Find Tenders for Research and development services and related consultancy services

Breeder Blanket System Partner (BBSP)

Description: For the purposes of this early market engagement, UK Fusion Energy Ltd is seeking responses from suppliers capable of providing engineering and technical knowledge to support complex, safety-critical engineering projects, deliver defined work packages supporting technology demonstration projects and industrialisation activities as described within 6.2 of the attachment. The proposed contract is intended to allow a System Partner to support UK Fusion Energy by collaboration with potential other partners on the above work as well as with UK Fusion Energy. UK Fusion Energy is interested in understanding suppliers' experience operating as a Strategic Partner / Integrator potentially supporting the development and management of a nascent supply chain. UK Fusion Energy does not necessarily expect that one single supplier may be able to provide all the elements of this (read more...)

Summary: The procurement process, led by United Kingdom Fusion Energy Ltd, is presently in the planning stage. This is a preliminary market engagement for a contract titled "Breeder Blanket System Partner (BBSP)" in the field of engineering services. The procurement process is centred around the location of Culham Campus, Abingdon, UK, and pertains to central government interests. Interested suppliers are required to respond to Appendix 1: Questionnaire by 19th June 2026. This procurement is aimed at understanding the market capabilities for delivering engineering and technical services for complex, safety-critical projects, and defining future procurement activities. The associated contract period spans from 23rd May 2026 to 19th June 2026.

Test Operations Partner - West Burton Region

Description: A single operational facility will be stood up to facilitate high priority test activities. This facility is likely to be an existing commercial lease unit. Enabling initial operations to occur, with a later migration to bespoke buildings in 2-4 years' time, these will be located on or close to the West Burton Power plant site - a repurposed Coal Fired Power station site, that will accommodate the novel Prototype Fusion Power Plant being delivered by STEP. The tests that will be accommodated in this facility will involve many FOAK physical test rigs comprising of; Scaled Superconducting Magnets Testing, High Power Microwave Testing, Novel Cooling Cycle testing through high temperature turbo machinery, Control Room simulator and other smaller activities. Each will have its own complexities and operational risks/hazards that (read more...)

Summary: The procurement process is currently in the planning stage for a tender initiated by United Kingdom Fusion Energy Ltd, located at Culham Campus, Abingdon. The tender, titled "Test Operations Partner – West Burton Region," falls under the engineering services industry category. It involves setting up an operational facility to support various high-priority test activities and is expected to be located near the West Burton Power plant site. Interested parties are required to respond to a questionnaire by 17:00 on 19th June 2026, with planning decisions to be informed by these responses. The engagement aims to understand market capabilities and to shape future procurement activities.

HE Consultancy Framework: Libraries; Digital preservation

Description: Jisc is establishing an open framework to enable Jisc to purchase HE consultancy. This consultancy focuses on the needs of libraries in the UK higher education sector. Jisc consultancy supports institutions with the development and implementation of digital transformation programmes at both strategic and operational levels, from business strategies and planning to development of systems, services and data management including digital preservation. The Open Framework covers five specialisms separated into Lots: Strategy: strategy development, business planning, service development, digital resources management Copyright and licensing: copyright and licensing issues in relation to digital collections and scholarly communication Systems: library systems, systems integration, migration, requirements gathering and options analysis Data and metadata: bibliographic data management, collection management, metadata standards, workflows Digital preservation: standards, formats, solutions, management and procurement The Supplier (read more...)

Summary: JISC, a public authority in the sub-central government sector, is currently in the planning phase of a procurement process for their "HE Consultancy Framework: Libraries; Digital preservation" contract. This tender covers multiple specialisms, focusing on the UK higher education sector's libraries and digital transformation needs. The procurement stage prioritises planning, with market engagement occurring through preliminary notices. Suppliers must be registered on the JISC portal to participate. The key milestone is the engagement correspondence deadline, set for 1st July 2026, with the contract period starting from 17th December 2026 and potentially extending until 16th December 2034. The value of this service-oriented procurement is £1,000,000 to £1,200,000 GBP. The framework involves a well-structured process, following the Procurement Act 2023, and requires suppliers to meet specific criteria, including an interview stage. Suppliers will have further communication opportunities, with the next notice date scheduled for 19th August 2026.

