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PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITY

Data Services for REF 2029

UK Research and Innovation · Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender

Tender information last checkedLast checked 26 Sept 2026, 09:01.

Opportunity overview

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2029 team seeks a provider to provide research output data, metadata and related services required for REF 2029. The service must integrate with REF 2029 submission and assessment systems and support classification, validation, assessment allocation and audit of submitted outputs. REF 2029 is expected to handle a volume of research outputs comparable to REF 2021 (approximately 200,000 outputs). The requirement is therefore for a robust, automated and scalable service covering bibliographic matching, metadata provision, citation data, provision of versions of record, and associated support for audit and eligibility checking. The REF is the system for assessing research excellence in UK higher education institutions. The next exercise will conclude in 2029. REF 2029 submissions will be made to up to 34 units of assessment and assessed by expert sub-panels using peer review. Submission components include research outputs, disciplinary-level evidence statements, impact case studies and environment information. The services will support two operational phases: the submission phase, in which outputs are classified and validated, and the assessment phase, in which outputs are allocated to reviewers, supporting materials are supplied, and audit analysis is undertaken. Through this notice, the Buyer is seeking to understand the current market's capability and appetite in relation to the requirement. • Assess whether suppliers can deliver the requirement and to identify suitable framework and relevant lot. • Determine the level of supplier interest in bidding should a formal tender be issued. • Help the Buyer to understand indicative costs and approaches available within the market. • Gather market insight to support the refinement and development of the specification and procurement strategy. Suppliers are invited to provide information on their capabilities, proposed approach, and any considerations that may assist the buyer in shaping the future tender requirement. To Access the full specification draft document which provide further details on the requirement, please contact ddatprocurement@uksbs.co.uk, referencing DDaT26374- Data Services for REF 2029 pre market engagement so that we can issue you the Document together with the Validation Questions. Within the RFI Document it details the indicative timelines for the procurement process. Please note that the route to market remains undecided at this stage. It is expected that this pre-market engagement will provide valuable insights to help determine the most appropriate route to market.

Classification

  • CPV72300000 — Data services

Lots

  • Lot 1Value not stated

Documents and notices

Published notice details

Additional information from the published procurement release. Fields appear only when supplied by the source; check the original notice and tender documents before acting.

Scope, procedure and submissions

Id
DDaT26374
Main Procurement Category
services
Above Threshold
Yes
Status
planning

Legal basis

Id
2023/54
Scheme
UKPGA

Lots and requirements

Entry 1
Id
1
Status
planning

Contract period

Starts
1 Jan 2027, 00:00
Ends
30 Apr 2030, 23:59

Items and delivery

Item 1
Id
1
Related Lot
1

Additional Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
CPV
Id
72300000
Description
Data services

Delivery locations

Entry 1
Region
UK
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom

Planning and budget

Milestones

Entry 1
Id
engagement
Type
engagement
Description
The Contracting Authority UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) would like to conduct pre-market engagement. As part of this information gathering exercise, we have developed a series of questions to ascertain the capability, the capacity and the appetite of the current market and would welcome your responses. Please contact ddatprocurement@uksbs.co.uk, referencing DDaT26374 Data Services for REF 2029 - pre market engagement to access the requirement detail and questions. Due to the timeframe required, please ensure to complete the validation questions before 14:00 hrs on 19th August 2026.
Due
19 Aug 2026, 23:59
Status
scheduled

Documents

Entry 1
Id
073578-2026
Document Type
marketEngagementNotice
Notice Type
UK2
Description
Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Published
4 Aug 2026, 11:25
Format
text/html

Buyer, suppliers and contacts

Organisation 1
Name
UK Research and Innovation
Id
GB-PPON-PDQJ-7126-JDHG

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PDQJ-7126-JDHG

Address

Street Address
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Locality
Swindon
Postal Code
SN2 1FL
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKK14

Contact

Roles

buyer

Details

Classifications

Entry 1
Scheme
UK_CA_TYPE
Id
publicAuthorityCentralGovernment
Description
Public authority - central government
Organisation 2
Name
UK Shared Business Services Ltd
Id
GB-PPON-PMPN-7535-GNTG
Role Details
shared service provider

Identifier

Scheme
GB-PPON
Id
PMPN-7535-GNTG

Address

Street Address
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Locality
Swindon
Postal Code
SN2 1FF
Country
GB
Country Name
United Kingdom
Region
UKK14

Contact

Roles

procuringEntity
processContactPoint

Recorded locations

  • Buyer location · Swindon · UKK14 · SN2 1FL · United Kingdom
  • Delivery location · UK · United Kingdom

Notice and amendment history

1 published notice version reviewed by ProcuraAxis.

1 VERSION
  1. 073578-2026Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender ·