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
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.
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Small-firm friendly
Cymru Can Strategy Review
The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales wants an independent expert assessment of how well their Cymru Can strategy is working and how to update it for the next three years. You'll review internal and external data, annual performance reports, and the Welsh Government's Future Trends report.
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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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Framework
Customer Survey Research Partner
Peabody Trust needs a research partner to run their annual Tenant Satisfaction Measures survey - a regulatory requirement for social housing - plus monthly transactional surveys across service areas. The work is accessed through the Government Commercial DPS RM6216.
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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
NCC1999 NE Rural Growth Programme Evaluation
Northumberland County Council needs an independent evaluation of the North East Rural Growth Programme. The work is a one-off research and consultancy project valued at £75,000.
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Small-firm friendly
Training on Homelessness Act 2026
Welsh Government wants a national training programme designed and delivered to prepare practitioners for Phase 1 of the new Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation Act 2026. The programme must cover the legislative requirements and support implementation across Wales.
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Small-firm friendly
Specialist Consultancy Services for the South West Wales Datgloi Powering Cleaner Rivers Project
Pembrokeshire County Council needs specialist consultancy to assess the technical, environmental, regulatory, commercial and financial viability of a catchment-scale anaerobic digestion project. The project would process agricultural slurry and organic waste into renewable energy and recovered nutrients across the South West Wales region.
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Framework
Department for Transport Shared Research, Evaluation and Analysis
Department for Transport is seeking a call-off contract for flexible research, evaluation and economic analysis support across transport policy areas including active travel, buses, freight, local highways and devolution. The contract will support analytical requirements across four divisions.
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Small-firm friendly
Extending the Cost of Food Crime Analysis: Additional Case Studies and Assessing the Impact of NFCU Activity
The Food Standards Agency wants research to develop a methodology for measuring and communicating the ongoing impact of the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU). You'll produce a final report with a practical methodology, an expanded framework, and a suite of repeatable public-facing impact measures.
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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
Tees Bird Mapping Project
Natural England wants maps and analysis of how designated bird species use habitats in the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast protected area. You'll deliver GIS mapping layers, a detailed report on methods and findings, and guidance on using the mapping tool.
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Small-firm friendly
Climate Vulnerability Intelligence Dashboard Feasibility Project
South East Wales Corporate Joint Committee wants a feasibility study for a Climate Vulnerability Intelligence Dashboard that combines climate, carbon, environmental, health, demographic and socio-economic data to help public sector bodies make evidence-led climate adaptation decisions.
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Small-firm friendly
C120/2026/2027 - Process evaluation of the Disabled People’s Rights Plan
Welsh Government wants a process evaluation of its new Disabled People's Rights Plan, a 10-year framework for advancing rights and opportunities for 670,000 disabled people in Wales. The work includes assessing implementation of 67 short-term actions due by end-2027 and baselining for future impact evaluation.
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Small-firm friendly
Specialist Advice/Advisor Service for Gloucestershire’s Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Sector
Tewkesbury Borough Council needs a specialist advisor to deliver growth support to advanced engineering and manufacturing businesses across Gloucestershire. The service includes business diagnostics, action planning, referrals, outreach and sector events, working through the Growth Hub Network.
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Small-firm friendly
ACE 1122 ITQ - 'Artsmark 25 Young People Commissioners' Project Partner
Arts Council England want someone to manage a young person-led commissioning project for Artsmark's 25th anniversary in 2026/27. The work involves recruiting young commissioners, supporting them to commission an artist, and overseeing creation of new Artsmark Award materials including a new certificate design.
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Small-firm friendly
UKRI-6017-METIUS
UKRI wants an evaluator to assess whether the METIUS programme (a £14.5m, five-year AI-for-evidence-synthesis initiative) has increased policymakers' use of synthesised evidence and to draw lessons for future research investments. The evaluation will run across the programme's five-year span.
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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
Green Links Study, New Forest National Park
The New Forest National Park Authority wants a consultant to produce a four-part study on connecting fragmented habitat areas within and around the National Park boundary, separated by major roads. The work includes site visits, mapping analysis, and realistic connectivity proposals.
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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
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.