--- title: "Coflein: Next Generation Heritage Platform" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-078dd6" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078dd6" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078dd6.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078dd6.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales" published: "2026-10-22" --- # Coflein: Next Generation Heritage Platform Buyer: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-078dd6 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-078dd6) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078dd6.json) ## Summary The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales is considering a major redevelopment of Coflein, its online catalogue for the National Monuments Record of Wales. The service gives the public access to information on more than 120,000 archaeological sites, monuments, historic buildings and maritime sites across Wales, as well as archive records and digital collections including photographs, drawings, reports, video and 3D content. The potential work goes beyond a website refresh: it may renew the platform architecture, redesign its Welsh- and English-language experience, improve search and mapping, link records and digital assets more effectively, and support rich media and future expansion. The service supports researchers, heritage professionals, educators, students, decision-makers and the wider public. Delivery is across Wales. This is at planning stage: the Commission is developing requirements and its procurement strategy, and is engaging with the market before any formal competition. A future procurement is anticipated after this preparatory work, with a further notice expected around 15 January 2027. Suppliers interested in being kept informed are asked to send their organisation name, contact details, a brief summary of relevant experience and confirmation of interest by 30 November 2026. The estimated value is £112,500 excluding VAT (£135,000 including VAT). The anticipated contract period is 1 June 2027 to 31 March 2028. This is a single planned procurement, with SME suitability indicated. The project is subject to capital funding being secured and business case development being completed; any procurement will also depend on funding approval and governance requirements. The work is likely to suit digital agencies and technology suppliers able to deliver and sustain a substantial public-facing heritage platform, rather than a supplier focused only on visual redesign. The Commission highlights experience in digital heritage platforms, archive and collections management, public sector digital services, GIS integration, bilingual services, accessibility-led design, and large-scale search and discovery. Relevant capability may include platform architecture, Welsh- and English-language user experience, accessible design to WCAG 2.2, integrating catalogue records with digital assets, and presenting images, video and 3D content alongside geospatial information. Suppliers should be prepared to describe their organisation, contact details and relevant experience when registering interest, and to request updates on the procurement. The Commission is still shaping requirements, so experienced providers across these connected disciplines may be well placed to contribute to market planning. ## Notice Preliminary Market Engagement for the redevelopment of the National Monuments Record of Wales online discovery service. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) is seeking to raise market awareness of a potential future procurement opportunity relating to the redevelopment of Coflein, the online catalogue of the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW). Coflein provides public access to information on more than 120,000 archaeological sites, monuments, historic buildings and maritime sites across Wales, alongside archive catalogue records and a substantial collection of digital resources including photographs, drawings, reports, video and 3D content. The service supports researchers, heritage professionals, educators, students, decision-makers and the wider public in accessing information about the historic environment of Wales. Subject to the successful securing of capital funding and the completion of business case development, RCAHMW is considering a significant redevelopment of the Coflein platform. The intention is to move beyond a simple website refresh and deliver a modern, sustainable and scalable platform capable of supporting future enhancement and growth. At this stage, the anticipated project scope may include: renewal of the underlying platform architecture; a redesigned bilingual user experience in Welsh and English; improved accessibility in line with WCAG 2.2 standards; enhanced search and discovery capabilities; improved integration between site records, archive catalogue records and digital assets; support for rich media including images, video and 3D content; enhanced geospatial and mapping functionality; greater flexibility in the presentation and management of content; and provision for future development and enhancement of the service. RCAHMW is currently developing the detailed requirements and procurement strategy. A formal procurement opportunity is anticipated to be advertised following completion of this preparatory work. This notice is intended to provide the market with early visibility of the proposed opportunity and to assist suppliers in forward planning. The Commission would particularly welcome expressions of interest from organisations with experience in areas such as: digital heritage platforms; archive and collections management; public sector digital services; geospatial systems and GIS integration; bilingual digital services; accessibility-led design; and large-scale search and discovery platforms. This notice does not constitute a call for competition, invitation to tender or commitment by RCAHMW to commence a procurement process. Any future procurement will be subject to funding approval, governance requirements and the publication of appropriate procurement documentation. ### Planning Information Interested suppliers should provide: organisation name; contact details; a brief summary of relevant experience; confirmation that they would like to be informed when the procurement commences. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099951-2026 | | 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 | 22 Oct 2026 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 15 Jan 2027 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Jun 2027 - 1 Apr 2028 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £112,500 | | 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 | Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales | | Locality | ABERYSTWYTH | | Postcode area | Shrewsbury | | Postcode | SY23 3BU | | Country | Wales | | ITL 1 | TLL Wales | | ITL 2 | TLL4 Mid and South West Wales | | ITL 3 | TLL41 Mid Wales | | Local authority | Ceredigion | | Electoral ward | Aberystwyth Morfa a Glais | | Westminster constituency | Ceredigion Preseli | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 72 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ### Codes - 72000000 - IT services: consulting, software development, Internet and support ## Release History - 22 Oct 2026 at 12:35 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099951-2026 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099951-2026 22nd October 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - 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-078dd6. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-078dd6.json.