---
title: "DSIT & NI Project Barbara PoC"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-068808"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-068808"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068808.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068808.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY"
published: "2026-04-22"
---

# DSIT & NI Project Barbara PoC

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-068808

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## Summary

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology has concluded the procurement process for the DSIT & NI Project Barbara PoC, centred in London, UK. The tender falls under the publicly awarded contract phase with plans for the project to run from 22nd April 2026 until 31st March 2027. This initiative aims to advance dementia treatment through the development of a Brain Ageing Registry platform. The procurement method employed was a direct award to Neurodegeneration Initiative Ltd, reflecting the project’s focus on research and development services that contribute significant public benefit in healthcare innovation. The industry category is 'Design and execution of research and development', highlighting the project's emphasis on harnessing biomarkers and clinical trials. The contract value is set at £2,750,000, with a gross amount of £3,300,000.

This procurement offers substantial opportunities for specialised businesses within the research and development sector, particularly those focusing on healthcare innovation and dementia research. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs) can find opportunities for collaboration, provided they align with the expertise required to drive forward the Dementia Goals programme. The direct association with central government operations enhances potential for further growth and visibility in the public sector, making it a strategic venture for entities looking to expand their footprint in healthcare advancements. Neurodegeneration Initiative Ltd, a suitable candidate due to their niche focus and existing infrastructure, exemplifies the ideal profile for competitors considering entry into similar projects.

## Notice

The Dementia Goals programme (DGP), part of the Healthcare Goals programme (based in the Office for Life Sciences within DSIT). The Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals programme, , aims to speed up the development of new treatments for dementia by accelerating innovations in biomarkers, clinical trials and implementation. This project is to undertake a Proof of Concept (PoC) study to test the feasibility of BARBARA - a Brain Ageing Registry for Biomarkers, Access to trials, Research, and Adoption.

### Procurement Information

DSIT (OLS) proposes awarding a twelve-month research and development contract to the Neurodegeneration Initiative' (NI) to carry out a proof-of-concept feasibility study which will lead to creation of the Project BARBARA platform, as an exempted contract under Schedule 2, paragraph 22 of the Procurement Act 2023. The R&D services exemption under Schedule 2 paragraph 22 gives contracting authorities the freedom to design R&D programs that could seek to develop products or technology for the benefit of the market as a whole, and for which the authority itself has no requirements. For example, government contracts for research by public research institutions, universities or the private sector. The exemption, at Schedule 2 paragraph 22(1), applies where the services to be procured are intended by the contracting authority to be for a public benefit or result in a public benefit. This is satisfied because the purpose of the contract and services is to create a platform that will benefit the public - solely for the supply of R&D services; this is also satisfied. The services must also consist of one or more of the activities listed in paragraph 22(2) (a)-(d). The most relevant of these is paragraph 22(2)(c): "(c) development which uses existing knowledge to initiate the manufacture of new materials or products, establish new processes, systems or services, or to achieve a substantial improvement in existing materials, products, processes, systems or services"

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036392-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 22 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 22 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | 21 Apr 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £2,750,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1A 2EG |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | NEURODEGENERATION INITIATIVE |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development

## Release History

- 22 Apr 2026 at 08:11 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036392-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/036392-2026
  22nd April 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.n-di.org.uk
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-h6vhtk-068808. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-068808.json.