R&D services

Cheshire and Warrington Community Energy Support

ENTERPRISE CHESHIRE AND WARRINGTON

Cheshire and Warrington is home to a substantial and thriving range of community energy organisations. The current pipeline of projects in feasibility and development totals 40MWp, with a portfolio including interesting and varied schemes covering solar, hydroelectricity, energy storage, and more. Many of these groups have been supported over the last two years by the Community Energy Fund, managed by the North West Net Zero Hub on behalf of DESNZ, which funded feasibility studies and supported viable projects on their journey from ideation to delivery. In February this year. DESNZ published their local power plan, highlighting their commitment to delivery 8GW of new local power projects by 2030, and Great British Energy have launched their new community fund - inviting expressions of interest from the community and looking to support rapid deployment via a range of developing finance options. At this critical juncture, ECW, in coordination with the North West Net Zero Hub, is seeking to appoint an organisation to work with the community energy sector across Cheshire and Warrington - supporting the growth and successful delivery of those projects in receipt of Community Energy Fund grant, enabling new groups to progress from ideation to delivery, and driving a more collaborative and integrated sector with increased peer-to-peer learning and knowledge transfer. This commission will support local groups during this key transitional moment, helping groups to access the funding required to progress, and supporting them to navigate any barriers encountered as projects enter the planning and construction phases. Supporting our groups during this transition will ensure that Cheshire and Warrington groups are well positioned to make the most of these exciting opportunities. ECW encourages bids from community organisations, charities, anchor organisations, and specialist advisory consultants. Consortium bids are encouraged where these provide best value-for-money. The succes

Support for local authority performance management – panels, action learning sets and case studies

Improvement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA)

As part of the performance management workstream we are looking to run a series of virtual performance management panels for small groups of officers, as well as action learning sets (or similar) to bring together performance management officers to discuss the challenges they face and share learning. In addition to this, we are looking to produce two case studies from attendees of these sessions.

Contract for ReNEW: Culture Sector Development - Skills and Capacity Development Project

Bromsgrove District Council

Service Design for Embedding Positive Cultures in Residential Care across Wales

Social Care Wales

The contract will be divided into the following two Lots. Social Care Wales intends to appoint one provider per Lot: Lot 1 – Co-design and Test Leadership Support Programme & tools for Adult Social Care Providers Lot 2 – Programme evaluation and impact assessment of the co-design and testing of a new leadership programme and tool for nurturing positive cultures in adult social care services across Wales Suppliers may submit bids for one or both Lots. However, a Supplier may not be awarded both Lots due to an unavoidable conflict of interest (i.e. evaluating their own work). In the event that a Supplier is ranked highest in both Lots, the Supplier will be awarded Lot 1 only. The award for Lot 2 will then be offered to the next highest-ranking compliant bidder Project Phases The Supporting Positive Cultures Programme will be delivered across three distinct phases. Phase 1 has already been commissioned and is underway. Phases 2 and 3 will be delivered through the two Lots commissioned as part of this tender. (a) Phase 1: User Research (completed separately) Phase 1 is currently underway and is due to complete in June 2026. This phase focuses on developing a robust understanding of the needs of leaders in adult care provider organisations, particularly in relation to embedding, assessing and sustaining positive organisational cultures and their underpinning principles. The outputs from Phase 1 will include a set of evidence-based proposals setting out what an effective future support service for nurturing positive cultures could look like. Phase 1 is not included within the scope of this tender. Its findings will be shared with the successful supplier/s upon contract award and will directly inform the work commissioned through Lots 1 and 2. (b) Phases 2 and 3: Design, Testing and Evaluation (commissioned through this tender) (LOT 1) The Phases will be delivered through the two Lots described below. Lot 1: Co-design and Testing of Leadership Support (Phase 2) & Positive

Behavioural Assessment Services

NHS Litigation Authority

Procurement for the provision of professional services to conduct behavioural assessments. Supplier Briefing call 28 May 2026 11:00 - 11:45 via Teams sign up - https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/a5adabc1-06ba-49b3-a378-f8a71057fc8f@37c354b2-85b0-47f5-b222-07b48d774ee3

Learning Partner - Preventing Harmful Sexual Behaviour in Schools (Pilot)

Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime

Requirement: The VRU is seeking a Learning Partner to support a pilot to prevent problematic sexual behaviour in schools, working with one Multi Academy Trust and 3–4 local authorities. The Learning Partner will support the co-design phase by helping map services, understand need, and develop clear approaches (e.g. Theories of Change), using best practice for complex issues like harmful sexual behaviour. They will then support shared learning across areas, build a community of practice, develop simple performance monitoring, and evaluate the pilot to inform future work. Background: Harmful sexual behaviour is common in schools and increasingly shaped by technology (e.g. social media, image sharing, AI content). Many school staff lack confidence and training to address these issues effectively. Schools are responsible for responding to peer sexual abuse, often relying on staff judgement, making consistent guidance and support essential. The delivery of the pilot itself will be procured separately at a later date. How to Apply: The maximum budget is £140,000 excl VAT. This is broken down as £70k for the initial term of 2 years 4 months and £70k allocated to an optional extension of 2 years (1+1). Further information can be found in the bidder pack for this tender. You can access and download a copy of the bidder pack from the Delta esourcing portal by following this link. www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/ED4T4J532N Please submit all clarification question via Delta by 1st June 3pm. Please submit your tender response via Delta by 17th June 1pm. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Research-and-development-consultancy-services./ED4T4J532N To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/ED4T4J532N

Regional Care Home Contracting Framework

Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC

Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC is seeking an organisation to develop and implement a regional care home contracting framework covering all forms of adult local authority and NHS Local Health Board commissioned care home provision across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg region. The overarching aim is to establish a unified contracting approach that strengthens market sustainability, improves system flow, enhances equity for residents and providers, and supports consistent, high quality provision across the region. This work requires specialist commercial, legal and fee modelling expertise that is not available at sufficient capacity within partner organisations.

Effectiveness of interventions taken by UK slaughterhouses and cutting plants in response to unsatisfactory process hygiene criteria (PHC) results

Food Standards Agency

FSA would like to commission a study to assess the effectiveness of interventions typically carried out by red meat and poultry slaughterhouses and cutting/processing plants within England, Wales and Northern Ireland following unsatisfactory PHC findings. The evidence generated will be used to inform strategic risk assessments on the relative risk to consumers of meat from Size 5 slaughterhouses and cutting plants that processes equal or less than 2 metric tonnes of meat per week which are currently exempt from sampling, when compared to those slaughterhouses and cutting plants which do currently sample, and support the FSA in improving regulatory compliance. In addition, the published results of this survey may be used by FBOs to support decision-making on interventions following unsatisfactory PHC findings. The objective of the microbiological food safety research themes is to provide robust information on the presence, growth, survival and elimination of pathogenic microorganisms throughout the food chain; the extent, distribution, causes, risks and cost of foodborne disease will also be considered where appropriate. Phase 1. Design and carry out interviews of slaughterhouse and cutting plant stakeholders to determine which interventions are carried out by meat processing establishments in response to unsatisfactory PHC results. Phase 2. A critical literature review of the effectiveness of interventions identified in Phase 1 in correcting unsatisfactory PHC results. The final output of the project will be a technical report consisting of anonymised findings from the survey of slaughterhouse and cutting plant stakeholders (Phase 1) and the critical review of efficacy for each identified intervention (Phase 2).

Ispitivanje ispravnosti stabilnih sustava za dojavu, gašenje i sprječavanje požara, električnih instalacija i radne opreme za RC Zagreb, RC Rijeku, RC Osijek i RC Split

FINA, Grad Zagreb

44.1/2026/M/U — 73431000 - Ispitivanje i ocjenjivanje sigurnosne opreme

Usluge ispitivanja sredstava rada u ZOP-u

HP - Hrvatska pošta d.d., Velika Gorica

26.2.11 — 73430000 - Ispitivanje i ocjenjivanje

Studija preliminarne procjene utjecaja uzgoja ribe na biološku raznolikost i onečišćenje mora u zonama za akvakulturu u otvorenom moru Zadarske županije

ZADARSKA ŽUPANIJA, Zadar

MN-25-26 — 73110000 - Istraživačke usluge

Development business support programme for micro and small construction industry businesses

Epping Forest District Council

Background The Epping Forest District Local Plan adopted on the 6th March 2023 proposes to build 11,400 new dwellings in the EFDC area by 2033 a growth in households of about 21%. However, the sector is struggling to meet the pace at which it needs to build housing. This is despite the construction sector being the largest sector of the local economy and the largest employer, employing almost 9,000 people. From insight gathered locally, we know the district has a limited number of large housing developers and construction companies, with the majority of businesses in the district being small or micro enterprise (fewer than 50 employees). We also know that the biggest barriers to growth for the industry locally include recruiting a skilled workforce, accessing new markets, and competing for larger contracts and customers. Epping Forest District Council are therefore looking to commission a construction industry business support programme with the objective of supporting small and micro enterprises to grow, enabling them to bid for contracts with large developers. This will ultimately help boost the local economy, keep wealth locally, create employment opportunities, whilst also supporting the council to meet its housing land supply target. Objectives 1.Engage and consult with construction businesses to develop an understanding of their needs, aspirations and the support required to achieve them. 2.Support the growth of micro and small construction businesses to enable them to benefit from local housing growth through biding for local, regional or national contracts. 3.Support employment growth within the construction sector, enabling local residents to benefit from employment opportunities that will come with the projected housing growth. 4.Create connections between sector leading organisations and local Epping Forest SMEs to enable the growth of the local construction industry. 5.Signposting businesses to additional regional or national support programmes that may

Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment

COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL

Coventry has a long standing commitment to tackling domestic abuse and is a diverse city with varying levels of need across different communities. The Council's approach is informed by periodic Needs Assessments, analysis of emerging trends, best practice evidence, and alignment with local, regional, and national priorities. The Council's current Domestic Abuse Strategy (2018-2025) is available online and is now due for review through a comprehensive refresh supported by a new Needs Assessment and revised implementation plan. This Request for Quotation is for the provision of a Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment. Please register via the Council's e-procurement system - CSW-JETS via https://sell2.in-tend.co.uk/midlands/home CSW-JETS is a sub-regional e-tendering portal run by In-tend. Since February 2010, Coventry; Solihull; Warwickshire; Nuneaton and Bedworth; Rugby alongside other local district Councils have been working together as a shared procurement service. In conjunction with Solihull Community Housing, we have joined together to bring you a collaborative E-Tendering portal. CSW-JETS enables us to advertise our opportunities across all authorities through the same system. This means that there is a single point of contact for procurement in the sub-region so you only have to register once to receive notifications for all authorities. Registering on the portal will make it easier for local suppliers to find, respond to and be alerted to tender opportunities. Registration is free, and takes just a few minutes. When complete, you will be able to express interest in any of the Councils'/Authorities' opportunities when they are made available including this tender. In addition, we will be able to access your details whenever we have a requirement, and you may then be invited to tender or quote for work. Once you are registered and log in to the system you will be able to locate the tender opportunity, express interest and access the documentation.

Procurement of services of research on the Condition and Priority Needs (RCPN) of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in PFRU Frontline Territories

Chemonics International, Inc.

Procurement of services of research on the Condition and Priority Needs (RCPN) of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in PFRU Frontline Territories. Instructions for submitting a proposal: • Invitation_to_Tender_ITT-PFRU2-2025-529 - for familiarisation with the tender conditions; • ITT_PRFU2-PAR-2025-529_Volume_3 - fill in and sign the original, then send a scanned copy or convert it to a PDF and sign it electronically. Provide the completed Excel file and the signed files as part of the proposal; • Annex 1. Declarations - fill in the English or Ukrainian version of the document, sign the original and send a scan / convert to PDF and sign electronically (to be provided as part of the proposal); • Commercial and technical proposals must be signed; • The Technical Proposal shall be submitted in compliance with the requirements specified in clause 5.2 of Section 2. Instructions to Tenderers and Evaluation Criteria; • Registration documents that follow the laws of your country must be part of the proposal.

Open Framework for Nuclear Technical Services

United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory

UKNNL would like to invite suppliers to apply to join a new Open Framework to support with the supply of Nuclear Technical Services for the United Kingdom National Nuclear Laboratory. A Pre-Market Engagement Notice reference: ocds-h6vhtk-066005 was published. The framework will run from July 2026 until July 2030 with the option to extend the framework by a further 4 years, until July 2034. The Framework will reopen once within the first 3-year period, and UKNNL will open it again at least once in the remaining 5-year contract term as required under Regulation 49 of the Procurement Act 2023. UKNNL may opt to open the framework for applications earlier than required, although not likely to be ever more than two times per year. Re-opening may be in relation to the framework agreement in its entirety or in relation to specific lots. Earlier re-opening could be triggered by a range of factors, which may include but are not limited to: • Supply & demand changes • Changes to requirements • Changes to framework lotting structure • Changes to rate card structures • Changes to qualitative assessment • Changes to framework management • Addition of new framework lots • Changes to demand, volumes, values and geographical coverage Suppliers are permitted to amend their technical and commercial response at each re-opening or can choose to allow their previous submission to be considered. The framework has the ability to award contracts through mini competition or direct award. Call-off contracts can be either fixed cost or cost reimbursable. Mini-Competition Where mini-competition is used, this is to be via the e-tender portal and must include all suppliers on the applicable lot. Each mini competition will be restricted to only one Lot. At mini-competition, suppliers can be asked to re-price and may offer discounted rates if they choose to, but may not charge more than the pricing which was submitted at the latest round of framework qualification. Should requirements at call-off n

Develop a detailed itemised costed ask of government for statutory duties for local government to mi

Local Government Association (LGA)

The LGA is now seeking an external supplier to develop a detailed costed ask of government for statutory duties for local government to mitigate against climate change and adapt to an already changing climate. The three core pillars of the project are to; Develop a detailed itemised costed ask of government for statutory duties for local government to mitigate against climate change and adapt to an already changing climate, based on advice from barristers. Provide a financial impact assessment of the legal advice, if implemented, as a total and a breakdown of the component elements Provide commentary on the financial and reputational risks and opportunities, and requirements for new duties to have a positive impact both from a national and regional perspective.

