Cable Landing Station Security Guidance

Description: Undersea cables carry 99%+ of the UK's international internet traffic. These high-capacity data flows underpin the UK's digital economy, national security, and global communications. Cable landing stations (CLS) are a critical part of the UK's subsea telecommunication cable network, acting as the physical interface between undersea cables and terrestrial infrastructure. Due to their strategic importance, CLS are high-value targets for both physical and cyber threats. The Government is committed to strengthening the security of UK cable landing stations. To support this work, we intend to commission an accredited security consultancy to produce security guidance for CLS operators. This work will be jointly overseen by DSIT, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA). Deliverables: Deliverable 1: Written guidance for cable landing station operators (read more...)

Summary: The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology, located in London, is in the planning stage of a public procurement process titled "Cable Landing Station Security Guidance". This project falls under the services category and aims to reinforce the security of the UK's cable landing stations, which are crucial for national security and global communications. Interested parties need to contact the designated individual by 30th January 2026 to confirm their interest in receiving the invitation to tender. The procurement process has identified a deadline for the contract period starting on 2nd February 2026 and concluding on 2nd June 2026, with the overall process above the threshold and aimed at commissioning a security consultancy to produce key deliverables. The estimated contract value is £93,000.

Online Harms Faced by Disabled, and Neurodiverse User

Description: Despite the growing use on online services, understanding how disabled and neurodiverse individuals experience harms within these digital environments remains limited. Existing research, such as Ofcom's findings, highlights that more individuals with limiting conditions see harmful content compared to those without, but these insights are fragmented and fail to capture escalating risks across different disabilities and neurodiverse conditions. Current strategies for harm reduction are largely advisory and rely on user vigilance, leaving substantial gaps in effective, systemic protections. Thus this project will attempt to address these concerns through a literature review looking into the online experience of disabled and neurodiverse users, and optional functionality review which would look at the current state of mainly social media sites to see if features or functions present could be adversely affecting (read more...)

Summary: The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is in the planning stage for a procurement process titled "Online Harms Faced by Disabled, and Neurodiverse User". This project aims to address the risks and harms encountered by disabled and neurodiverse individuals in digital environments. Located in the United Kingdom, the procurement, falling under the industry category of research and social consultancy services, is set to commence on 1 April 2026 and conclude on 1 August 2026. Interested suppliers are encouraged to engage prior to 24 January 2026 to discuss proposed methodologies and costs. The procurement is initiated under the legal basis of UKPGA 2023/54 and focuses on structuring a comprehensive literature review and user interviews to understand online harms more holistically.

Specialist Technical and Commercial Advisory for Rail and Other Transport Systems Framework (STARFour)

Description: In line with its commitment to increasing investment in the UK's transport infrastructure, the Department for Transport (DfT) requires ongoing access to high-quality, specialist technical and commercial advisory services. This need is currently fulfilled through the STARThree Framework, which succeeded the Specialist Technical Advisory for Rail (STARTwo) Framework--both managed by the Department's Group Commercial Directorate (GCD). The Department for Transport intends to publish the STARFour Framework, a fourth generation, closed, multi-lot framework agreement to succeed the STARThree Framework (expiring July 2027). However, this will be subject to approvals and market engagement feedback. STARFour will provide continued access to specialist technical and commercial advisory services across all transport sectors, supporting the Department, its ALBs, and other qualifying bodies. Building on the success of STARThree, the new framework will encourage (read more...)

Summary: The Department for Transport, located in London, United Kingdom, plans a procurement process under the STARFour Framework, anticipated to start on 31 July 2027, with an end date of 30 July 2030, extending potentially to 30 July 2031. This planning stage involves a competitive flexible procedure focusing on services, with a gross budget of £420 million. The aim is to secure specialist technical and commercial advisory services for transport sectors, succeeding the existing STARThree Framework. The procurement covers a broad spectrum of advisory services, including railway engineering, consultancy, and market analysis, and is suited for organisations across various transport systems. The initial notice for this procurement is set to be communicated by 8 May 2026.

