Contracts
Research & development
Public sector contract notices in research & development, from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder.
Research and development services and the consultancy around them: CPV division 73. Commissioned research, evaluations, feasibility studies, trials and pilots, data analysis, and technical development work.
Universities, research institutes and small specialist consultancies win most of this, and team credentials and method usually count for more than company size, which makes it one of the more open categories for a small firm. Expect the tender to ask for a method statement, named researchers, ethics and data protection arrangements, and sometimes intellectual property terms that are worth reading before you bid rather than after. Some requirements are published as pre-market engagement rather than as a tender, which is an invitation to talk to the buyer, not a competition.
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Research & development notices
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Small-firm friendly
Sussex Heritage Coast Visitor Management Plan
South Downs National Park Authority wants a strategic management plan for the Sussex Heritage Coast between Seaford and Eastbourne. The plan should cover visitor management, sustainable transport, visitor economy growth, public safety (including suicide prevention), nature recovery, and a delivery plan for the first five years.
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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
Rotherham Local Area Energy Plan
Rotherham Borough Council needs a local area energy plan covering stakeholder engagement, data analysis, net zero modelling, project identification, and a monitoring framework. The plan will identify investment requirements and pathways to decarbonise the local energy system.
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Small-firm friendly
CP2821-26 Study of Carbon Sequestration and Soil Health Impacts within Highway Earthworks
Devon County Council wants a study on whether biochar, enhanced mineral weathering, and mycorrhizal fungi can increase carbon sequestration and soil health in highway earthworks. The research will inform carbon-reduction measures on the A382 Link Road near Newton Abbot.
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Small-firm friendly
CP2821-26 Study of Carbon Sequestration and Soil Health Impacts within Highway Earthworks
Devon County Council wants a study examining how construction activities affect soil carbon levels during the A382 Link Road project near Newton Abbot. The research should assess whether adding biochar, mineral weathering products and mycorrhizal fungi to highway earthworks can increase carbon sequestration and soil health.
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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
CP2821-26 Study of Carbon Sequestration and Soil Health Impacts within Highway Earthworks
Devon County Council wants a research study on how biochar, mineral weathering and mycorrhizal fungi in highway earthworks affect soil carbon sequestration and soil health. The work is part of the A382 Link Road scheme near Newton Abbot.
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RFQ 2026/43 - Development of a Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor Investment Land Guide
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and partners need a consultant to write an Investment Land Guide for the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor. The guide should strengthen the corridor's appeal to investors.
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Small-firm friendly
ITT - Storage Design and Environmental Requirements Framework for Archaeological Archives in England - UID 369
Historic England is commissioning research to define the ideal design and environmental requirements for a national archaeological archive storage facility in England. The work will establish evidence-based specifications for storage systems, building design, sustainability, and repository layout to support future infrastructure planning.
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Small-firm friendly
ITT - Heritage as Urban Green Infrastructure: an Evidence Review of Opportunities for Climate Resilience, and Future Directions - UID 366
Historic England wants a rapid evidence review on how heritage assets contribute to urban green infrastructure and climate resilience. The work includes synthesising existing evidence, identifying policy opportunities and barriers, and two case studies.
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Small-firm friendly
Cardiff and Vale Market Stability Report
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board wants a comprehensive Market Stability Assessment and Service Sufficiency Review across their health and social care services. The work includes stakeholder engagement, data analysis, and a final report with recommendations on service capacity, sustainability, quality and demand over the next five years.
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Small-firm friendly
Domestic Abuse Needs Assessment
Birmingham City Council wants a written needs assessment on domestic abuse across the city, covering prevalence, agency responses, and service gaps. The work requires analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data across prevention, support and crisis stages, and mapping of pathways through criminal justice, children's services, health, housing, education and adult social care.
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WNC Children & Young People Health and Wellbeing Survey
West Northamptonshire Council wants a provider to design, run and analyse three waves of a Children and Young People's Health and Wellbeing Survey, working with council teams, schools and partners to deliver actionable insight. The three survey waves will run in 2027, 2029 and 2031.
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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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Included Outside Publication Faith in Nature
Natural England wants a comparative analysis of case study sites across England to understand how community engagement affects nature recovery activities. The work will examine varying levels of engagement and community actions to increase participation in nature recovery.
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Small-firm friendly
Bwrdd Partneriaeth Rhanbarthol Plant Gogledd Cymru: Adolygiad Gwasanaethau Plant./ North Wales Children's Regional Partnership Board: Childrens Service Review.
Denbighshire County Council and North Wales local authorities need a review of children's services across the region, with focus on mental health support following COVID-19. The review will examine current provision, referral pathways, and complexity of need across six local authorities and the health board.
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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
Supported Housing Needs Assessment
City of York Council wants a contractor to carry out a supported housing needs assessment. The scope isn't detailed in this notice.
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Framework
Digital Transformation and Research & Innovation Consultancy Open Framework
Jisc is establishing a framework to buy digital transformation and research & innovation consultancy services. They want external specialists to help their member organisations (universities, charities, funders) with strategic and operational support across digital leadership and digital transformation.
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Small-firm friendly
ITT - Mapping Training and Qualifications for Heritage Construction Trades in England - UID 370
Historic England wants research mapping current training and qualifications provision for heritage construction trades across England. The work includes collecting baseline data on training uptake and completion, analysing provision gaps, and developing a repeatable methodology.
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Small-firm friendly
UKRI-6358 Testing and Evaluation of Counter-UAS (Drone)
UKRI needs a supplier to test and evaluate Counter-UAS (anti-drone) systems in a prison environment competition. You'll provide test facilities, personnel, equipment, multiple drones, and qualified pilots to fly them against the C-UAS units being tested.
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Small-firm friendly
Ethnographic Study – Healthy Streets
Birmingham City Council wants an ethnographic research study on how residents experience car dependency and barriers to active travel and public transport. The study will use interviews, accompanied journeys and observation across diverse communities to inform Healthy Streets interventions.
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Small-firm friendly
Local Plan Viability Study
South Staffordshire District Council needs a two-stage Local Plan Viability Study to support policies in a new local plan under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023. The study must follow national policy and guidance.