---
title: "DHSC: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR): Research Commissioning and Management Services Lot 2"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-c2cc714a-2f1a-4b9b-a09b-353114960653"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-c2cc714a-2f1a-4b9b-a09b-353114960653"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c2cc714a-2f1a-4b9b-a09b-353114960653.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-c2cc714a-2f1a-4b9b-a09b-353114960653.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Department of Health & Social Care"
published: "2026-08-13"
---

# DHSC: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR): Research Commissioning and Management Services Lot 2

Buyer: Department of Health & Social Care  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-c2cc714a-2f1a-4b9b-a09b-353114960653

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## Summary

The Department of Health and Social Care commissioned Lot 2 research commissioning and management services for the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The work covers translational, innovation and global health research programmes, including commissioning research, managing funding pathways and portfolios, supporting innovation, overseeing strategic portfolios and working with partners. Its purpose is to move promising discoveries and technologies towards implementation and to deliver benefits for patients, the public, and health and care systems in the UK and globally. This is a services contract for research services (CPV 73110000), delivered in the United Kingdom. The requirement is relevant to organisations that can combine research programme commissioning with portfolio management, innovation support and partnership working across health and care research.

The procurement is complete and was awarded through a selective competitive dialogue procedure above the threshold. The tender submission deadline was 5 March 2025 at 17:00 UTC. The tender estimated value was £89,056,782. The contract period is recorded as 20 July 2026 to 31 March 2032, with options to extend by up to four years. The award was made on 20 July 2026 to the University of Southampton. Two active award records identify the same supplier and an awarded value of £188,698,795: one records a contract period from 1 May 2026 to 31 March 2032, and the other from 20 July 2026 to 31 March 2032. The procurement was identified as suitable for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises.

This award demonstrates substantial, sustained demand from DHSC for organisations able to commission and manage complex health research portfolios. Credible competitors would need demonstrable capability in translational, innovation and global health research, including designing and administering funding pathways, running robust commissioning processes and overseeing portfolios from promising discovery through to implementation. Experience of supporting research innovation, assessing progress and maintaining strategic oversight would be important, alongside the ability to work effectively with universities, health and care bodies, patients, the public and international partners. Suppliers should be able to manage a large, long-running service with strong governance, programme management, stakeholder engagement and evidence of delivering real-world impact from research. The stated suitability for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises indicates that specialist organisations may have a role, either directly or through partnerships.

## Notice

Lot 2, Research Commissioning for Translational and Global Health Research, is responsible for commissioning and managing NIHR's translational, innovation and global health research programmes. It provides the funding pathways, commissioning processes and portfolio management needed to move promising discoveries and technologies towards implementation, ensuring that high-quality research delivers benefits for patients, the public and health and care systems in the UK and globally. Through strategic portfolio oversight, innovation support and partnership working, Lot 2 helps accelerate the translation of research into real-world impact. There are options to extend the contract by up to 4 years.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f6f0b1c3-6e06-4dc1-b355-7e3e17a8ad55 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Competitive dialogue (above threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 5 Mar 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 20 Jul 2026 |
| Contract period | 20 Jul 2026 - 31 Mar 2032 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £89,056,782 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £188,698,795 |
| 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 | Department of Health & Social Care |
| Locality | LEEDS |
| Postcode area | Leeds |
| Postcode | LS2 7UE |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE4 West Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE42 Leeds |
| Local authority | Leeds |
| Electoral ward | Little London & Woodhouse |
| Westminster constituency | Leeds Central and Headingley |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | University of Southampton |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services

## Release History

- 13 Aug 2026 at 11:48 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f6f0b1c3-6e06-4dc1-b355-7e3e17a8ad55
- 13 Aug 2026 at 11:40 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/63fa3540-5b01-43a7-8d9d-6311ddb8a5d0

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/f6f0b1c3-6e06-4dc1-b355-7e3e17a8ad55
  13th August 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/63fa3540-5b01-43a7-8d9d-6311ddb8a5d0
  13th August 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/e2c96201-56fa-42b2-bb52-4f673601bf11
  Lot 2 - C454745_Redacted
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/a8bf6813-fbca-4d74-94b1-23334ad45f37
  Lot 2 - C454745_Redacted

## Provenance

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