Inter-Agency Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) Research Studies - 2026/27

Description: The Office of the Chief Engineer within the UK Space Agency (UKSA) is intending to identify delivery partners to support a set of studies that will support ongoing research being performed as part of its role in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). The Inter Agency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has 13 member states that conduct technical research to inform their publications on how to measure, model, protect from and mitigate space debris. The primary purpose is to exchange information on space debris research activities between members, to facilitate opportunities for cooperation in space debris research, to review the progress of ongoing cooperative activities and to identify debris mitigation options. The UK has been a member for nearly 30 years and has been helping to guide the (read more...)

Summary: The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is planning a procurement process for the "Inter-Agency Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) Research Studies - 2026/27" under an open procedure, with a main procurement category in services. The initiative aims to identify delivery partners to undertake technical studies relevant to the UK Space Agency's role in the IADC. The buyer, located at 22 Whitehall, London, is planning to split this competition into multiple lots pertaining to three distinct research areas within the committee: Environment and Database, Protection, and Mitigation. The procurement stage is currently at the planning update stage, with a tender period closing on 31st July 2026 and an enquiry period ending on 17th July 2026. The estimated value of the contracts is up to £350,000, making this a significant opportunity for organisations in the research and development sector.

Inter-Agency Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) Research Studies - 2026/27

Description: The Office of the Chief Engineer within the UK Space Agency (UKSA) is intending to identify delivery partners to support a set of studies that will support ongoing research being performed as part of its role in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). The Inter Agency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has 13 member states that conduct technical research to inform their publications on how to measure, model, protect from and mitigate space debris. The primary purpose is to exchange information on space debris research activities between members, to facilitate opportunities for cooperation in space debris research, to review the progress of ongoing cooperative activities and to identify debris mitigation options. The UK has been a member for nearly 30 years and has been helping to guide the (read more...)

Summary: The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is planning a procurement process for the "Inter-Agency Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) Research Studies - 2026/27" under an open procedure, with a main procurement category in services. The initiative aims to identify delivery partners to undertake technical studies relevant to the UK Space Agency's role in the IADC. The buyer, located at 22 Whitehall, London, is planning to split this competition into multiple lots pertaining to three distinct research areas within the committee: Environment and Database, Protection, and Mitigation. The procurement stage is currently at the planning update stage, with a tender period closing on 31st July 2026 and an enquiry period ending on 17th July 2026. The estimated value of the contracts is up to £350,000, making this a significant opportunity for organisations in the research and development sector.

Inter-Agency Debris Committee (IADC) Research Studies - 2026/27

Description: The Office of the Chief Engineer within the UK Space Agency (UKSA) is intending to identify delivery partners to support a set of studies that will support ongoing research being performed as part of its role in the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC). The Inter Agency Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) has 13 member states that conduct technical research to inform their publications on how to measure, model, protect from and mitigate space debris. The primary purpose is to exchange information on space debris research activities between members, to facilitate opportunities for cooperation in space debris research, to review the progress of ongoing cooperative activities and to identify debris mitigation options. The UK has been a member for nearly 30 years and has been helping to guide the (read more...)

Summary: The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is planning a procurement process for the "Inter-Agency Debris Co-ordination Committee (IADC) Research Studies - 2026/27" under an open procedure, with a main procurement category in services. The initiative aims to identify delivery partners to undertake technical studies relevant to the UK Space Agency's role in the IADC. The buyer, located at 22 Whitehall, London, is planning to split this competition into multiple lots pertaining to three distinct research areas within the committee: Environment and Database, Protection, and Mitigation. The procurement stage is currently at the planning update stage, with a tender period closing on 31st July 2026 and an enquiry period ending on 17th July 2026. The estimated value of the contracts is up to £350,000, making this a significant opportunity for organisations in the research and development sector.

