---
title: "Pre-market engagement: Review of the business finance landscape in Wales"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06e3be"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06e3be"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e3be.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e3be.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Development Bank of Wales"
published: "2026-08-13"
---

# Pre-market engagement: Review of the business finance landscape in Wales

Buyer: Development Bank of Wales  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06e3be

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## Summary

The Development Bank of Wales intends to commission an economic consultancy or suitably qualified research provider to review the business finance landscape in Wales. Economic Intelligence Wales, the bank’s independent research arm, will sponsor the work and help shape the research and delivery. The review will examine whether public, private and alternative finance provision meets Welsh businesses’ current and future needs, including market gaps, frictions, affordability constraints, risks and opportunities. Phase 1 is expected to cover market mapping, supply and demand analysis, gap assessment, the public finance context, outlook, evidence gaps and headline policy and delivery implications. Potential later themes include venture, innovation and scale-up finance; ownership transition; commercial property; infrastructure and project finance; and capital structuring. Outputs must be independent, evidence-led, practical, policy-relevant and suitable for senior audiences.

This is a preliminary market engagement and soft-market-testing exercise at the planning stage, not a call for competition or formal invitation to tender. The buyer expects to use an Open Procedure under the Procurement Act 2023, with a future tender currently anticipated for 3 September 2026. Engagement is expected to close on 20 August 2026, and suppliers should register on the relevant procurement portal to receive information and submit clarification questions. There is one planned lot, suitable for SMEs. The anticipated initial contract period is 26 October 2026 to 25 October 2027, with renewal or extension possible to 25 October 2030. The estimated maximum value is £125,000 excluding VAT (£150,000 including VAT), covering possible optional services, extensions and further phases; it is not a guaranteed spend.

The work will suit economic consultancies, market research firms and research providers with strong expertise in business finance, SME finance or regional economic development. Relevant suppliers should understand the Welsh economy, its policy context and business base, and be able to assess public, private and alternative finance provision. The buyer is looking for capability in market mapping, data analysis, evidence assessment and targeted stakeholder engagement, including identifying market failures, constraints and unmet demand. Suppliers should be able to produce independent, credible and decision-ready analysis for senior policy, delivery and stakeholder audiences. Experience across finance for venture, innovation, scale-up, ownership transition, commercial property, infrastructure, project finance or capital structuring would help firms prepare for potential later work packages, subject to future commissioning decisions.

## Notice

Notice type: Pre-market engagement / soft market testing notice. This is not a call for competition or formal invitation to tender. It is intended to raise awareness, test supplier interest and capability, and encourage registration on the relevant procurement portal ahead of any future tender. Contracting organisation: Development Bank of Wales Commissioning body / project sponsor: Economic Intelligence Wales, the independent research arm of the Development Bank of Wales. 1. Overview of the requirement The Development Bank of Wales will act as the contracting authority for this procurement and will enter into any resulting contract with the successful supplier. Economic Intelligence Wales, the independent research arm of the Development Bank of Wales, is the project sponsor and commissioning body for the requirement and will be responsible for shaping the research scope, providing subject matter input and supporting contract delivery. Economic Intelligence Wales expects to procure an economic consultancy or suitably qualified research provider to review the business finance landscape in Wales. The review will assess how well current public, private and alternative finance provision meets Welsh businesses' current and future needs, and identify key gaps, frictions, affordability constraints, risks and opportunities. The work will provide the Development Bank of Wales, Welsh Government and wider stakeholders with an independent, evidence-led view of the Welsh business finance market. Outputs should be practical, policy-relevant and suitable for senior audiences. 2. Purpose of the pre-market engagement * raise awareness of the forthcoming opportunity; * assess supplier interest, capability and capacity; * encourage suitable suppliers to register on the relevant procurement portal. 3. Anticipated programme structure The initial commission is expected to focus on Phase 1: a review of the Welsh business finance landscape, including market mapping, supply and demand analysis, gap assessment, public finance context, outlook, evidence gaps and headline policy and delivery implications. Potential later work may include thematic deep dives on venture, innovation and scale-up finance; ownership transition and succession finance; commercial property, premises and development finance; infrastructure, project finance and capital structuring; and final synthesis. These work packages are not guaranteed and would depend on Phase 1 findings, priorities, budget and commissioning decisions. 4. Expected supplier skills and expertise * strong economic, policy and market research expertise, with experience of business finance, SME finance or regional economic development; * understanding of the Welsh economy, policy context and business base; * ability to map and assess public, private and alternative finance provision, including gaps, constraints and market failures; * experience of data analysis, evidence assessment and targeted stakeholder engagement; and * ability to produce independent, credible and decision-ready outputs for senior policy, delivery and stakeholder audiences. Estimated Contract Value The value included within this notice represents the Development Bank of Wales' current estimate of the potential maximum value of any future contract, including any optional services, extensions and additional phases of work. The initial contract for Phase 1 is not expected to utilise the full estimated value stated in this notice. Any subsequent phases, additional work packages or contract extensions would be subject to future requirements, budget availability, internal approvals and governance processes. This estimate is provided for information purposes only and should not be regarded as a commitment to spend, a guaranteed contract value or a guarantee that any additional phases of work will be commissioned. The final scope, duration and value of any resulting contract may change following market engagement and the completion of the procurement process.

### Planning Information

Interested suppliers should register on the relevant procurement portal following publication of this notice and ensure their supplier profile and contact details are up to date. The procurement will be conducted as an Open Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, with all procurement documents issued through eTenderWales.
As part of the engagement process, EIW is seeking to increase market awareness and provide suppliers with an opportunity to understand the requirement, anticipated contract scope, procurement timetable and submission requirements. Any clarification questions should be submitted through the portal to ensure equal treatment and transparency. Responses will be shared with all interested suppliers where appropriate.
Suppliers are encouraged to review all published documentation and monitor the portal for updates, clarifications and any supplementary information issued during the engagement period. The engagement period will close on 20 August 2026 (estimated), after which the tender opportunity will proceed in accordance with the published procurement documents.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077312-2026 |
| Notice type | UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 13 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 3 Sep 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 26 Oct 2026 - 25 Oct 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £125,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planning |
| Lots status | Planning |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Development Bank of Wales |
| Locality | CARDIFF |
| Postcode area | Cardiff |
| Postcode | CF10 4BZ |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL52 Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan |
| Local authority | Cardiff |
| Electoral ward | Butetown |
| Westminster constituency | Cardiff South and Penarth |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 75210000 - Foreign affairs and other services
- 79400000 - Business and management consultancy and related services

## Release History

- 13 Aug 2026 at 14:56 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077312-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077312-2026
  13th August 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.developmentbank.wales
- 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-06e3be. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06e3be.json.