Contracts
Research & development
Public sector contract notices in research & development, from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder.
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Research & development notices
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Small-firm friendly
SE1286 Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sports Guidance Review
Sport England needs a supplier to review and revise its Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sports Guidance in light of recent court rulings and updated equality legislation. The work will involve scientific, medical and policy analysis to produce updated guidance for sports bodies.
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Small-firm friendly
Llantwit Major Railway Station Gateway Wayfinding Pilot Project
Vale of Glamorgan Council wants a multidisciplinary consultancy team to design wayfinding signage and place identity for Llantwit Major Railway Station, and create a framework for future wayfinding improvements across the town.
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Small-firm friendly
1074032381 T1424 Passenger Rolling Stock Emergency Window Repair Procedures
RSSB wants research into temporary repair methods for passenger train windows - which methods work on current stock, what loading they can handle, and what speed/time restrictions apply. The outcome is guidance for maintenance teams and design input for future rolling stock procurement.
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Small-firm friendly
ITT - Demonstrating the impact of Historic England’s planning advice - UID 368
Historic England wants an evaluation study of whether its planning advice on listed building consent applications actually changes development proposals. You'll design a comparison study between applications that received their advice and matched applications that didn't.
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THE PROVISION OF AN ONLINE FAMILY HISTORY SERVICE FOR WALES
The National Library of Wales wants a single supplier to build and run an online family history service for Welsh public libraries, archives, museums and their users. The service will be part of the National Digital Library Service.
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Small-firm friendly
Youth Engagement Services
Maidstone Borough Council wants an organisation to design and deliver an independent engagement programme with young people, either fully deliberative or hybrid. Activity is expected around February/March 2027 with a final report afterwards.
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Small-firm friendly
Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) for the Boston and South Holland Joint Local Plan
Boston Borough Council and South Holland District Council need a consultant to produce an Integrated Impact Assessment covering environmental, sustainability, health, equality, community safety and habitat impacts to inform their joint Local Plan. The assessment must synthesise Strategic Environmental Assessment, Sustainability Appraisal, Health Impact Assessment, Equality Impact Assessment, Community Safety Impact Assessment, and Habitats Regulations Assessment.
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Small-firm friendlyFramework
Datblygu Hyfforddwyr a System Hyfforddi Fframwaith Ymgynghori / Coach and Coaching System Development Consultancy Framework
Sport Wales is establishing a multi-supplier framework for coach development consultancy. They want both CIMSPA Chartered Coach Developers to work directly with coaches and broader system consultants to support research, learning design, evaluation, and NGB advisory work.
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Small-firm friendly
ITT - Historic Gardens: Supporting Adaptation to a Changing Climate – Case Studies - UID 372
Historic England wants case studies showing how UK designated historic parks, gardens and demesnes are adapting to climate change. You'll write a report for publication in their Research Report Series plus a non-technical summary.
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Small-firm friendly
Opportunity Mapping for Open Mosaic Habitat at the Tees Estuary
Natural England needs a survey and analysis of Open Mosaic Habitat across the Tees Estuary. The work includes mapping existing and unmapped OMH, tracking changes over time, identifying species records and characteristic communities, and proposing a prioritised action plan for maintenance and enhancement.
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Small-firm friendly
Passenger Services Cost Benchmarking Study
The Office of Rail and Road needs a study to develop a cost benchmarking framework for passenger train operators. The work will analyse what drives variations in operating costs across the industry and recommend methodologies to help assess efficiency and value for money.
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Small-firm friendly
Scottish Approach to Change Evaluation and Learning Partner
Healthcare Improvement Scotland needs an independent evaluator to assess how the Scottish Approach to Change programme is being implemented and what impact it's having. The evaluation should provide objective challenge, learning and assurance that the programme maintains its core principles around openness, collaboration and responsiveness.
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Small-firm friendly
Habitat Regulations Assessment
King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council is commissioning a Habitat Regulations Assessment to support preparation of their new Local Plan (2026-2044). The assessment must evaluate the implications of the plan for European protected sites in and around the borough.
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Small-firm friendly
Mapping the Research and Innovation Ecosystem in select North African countries Priorities Actors and Uk Partnership Opportunities in Algeria Egypt Morocco and Tunisia
The British Council wants a market intelligence study mapping the research and innovation ecosystems in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, identifying priorities, key actors and opportunities for UK partnerships.
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Small-firm friendlyFramework
Framework Agreement - Standards and Frameworks
Skills Development Scotland seeks suppliers to develop occupational standards and frameworks for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The work is delivered through a multi-lot, multi-supplier framework agreement.
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Small-firm friendly
Screen Culture 2033 Interim Evaluation
The British Film Institute wants an interim evaluation of its Screen Culture 2033 strategy, which launched in September 2022. Phase 1 (the FAME Preliminary Review) is complete; this contract covers Phase 2.
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Small-firm friendly
AI Creator Control
The IPO needs research to support a review of AI and creator control. The work runs four months and includes an interim report for internal policy use and a final report for external publication.
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Small-firm friendly
Activity & Interpretation Plan Consultant
Thetford Town Council needs a consultant to write an Activity and Interpretation Plan for St Peter's Church that shows how people will engage with it through learning, volunteering, events and community activity. The plan must meet National Lottery Heritage Fund requirements and support a future funding application.
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Small-firm friendly
Mission Feasibility Studies – Spacecraft Life Extension Service Demonstration
The UK Space Agency is funding approximately three Phase 0/A feasibility studies for spacecraft life extension service demonstrations. Each study will develop and assess mission concepts for performing safe, reliable and repeatable rendezvous, proximity operations and docking with a cooperative spacecraft, to enable future services like refuelling, orbit control takeover, relocation, or component replacement.
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In-Orbit Manufacturing (IOM) Maturation Research & Development Projects
The UK Space Agency is funding approximately two R&D projects to develop and mature in-orbit manufacturing processes and payloads. Projects must reach Technology Readiness Level 4/5 and establish routes to a future microgravity demonstration by 2030.
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Small-firm friendly
ITT - Archaeological Services in Relation to Marine Protection 2027-2029 - UID 365
Historic England needs assessment and support functions for marine archaeological protection and management in English territorial waters over two years (April 2027 to March 2029). The work focuses on at-risk sites and assets threatened by neglect, decay or other damage.
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Small-firm friendly
ITT - Climate resilience and the historic environment: Sustainable drainage systems (UID 371)
Historic England wants research and case studies on how to integrate sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) into historic sites without damaging heritage value. The work will produce best practice guidance, decision frameworks, and identify implementation challenges across different historic contexts.
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Small-firm friendly
Effect of probiotics on Campylobacter colonisation within the broiler gut
The FSA wants a field-trial study on commercial UK broiler farms to test whether probiotics can reduce or delay Campylobacter colonisation in chicken flocks under real production conditions. The research should measure the effectiveness of commercially available probiotic formulations and establish realistic log reductions achievable.
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Small-firm friendly
Future Local Growth Funding
The LGA wants research into how local growth funding should work in a devolved England. The output is a blueprint assessing current funding, testing design principles, and proposing future framework options for councils and mayoral authorities.
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Small-firm friendly
Research into Doctors Registered without a Licence to Practise
The GMC wants research to understand doctors registered with them but without a licence to practise. The work will provide context for future regulatory reform.