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH - BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE USERS ON RAIL

Description: Specification / deliverables The appointed supplier will work with Transport Focus and SISJ partners to design and deliver qualitative research addressing how BSL users want to receive passenger information across rail environments. If quantitative work is also considered to be feasible, then we would consider also including this. The areas to be covered are: Access and preferences * How BSL users prefer to access information across station, onboard and digital channels. * What constitutes an acceptable and desirable minimum viable product (MVP) for BSL provision. Content and language considerations * Expectations around regional BSL dialects and whether a single "universal" version is acceptable. * Preferences regarding interpreter choice, including lived experience of deafness. * Views on consistency versus localisation of BSL content. Physical and digital delivery * Expectations (read more...)

Summary: The procurement process initiated by Transport Focus, a public authority within the central government, invites tenders for the "QUALITATIVE RESEARCH - BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE USERS ON RAIL" project. Located in London and at various UK locations, this project falls under the services industry category, specifically research services. The current procurement stage is the tender stage, with an end date for submissions set for 15th January 2026, and any enquiries must be submitted by 8th January 2026. This open procurement method involves an open competition for a contract valued at £72,000 gross (£60,000 net), with the contract period starting on 1st February 2026 and concluding on 30th April 2026.

Political Finance Research

Description: Summary The Electoral Commission invites suppliers appointed to the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) RM6126 - Research & Insights DPS to express their interest in delivering a UK-wide qualitative research project exploring public attitudes towards political finance. This research will help the Commission better understand public awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of the UK's political finance regime and provide insight to inform future policy and reporting work. Scope of Work The successful supplier will design and conduct qualitative research to explore: Public understanding of political donations and party funding rules. Attitudes to transparency, regulation, and potential reforms (e.g. donation caps). Trade-offs and perceptions around public vs. private funding of political parties. The work will include research design, sampling, fieldwork, analysis, and a final report and debrief presentation.

Summary: The Electoral Commission is seeking to procure services for a project titled "Political Finance Research" aimed at conducting qualitative research into public attitudes towards political finance in the UK. This opportunity is categorized under the Research Services industry with a CPV code of 73110000. The procurement is being conducted using a selective method as a call-off from a Crown Commercial Service framework agreement. The process is currently at the 'Tender' stage, with the tender having been published on 23rd December 2025. The project is valued at £95,000, and the contract is scheduled to commence on 30th November 2025, ending on 31st March 2026. The research is set to be delivered across the United Kingdom, and the tender period will conclude on 16th October 2025.

WPLS Independent Assessor Framework 7

Description: Welsh Government is looking to recruit an independent assessor to evaluate the annual returns of the Welsh Public Library Standards for the years 2026- 2028The aim is to review and summarise, through the production of 22 individual reports, and 1 overarching report, the performance of each public library service in Wales, based on qualitative and quantitative information submitted in June each year as part of the annual reporting exercise against the Welsh Public Library Standards Framework.The objectives are:To assess local authority library service performance for 2026-2028 based on quantitative and qualitative evidence submitted by 22 local authorities. Culture officials will undertake an initial statistical analysis of the quantitative data and this information will be supplied to the successful bidder.To prepare an individual assessment report for each local authority (read more...)

Summary: The Welsh Government (Llywodraeth Cymru) is in the planning stage of a tender process to establish the "WPLS Independent Assessor Framework 7". This procurement opportunity involves recruiting an independent assessor to evaluate the annual returns of the Welsh Public Library Standards from 2026 to 2028. Located in Cardiff, the buyer seeks services in the research and development consultancy and library services categories. With an estimated contract value of £110,000 (excluding VAT), the project requires comprehensive assessments of library performances across 22 local authorities in Wales, culminating in 22 individual reports and one collective report.

