--- title: "DHSC: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR): Research Commissioning and Management Services Lot 3" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-ea1d12b2-e3fc-457c-85f4-9501e8f8dd35" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-ea1d12b2-e3fc-457c-85f4-9501e8f8dd35" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ea1d12b2-e3fc-457c-85f4-9501e8f8dd35.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ea1d12b2-e3fc-457c-85f4-9501e8f8dd35.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "DHSC" published: "2026-08-13" --- # DHSC: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR): Research Commissioning and Management Services Lot 3 Buyer: DHSC Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-b5fd17-ea1d12b2-e3fc-457c-85f4-9501e8f8dd35 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-ea1d12b2-e3fc-457c-85f4-9501e8f8dd35) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ea1d12b2-e3fc-457c-85f4-9501e8f8dd35.json) ## Summary The Department of Health and Social Care procured research commissioning and management services for Lot 3: Population and Policy Research. The requirement covers commissioning and managing research that informs health and care policy, public health, social care and service delivery. It includes strategic portfolio management, evidence synthesis, priority setting and engagement with stakeholders, with the aim of supporting national priorities, reducing health inequalities and helping government, the NHS and wider health and care systems adopt effective interventions. This is a research services contract (CPV 73110000), delivered across the United Kingdom. The procurement is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprises. DHSC is the buying organisation. The procurement is complete and was awarded through a selective, above-threshold competitive dialogue procedure. Bids closed at 5pm on 5 March 2025. The contract was awarded on 20 July 2026 to the University of Southampton, with an awarded value of £83,601,254. The published procurement value was £39,482,053. Two award records give contract periods ending on 31 March 2032: one starts on 1 May 2026 and the other on 20 July 2026. The tender description provides for options to extend the contract by up to four years. This is Lot 3, covering Population and Policy Research. The award is active and the selected supplier is the University of Southampton. This award demonstrates demand for organisations able to run a national research commissioning and management function at substantial scale. Relevant competitors would need credible expertise in population and policy research, health and care policy, public health, social care and service delivery. They would also need to show they can manage a strategic research portfolio, undertake evidence synthesis, set priorities and engage effectively with government, the NHS and wider health and care stakeholders. The requirement favours providers able to translate research into practical improvements in policy and services, including work addressing health inequalities and supporting the adoption of effective interventions. Its stated suitability for SMEs and voluntary, community and social enterprises indicates that specialist organisations, consortia and delivery partners may be well placed when comparable work returns. ## Notice Lot 3, Research Commissioning for Population and Policy Research, is responsible for commissioning and managing research that informs health and care policy, public health, social care and service delivery. It provides the evidence needed by government, the NHS and wider health and care systems to make informed decisions, improve services, reduce health inequalities and support the adoption of effective interventions. Through strategic portfolio management, evidence synthesis, priority setting and stakeholder engagement, Lot 3 ensures research is aligned to national priorities and translates into meaningful improvements in policy and practice. 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/efb84292-94d4-4480-9085-bdeae9d77c48 | | 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 | £39,482,053 | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | £83,601,254 | | 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 | DHSC | | 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 11:49 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/efb84292-94d4-4480-9085-bdeae9d77c48 - 13 Aug 2026 at 11:35 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9342f5d2-81ca-4856-b655-5c8919f5e710 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/efb84292-94d4-4480-9085-bdeae9d77c48 13th August 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/9342f5d2-81ca-4856-b655-5c8919f5e710 13th August 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/2f820db3-a7ad-4afa-940b-c3b051020452 Lot 3 - C454746_Redacted - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/fb87477f-6140-439a-9989-91d98d4be662 Lot 3 - C454746_Redacted ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-ea1d12b2-e3fc-457c-85f4-9501e8f8dd35. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ea1d12b2-e3fc-457c-85f4-9501e8f8dd35.json.