Research and development tenders and contracts in the UK

Every open public contract for research and development from Find a Tender and Contracts Finder, closing soonest first. Each one has its own page with the key facts and a link to the official notice. A contract that covers more than one kind of work is listed under each.

By region

By type of buyer

Closing soonest

• Determination of levels of PFAS in (+ migrating from) Food Contact Materials FCMFood Standards Agency · Yorkshire and the Humber£270k · closes 19 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Understanding the V&A's Impact on the Creative IndustriesVictoria and Albert Museum · London£60k · closes 19 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• CivTech 12: Challenge 12.4, How can technology improve both the efficiency and the patient experience in NHS transport, starting with renal services?​NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde · Scotland£650k · closes 20 Oct 2026
• Civtech 12: Challenge 12.2, How can technology enable fast-growing digital public service providers to dynamically scale their service management capabilities as demand, complexity and customer expectations increase?Scottish Government · Scotland£650k · closes 20 Oct 2026
• CivTech 12.6: How can technology improve living conditions and quality of life for social housing residents in Scotland?Cloch Housing Association Ltd · Scotland£650k · closes 20 Oct 2026
• CivTech 12: Challenge 12.3, How can we use technology to demonstrate the commercial value of circular economy business practices?Zero Waste Scotland Ltd · Scotland£650k · closes 20 Oct 2026
• CivTech 12.5: How can technology support multi agency processes for the protection of children in Scotland?Scottish Government · Scotland£650k · closes 20 Oct 2026
• How can technology enable fast-growing digital public service providers to dynamically scale their service management capabilities as demand, complexity and customer expectations increase?Scottish Government · Scotland£650k · closes 20 Oct 2026
• CivTech 12.1: How can digital technologies assist people living with substance use issues (and their families/friends) to easily connect with trusted help and substance use support when services are unavailable?University of Strathclyde · Scotland£650k · closes 20 Oct 2026
• Feasibility assessment of bioclimate vulnerability approaches for priority marine migratory species in the Caribbean and Pacific UK Overseas TerritoriesJncc Support Co · East of England£51k · closes 20 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• RAF015/2627: Plug-in batteries safety studyDepartment for Energy Security & Net Zero · London£300k · closes 21 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• West Yorkshire District Travel Diary SurveyWest Yorkshire Combined Authority · Yorkshire and the Humber£250k · closes 22 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• 128HCO Delivery of an Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Programme for Young People in the Faughan and Sperrin District Electoral Areas (DEAs)Derry City and Strabane District Council · Northern Ireland£30k · closes 23 Oct 2026
• Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) for the East Lindsey Local PlanEast Lindsey District Council · East Midlands£85k · closes 23 Oct 2026
• LGA Local Government Devolution Leadership Essentials CourseImprovement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA) · London£7k · closes 26 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Generation Market StudyOfgem · London£417k · closes 26 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• ITT: NEIGHBOURHOOD HERITAGE GRANTS: EVALUATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING, UID 355Historic England · South West£67k · closes 26 Oct 2026
• Consultation Services for Existing Town Plan Reviews, and Rural Place Plan Review Development for Gilford, Keady and RathfrilandArmagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council · Northern Ireland£54k · closes 28 Oct 2026
• Sussex Heritage Coast Visitor Management PlanSouth Downs National Park Authority · South East£80k · closes 29 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• 26 Study of Carbon Sequestration and Soil Health Impacts within Highway EarthworksDevon County Council · South West£170k · closes 30 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Flight Schedules DataDepartment for Transport · London£25k · closes 30 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Procurement of services of Integrated Review and Assessment of Youth Mental Health Needs and Youth Centre Response Capacity in Selected PFRU Target OblastsChemonics International, Inc. · Londonvalue not published · closes 30 Oct 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Who pays? Understanding cost misalignment between the NHS and Local GovernmentLocal Government Association (LGA) · London£16k · closes 2 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• ITT: Storage Design and Environmental Requirements Framework for Archaeological Archives in England, UID 369Historic England · South West£24k · closes 2 Nov 2026
• ITT: Heritage as Urban Green Infrastructure: an Evidence Review of Opportunities for Climate Resilience, and Future Directions, UID 366Historic England · South West£15k · closes 2 Nov 2026
• Cardiff and Vale Market Stability ReportCardiff and Vale University Health Board · Wales£50k · closes 2 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Domestic Abuse Needs AssessmentBirmingham City Council · West Midlands£90k · closes 2 Nov 2026
• WNC Children & Young People Health and Wellbeing SurveyWest Northamptonshire Council · East Midlands£75k · closes 2 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Included Outside Publication Faith in NatureNatural England · London£20k · closes 3 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Technology Fund Horizon ScanningFair4all Finance Limited · London£50k · closes 4 Nov 2026
• Supported Housing Needs AssessmentCity of York Council · Yorkshire and the Humber£40k · closes 5 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Youth Services FrameworkBirmingham City Council · West Midlands£660k · closes 6 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• 6358 Testing and Evaluation of Counter-UAS (Drone)UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) · South West£80k · closes 6 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• ITT: Mapping Training and Qualifications for Heritage Construction Trades in England, UID 370Historic England · South West£50k · closes 6 Nov 2026
• Customer Survey Research PartnerPeabody Trust · London£1.8m · closes 9 Nov 2026
• Local Plan Viability StudySouth Staffordshire District Council · West Midlands£72k · closes 9 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Cymru Can Strategy ReviewFuture Generations Commissioner for Wales · Wales£12k · closes 9 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Training on Homelessness Act 2026Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government · Wales£200k · closes 10 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• 1074279646 T1416: Feasibility and impact of a full description of train pathRssb · London£120k · closes 10 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Department for Transport Shared Research, Evaluation and AnalysisDepartment for Transport · London£7.5m · closes 12 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• SE1286 Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sports Guidance ReviewSport England · East Midlands£96k · closes 16 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• 1073434028 T1427 Strategy for Harmonising Automatic Current Limitation Across Electric Rolling Stock in GBRail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) · London£180k · closes 16 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Sector research for councils to learn from collaborative ICT delivery in local governmentImprovement and Development Agency for Local Government (IDeA) · London£30k · closes 16 Nov 2026
• Specialist Advice/Advisor Service for Gloucestershire’s Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing SectorTewkesbury Borough Council · South West£160k · closes 16 Nov 2026
• 1074032381 T1424 Passenger Rolling Stock Emergency Window Repair ProceduresRail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) · London£50k · closes 18 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• THE PROVISION OF AN ONLINE FAMILY HISTORY SERVICE FOR WALESThe National Library of Wales · Wales£360k · closes 19 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• University Interactions: NDA Research Portfolio, Single Supplier FrameworkNuclear Decommissioning Authority · North West£16m · closes 20 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs
• Effect of probiotics on Campylobacter colonisation within the broiler gutFood Standards Agency · Yorkshire and the Humber£500k · closes 30 Nov 2026 · buyer says suitable for SMEs

