered internally with external innovation services. Required outputs include lessons learned, future-process recommendations, an implementation plan and an optimised delivery-mechanism matrix. The purpose is to improve simplicity, fairness, supplier experience and internal resource efficiency while supporting access for the wider supply chain, including SMEs. Delivery locations cover the United Kingdom and international locations.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a selective call-off from an existing National Highways Framework Agreement. The award was made on 24 August 2026 to Connected Places Catapult Services Limited for £70,000 GBP. The contract period runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. The underlying tender submission deadline was 24 August 2026 at 12:00 BST. The requirement is classified as research services and is a services procurement. The appointed supplier is expected to assess the existing innovation-procurement approach, develop options for future competitions, recommend changes compliant with procurement legislation and subsidy-control requirements, and produce a plan for implementation in Year 2 of RIS3 or later.

For suppliers that did not win, this award demonstrates that National Highways buys specialist research and advisory support to review innovation-procurement models and improve access for its supply chain. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need experience of evaluating public-sector procurement processes, designing and comparing alternative competition models, and assessing internal delivery against external innovation services. It would also need to turn analysis into practical recommendations, implementation planning and delivery-mechanism choices. Knowledge of innovation competitions, market engagement, supplier experience, SME access, procurement legislation and subsidy-control requirements would be relevant. The selected supplier is an SME, indicating that organisations of this scale can compete for this type of specialist assignment.

## Notice

This is a call-off from an existing National Highways Framework Agreement. This work directly impacts our Innovation and Research Designated Fund (I&R DF). In Year 1 of RIS3, NH used a two-stage innovation competition model. This starts with an open call and market engagement, followed by procurement. NH wants to assess whether this approach can be improved for Year 2. Including: - Exploring a single-stage model that may be simpler, more scalable and less resource intensive for Innovation, Procurement and the wider business. - Comparing the internal vs. external delivery of competitions. The overall aim is to make the process easier and more accessible for both NH and the wider supply chain, including SMEs. The appointed supplier will undertake a structured programme of review, analysis and option development to evaluate National Highways' current procurement approach associated with the Open Call and identify opportunities to improve simplicity, fairness, supplier experience and internal resource efficiency. This will include a retrospective assessment of the interim Year 1 activity, from initiation of the Open Call through to completion of the procurement exercise and contract award. Deliverables 1. Summary of lessons from using the two-stage model in Year 1 (interim year). 2. Review of whether a single-stage competition could work better in Year 2/future. 3. Comparison of internal delivery versus using external innovation services. 4. Recommendations to improve future innovation procurement, with a focus on simplicity, fairness, supplier experience and internal resource efficiency while ensuring compliance with procurement legislation and subsidy control requirements. 5. A plan to implement agreed changes in Year 2 of RIS3/future. 6. Delivery mechanism matrix reviewed and optimised.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/80a28d13-5227-4e09-ad7d-b2497bc56c4c |
| 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 | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 24 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 24 Aug 2026 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 24 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £70,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £70,000 |
| 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 | National Highways Limited |
| Locality | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode area | Birmingham |
| Postcode | B4 6GA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG3 West Midlands |
| ITL 3 | TLG31 Birmingham |
| Local authority | Birmingham |
| Electoral ward | Ladywood |
| Westminster constituency | Birmingham Ladywood |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Connected Places Catapult Services Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services

## Release History

- 24 Aug 2026 at 11:56 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/80a28d13-5227-4e09-ad7d-b2497bc56c4c

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/80a28d13-5227-4e09-ad7d-b2497bc56c4c
  24th August 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Provenance

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