Destination Policy Impact Assessment

Description: Monmouthshire County Council wishes to commission consultants to undertake a Policy Impact Assessment to estimate the impact of recent legislation and tax changes on the county's visitor economy businesses and to test the priorities, objectives and targets set in the recently approved Destination Management Plan 2025-2030 within the context of a fast changing and more challenging policy environment. The council also requires an evaluation of different funding options and destination management models to enable delivery of the new Plan and is seeking recommendations on the types of business support that will be required to underpin future sustainable growth of the county's visitor economy.

Summary: Monmouthshire County Council is seeking consultancy services for a Destination Policy Impact Assessment, aiming to evaluate the effects of recent legislation and tax changes on the local visitor economy. This tender, titled "Destination Policy Impact Assessment," falls under the categories of research and development services, administrative services related to tourism affairs, and several other business services. The procurement process is currently in the Tender stage, with the submission period ending on 16th January 2026. Services are to be delivered in the United Kingdom, and the open competition procurement method is being used, with a project value estimated at £30,000 gross.

Space Utilisation Survey, Analysis & Reporting

Description: The University of Salford requires a supplier to conduct the yearly Space Utilisation Survey of its estate. We are looking for the supplier to provide the following service on a 3-year contract with an agreement starting date of 1st August 2026. For full tender documents, please go to https://in-tendhost.co.uk/salford/aspx/Home

Summary: The University of Salford is currently in the tender stage of a procurement process seeking a supplier for a Space Utilisation Survey, Analysis & Reporting. This contract, valued at £55,000, falls under the categories of building services, research and development services, and higher education services, with the service to be provided in the United Kingdom. The procurement will be conducted as an open competition below the threshold, and electronic submissions are accepted. The tender period closes on 30th January 2026, with the contract set to commence on 1st August 2026 and conclude on 1st August 2029. Potential suppliers can submit enquiries until 29th January 2026.

Space Utilisation Survey, Analysis & Reporting

Description: The University of Salford requires a supplier to conduct the yearly Space Utilisation Survey of its estate. We are looking for the supplier to provide the following service on a 3-year contract with an agreement starting date of 1st August 2026. For full tender documents, please go to https://in-tendhost.co.uk/salford/aspx/Home.

Summary: The University of Salford is currently in the tender stage of a procurement process seeking a supplier for a Space Utilisation Survey, Analysis & Reporting. This contract, valued at £55,000, falls under the categories of building services, research and development services, and higher education services, with the service to be provided in the United Kingdom. The procurement will be conducted as an open competition below the threshold, and electronic submissions are accepted. The tender period closes on 30th January 2026, with the contract set to commence on 1st August 2026 and conclude on 1st August 2029. Potential suppliers can submit enquiries until 29th January 2026.

Local democracy resources pack for councillors visiting education settings

Description: The LGA is a national membership body for local authorities. Our core membership is made up of English and Welsh councils through the Welsh LGA. However, it should be noted that this is a joint project across all four UK Nations through the Northern Ireland LGA, Convention for Scottish Local Authority and Welsh LGA. The lead commissioning and contracting organisation is the LGA. The four associations recently recommitted to working together on Civility in public life, including upholding debate and free speech, including criticism, as the cornerstone of a healthy democracy and tackling abuse and intimidation aimed at all in public life. This project will deliver resources to support councillors to make school visits, supporting our aims of improving democratic understanding in school-age children. This project aims to (read more...)

Summary: The Local Government Association (LGA), a public authority representing councils across the UK, is conducting a tender process under the title "Local democracy resources pack for councillors visiting education settings". This procurement, classified under research and development services and related consultancy, aims to create resources that enhance democratic understanding among school-age children. The process is currently at the tender stage, with a deadline for tender submissions set for 21st January 2026. The project, which falls under the services category, will be active from January 26th to March 30th, 2026, with potential for extension following discussions. A light touch procurement regime is in place, and submissions are accepted via open competition as detailed in the LGA's system.