Civility in Public Life Workshops and Resources

Local Government Association (LGA)

The purchaser is seeking to procure a contractor to deliver online national workshops aimed at councillors on councillor personal safety and handling abuse online, alongside up-to-date, accessible, high-quality online resources for councillors on these topics. The contract may also include additional smaller-scale or bespoke training on a regional or single-council basis, either online or in person, as requested by councils or the LGA’s regional teams, and a national workshop on safer canvassing to be delivered in advance of the 2027 local election cycle.

EHRC 2627-03 Technical Guidance for Schools Consultation Analysis

Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is seeking to engage a suitably qualified and experienced supplier to analyse and report on the findings of an open consultation on our new 'Technical Guidance for Schools in England'.

Develop a detailed itemised costed ask of government for statutory duties for local government to mi

Local Government Association (LGA)

The LGA is now seeking an external supplier to develop a detailed costed ask of government for statutory duties for local government to mitigate against climate change and adapt to an already changing climate. The three core pillars of the project are to; Develop a detailed itemised costed ask of government for statutory duties for local government to mitigate against climate change and adapt to an already changing climate, based on advice from barristers. Provide a financial impact assessment of the legal advice, if implemented, as a total and a breakdown of the component elements Provide commentary on the financial and reputational risks and opportunities, and requirements for new duties to have a positive impact both from a national and regional perspective.

Civility in Public Life Workshops and Resources

Local Government Association (LGA)

The purchaser is seeking to procure a contractor to deliver online national workshops aimed at councillors on councillor personal safety and handling abuse online, alongside up-to-date, accessible, high-quality online resources for councillors on these topics. The contract may also include additional smaller-scale or bespoke training on a regional or single-council basis, either online or in person, as requested by councils or the LGA’s regional teams, and a national workshop on safer canvassing to be delivered in advance of the 2027 local election cycle.

EHRC 2627-03 Technical Guidance for Schools Consultation Analysis

Equality and Human Rights Commission

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is seeking to engage a suitably qualified and experienced supplier to analyse and report on the findings of an open consultation on our new 'Technical Guidance for Schools in England'.

Engineering Consultants Design Panel

Transpower New Zealand Limited

Transpower is seeking to establish a refreshed Engineering Consultants (EC) Design Panel, commencing in January 2027, to provide a long‑term, structured framework for the engagement of engineering design services. The panel will support the delivery of a diverse portfolio of transmission projects across substations, transmission lines and cables, protection and automation, and telecommunications, and work alongside Transpower’s in house engineers and project teams to shape solutions from concept through to construction and commissioning.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT PARTNER

Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

One of IPSA’s strategic objectives is to support trust in democracy. In 2025, IPSA carried out its most ambitious listening exercise at that time, grouped under the theme of What’s Democracy Worth? IPSA wants to explore a wider range of public engagement options e.g. from informative to deliberative. This opportunity is seeking a partner for a three-year (1+1+1) contract term, to work with IPSA to carry/deliver various yearly public engagement exercises. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Research-and-development-services-and-related-consultancy-services./543V45S7BJ To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/543V45S7BJ

AI Tutoring Tools Pioneer Programme – Subject-Matter Exemption - Research and Development - 6th of May 2026 Update

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

UPDATE to notice https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039400-2026 SOURCING PROCEDURE: The AI Tutoring Tools Pioneer Programme contracts (a maximum of eight (8) identical contracts) will be awarded under a Procurement Act 2023 Section 3) (6) and Schedule 2, Part 2, paragraph 22, 2) (b), (c) subject-matter exemption for research and development services. The contracts to be awarded are exempt contracts and for that reason the procurement is not subject to the Procurement Act 2023. The outputs of the proposed contracts are intended for the benefit of the public and do not include the provision of AI Tutoring Tools. The latter would be procured via other sourcing procedures separate from this Pioneers Programme procurement. These contracts answer the need for research and development of a high-quality standard for AI Tutoring Tools. Although there is a wide range of Tutoring Tools available on the market, there is no established offer that meets the complete specification to a high-quality standard, encompassing all the necessary elements of an exceptional AI Tutoring Tool. Elements being for instance the digital curriculum (to be published) and multiple sources of data which require review. AI driven Tutoring Tools currently on the market are limited in quantity, scope and evidence base with few providing full tutoring capacity and with limited public access to the research and development that underpins them. The proposed contracts seek to research and co-design a high-quality, all-encompassing standard for AI Tutoring Tools and to initiate the development of innovative, effective and safe AI Tutoring Tools to that high-quality, all-encompassing standard thereby being the most transformative for educational outcomes. The aim of the Programme is to research, trial, develop and enable the future scalability and commercialisation of AI Tutoring Tools of the highest calibre which, alongside teachers, will improve the academic attainment of pupils across England,