DWMP28 Options Identification PMEN

Description: United Utilities is developing its statutory Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP28) in accordance with government guidance published in 2025. The DWMP sets out how United Utilities will plan for, and maintain, a resilient and sustainable drainage and wastewater system over a minimum 25 year planning horizon, taking account of current and future risks, pressures and uncertainties. The DWMP28 considers how the drainage and wastewater system can continue to operate effectively in the face of increasing external pressures that threaten long term resilience, including in particular: * Population and customer behaviour, increasing household wastewater demand and placing additional pressure on sewer networks and wastewater treatment capacity; * Development, including the growth of specialist developments such as data centres, which can generate additional wastewater or altered effluent characteristics from (read more...)

Summary: United Utilities Water Limited is in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "DWMP28 Options Identification PMEN", focused on developing the statutory Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan (DWMP28). This initiative falls under the services industry category, specifically research and development services and related consultancy, and covers a wide geographical area within the UK. The procurement aims to maintain a resilient and sustainable drainage and wastewater system to address risks such as increased household wastewater demand and climate change impacts. A Prior Market Engagement Notice (PMEN) deadline is set for 12th June 2026, with further stages scheduled through to November 2027, when the Draft DWMP will be published for public consultation.

Social Research Evaluation Services

Description: Provision of Social research Evaluation Services and Evaluation training Services to ONS

Summary: The Office for National Statistics is undertaking a procurement process for the provision of Social Research Evaluation Services. This planned procurement falls under the services category and involves offering both research evaluation services and evaluation training to the buying organisation. The tender process is currently in the planning stage, with a pipeline notice published on 21st May 2026. With an estimated contract value of £3,600,000 (gross value £4,320,000), the contract period is planned to commence on 27th February 2027 and conclude on 26th February 2031. The central government authority, located in Newport, UK, is inviting interested parties to prepare for the upcoming notice anticipated on 1st September 2026.

Crane Concept Design Study

Description: UKFE is looking for input from suppliers to inform and validate a requirement for a Crane Concept Design Study. The study will be to generate concept designs for a lifting system based on electric overhead or gantry crane technology. Additionally, UKFE need advice on load cases based on input information, complex lift design advice to influence component design, and costing of the system/s commensurate with the design maturity. Please note that this is Preliminary Market Engagement, and does not constitute a live opportunity nor request for bids. Should UKFE be in a position to proceed to request tenders for this requirement a separate notice is expected to be published. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://ukifs.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Abingdon:-Lifting-and-handling-equipment./77YKT4SP98 To respond to this opportunity, please (read more...)

Summary: UK Fusion Energy Ltd, a central government public authority, is in the planning stage of a procurement process titled "Crane Concept Design Study." Located at Culham Science Centre in Abingdon, the organisation is conducting a preliminary market engagement for this project. The industry category focuses on lifting and handling equipment, with specific interest in cranes and related machinery. Interested businesses must review and provide input on the market engagement document by 15:00 BST on 4th June 2026, using the UKFE Delta Portal. The planned contract period runs from 30th June 2026 to 30th October 2026, with a possible extension to 30th December 2026. This study aims to assess and validate the requirements for electric overhead or gantry crane concepts.

Research into the Business and Operational Needs of the Arts Sector in Wales

Description: Background and scope 1. Introduction Arts Council of Wales, through its Business Enabler Team, invites tenders from suitably qualified and experienced research organisations to undertake a comprehensive study into the business and operational needs of the arts sector in Wales. This research will play a central role in strengthening the resilience, sustainability, and business capability of organisations and freelancers across the Welsh arts ecosystem. Important: This tender excludes any exploration of creative skills or artistic practice. The research must focus exclusively on Business, Operational and Organisational elements that include (but not entirely limited to): Organisational business capability Operational systems Infrastructure Skills and training needs related to business functions Forward-looking business trends and challenges 2. Purpose of the Research The commissioned research organisation will be expected to deliver robust, (read more...)

Summary: The Arts Council of Wales is inviting tenders for a comprehensive research project titled "Research into the Business and Operational Needs of the Arts Sector in Wales". This tender is part of their efforts to enhance the business resilience and capabilities within the arts community in Wales. The procurement is in the tender stage and has been classified under the research and business services industry categories. Open competition rules apply, with a submission deadline set for 30th June 2026. The project must be conducted in Cardiff, Wales, with a contract period from 30th July 2026 to 16th September 2026. The estimated contract value is £36,000, and submissions must be made electronically via Sell2Wales.