Coming up: buyers preparing to tender

Planned procurements and market engagement notices. These are the moment to talk to the buyer, before the tender is written.

• Prior Information Notice (PIN) /Request for Information (RFI) for Steps to Safety National Support PartnerDepartment of Health and Social Care · Londonvalue not published · notice published 14 Oct 2026
• Community Impact Fund: Evaluation PartnerNorth East Combined Authority · North East£300k · notice published 8 Oct 2026
• Time and Motion StudyDriver and Vehicle Standards Agency · South Westvalue not published · notice published 8 Oct 2026
• Rhydymwyn Wildlife Management ContractDepartment for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs · Wales£360k · notice published 7 Oct 2026
• Qualitative Research in Land-Based PremisesGambling Commission · West Midlandsvalue not published · notice published 6 Oct 2026
• Links for Life Community Partner Programme 2026/ 2029Sunderland City Council · North East£300k · notice published 5 Oct 2026
• Architecture Capability Development/TrainingDigital Health & Care Wales · Wales£350k · notice published 5 Oct 2026
• Evaluation of the Quality & Engagement ActLlywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government · Wales£275k · notice published 1 Oct 2026
• GMCA 2027 Stock Condition SurveyGreater Manchester Combined Authority · North Westvalue not published · notice published 29 Sep 2026
• Media Consumption Pathways and TrustDepartment for Culture, Media and Sport · London£1.5m · notice published 28 Sep 2026

Recently awarded

• Governance, Compliance and Risk Security (GRC)UK Shared Business Services Limited · current supplier: Reed Specialist Recruitment Limited (trading as Consultancy+) · £113kRuns to 31 Mar 2027
• ONP EvaluationDsit · current supplier: a small supplier · £600kRuns to 12 Oct 2027
• SFRA UpdateEast Riding of Yorkshire Council · current supplier: a small supplier · £226kRuns to 30 Apr 2029
• S30123 RIS3 Analysis Division Technical PartnerNational Highways Limited · current supplier: a small supplier · £11.4mRuns to 31 Mar 2031
• T1211 AI Governance ConsultantUniversity of Essex · current supplier: Naomi Korn Associates · £112kRuns to 31 Mar 2027
• Market assessment to identify tools which are preventing businesses from securely adopting AIDsit · current supplier: Blue Bow Research & Consultancy Ltd · £78kRuns to 15 Jan 2027
• Qualitative Research Call OffDfTc: Department for Transport · current supplier: a small supplier · £400kRuns to 30 Mar 2027
• S30106 Strategic Development: Scheme Development Targeted Studies Technical Partner 2026 to 2028National Highways Limited · current supplier: a small supplier · £2.2mRuns to 31 Oct 2028
• Experiences, Awareness and Understanding of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS)Ministry of Justice · current supplier: ZK Analytics Ltd · £146kRuns to 31 Mar 2027
• S30136 Addressing gaps in understanding of KSI impacts of engineering treatments for A-roads: Longitudinal Road Surface Treatments, stage 2National Highways Limited · current supplier: a small supplier · £140kRuns to 31 Mar 2027

The market in numbers

In the last 12 months our data shows 811 research and development contracts awarded by UK public buyers, with a median published value of £124k. The typical contract runs for less than a year. The buyers awarding the most: National Highways Limited, Met Office, Dsit.

What buyers often ask for

Buyers commonly ask how you will handle personal data under UK GDPR, how research ethics are approved and, for surveys, membership of the Market Research Society. Requirements vary from contract to contract: the tender documents are the final word.

Research and development contracts ending in the next 12 months