Contracts
Research & development in London
Public sector contract notices in research & development covering London, from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder.
Research & development notices in London
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Small-firm friendly
TNE Alumni Research: Support, Engagement and Role of Alumni UK
The British Council wants a research organisation to investigate how UK universities' transnational education alumni are supported and engaged, and how Alumni UK could strengthen ties with them. The study covers five TNE markets and includes literature review, internal surveys, focus groups with universities and partners, alumni surveys, and cross-market analysis.
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Small-firm friendly
CPF Digital Project Evaluation
British Council needs an evaluation of their CPF digital project pilot. The work involves assessing the impact of this pilot initiative.
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Small-firm friendly
Flight Schedules Data
The Department for Transport needs access to detailed flight schedule data to monitor UK aviation capacity and connectivity, and to support policy-making and contingency planning. The data will be used by analysts for retrospective and forward-looking analysis to identify disruption risks.
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Small-firm friendly
Who pays? Understanding cost misalignment between the NHS and Local Government
The LGA wants research exploring how NHS Continuing Healthcare funding decisions affect local authority adult social care budgets and whether current arrangements create perverse incentives between organisations. The project will examine cost-shifting between health and social care systems.
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Small-firm friendly
Technology Fund Horizon Scanning
Fair4All Finance wants external research to inform the design of a new £5 million technology fund launching in early 2027. They need evidence-based analysis of technology trends, market gaps, and priority themes relevant to financial inclusion.
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Small-firm friendly
Economic analysis of access applications
The Office of Rail and Road needs economic analysis to support its assessment of four track access applications from train operators seeking to run services on Network Rail infrastructure. The work involves weighing considerations such as capacity, performance, safety, competition and impact on public funds.
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Small-firm friendly
Local Government Data Sharing Playbook: Multi-Agency Sharing in Children’s Social Care
The Local Government Association is commissioning a module for a data sharing playbook focused on multi-agency information exchange in Children's Social Care. The module should cover design, setup, management and maintenance of these arrangements.
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Small-firm friendly
Homelessness Toolkits
The LGA wants one supplier to develop two practical toolkits for local authorities on homelessness prevention and temporary accommodation management. These will be published in Spring 2027 and must align with accessibility requirements and national procurement policy.
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Small-firm friendly
Homelessness Toolkits
The LGA is commissioning two toolkits on homelessness prevention and temporary accommodation management for use by local authorities. One supplier will develop both, with publication expected in Spring 2027.
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Small-firm friendly
1074279646 T1416 - Feasibility and impact of a full description of train path
RSSB wants research into whether and how trains could be described in more detail than current TIPLOC-based timetables allow. The work will examine data needs, technical feasibility, and benefits and risks for GB rail operators.
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Small-firm friendly
Nature recovery and intangible cultural heritage
Natural England wants a literature review on intangible cultural heritage practices and how they apply to nature recovery. You'll produce a draft guidance annexe, case studies, and publication-ready photographs.
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Small-firm friendly
1073434028 T1427 Strategy for Harmonising Automatic Current Limitation Across Electric Rolling Stock in GB
RSSB is commissioning research to develop a strategy for harmonising automatic current limitation (ACL) across GB electric trains. The work will confirm target specifications, quantify benefits and costs, and define a practical transition pathway from current to future state.
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Small-firm friendly
Sector research for councils to learn from collaborative ICT delivery in local government
IDeA wants research into how councils successfully deliver ICT services collaboratively across organisations. The study should examine different models - shared services, lead authority, partnerships, jointly managed - and identify what arrangements work best from the outset.
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Small-firm friendly
Local Nature Recovery Strategies - harnessing geodiversity for nature recovery
Natural England wants an audit of how Local Nature Recovery Strategies handle geodiversity, identifying good practice and benefits for nature recovery. The project will produce guidance for including geodiversity in LNRS delivery and review.
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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
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
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 friendlyFramework
Precise Policing 2
The Metropolitan Police is establishing a dynamic market framework for digital and technology services across six strategic areas: professional services, AI and automation, workplace modernisation, data management, video processing, and cyber security. Suppliers will be selected to support the force's 'Precise Policing' transformation programme.
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Small-firm friendlyFramework
Expert Partner Panel Procurement 2026
Westminster Foundation for Democracy is establishing a panel of specialist service providers to deliver technical services globally, primarily supporting their Democratic Governance Centre of Expertise in partnership with the FCDO. They're creating a Dynamic Market (for contracts over £207,720) and a Preferred Supplier List (for smaller opportunities) to replace an expiring framework.
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Small-firm friendly
Digital Transformation Partnership Engagement
The GDC is seeking a digital transformation partner to support significant organisational change over 3-5 years, covering areas including IT strategy, cloud migration, digital capability, service design, and technology modernisation. This is a multi-stage competitive procedure; only those passing the participation stage will be invited to bid.
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715928480-CUAS Exploration
The Ministry of Defence is seeking organisations to accelerate development of counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS), with particular interest in laser directed energy weapons. Phase 1 aims to identify and fund technology developers to progress existing systems towards deployable maturity, not to deliver a complete operational system.
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Small-firm friendly
What works in AI Adoption within DCMS Sectors
DCMS wants research on how businesses in their sectors (culture, media, sport) are adopting AI, the problems they hit, and what policy support actually works. The work involves ethnographic observation of real AI use in workplaces and randomised control trials of policy interventions.
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Small-firm friendly
Media Consumption Pathways and Trust
DCMS wants a two-phase research project on how UK audiences find and consume media across different sources, and how they perceive trust and misinformation. The work will map user pathways and assess effects on viewer retention and information ecosystem integrity.
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ClosedSmall-firm friendly
PS25222 - Investigation of Future Energy Systems Material Demands Repair and Recovery of Wind Assets
Research project to investigate material recovery potential from existing and future onshore and offshore wind assets. The work will develop methodology and evidence on circular economy approaches for wind generation.
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ClosedSmall-firm friendly
Call for concept notes - Future horn, future Sudans: Multiple and competing centres
Chemonics International is funding three to five research projects exploring the rise of competing power centres in the Horn of Africa and their implications for state dynamics and regional conflict. Research should focus on Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and the wider Horn-Red Sea region, with optional comparative cases from the Middle East and Asia.