Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
UK
Contact person: Martin Robbins
Telephone: +44 1132546070
E-mail: martin.robbins@dhsc.gov.uk
NUTS: UKI32
Internet address(es)
Main address: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-of-health-and-social-care
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to the abovementioned address
Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at:
https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local subdivisions
I.5) Main activity
Health
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
DHSC: CSA: NIHR Research Commissioning and Management Services (2027-2032)
Reference number: C326411
II.1.2) Main CPV code
73110000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
NIHR’s mission is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. Today, NIHR is the nation’s largest funder of health and care research and it invests over £1.5bn annually in domestic and international research. NIHR’s core workstreams, operating principles and areas of strategic focus are set out in the document Best Research for Best Health: The Next Chapter (2021).<br/><br/>The day-to-day operations of the NIHR are carried out by coordinating centres - the NIHR Coordinating Centre (NIHRCC) and the NIHR Research Delivery Network Coordinating Centre (RDNCC). The NIHRCC is currently made up of the following five DHSC contracts, which went live on 1st April 2018:<br/>• NIHR Evaluations, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC)<br/>• Central Commissioning Facility (CCF)<br/>• NIHR Office for Clinical Research Infrastructure (NOCRI)<br/>• NIHR Academy<br/>• NIHR Centre for Engagement and Dissemination (CED)<br/><br/>These contracts will end on 31st March 2027 and through this procurement, the Authority will put in place contracts in May 2026, with Operational Services under those contracts due to commence on 1st April 2027, in order to ensure continuity of operational services for the NIHRCC.<br/>This procurement will however seek to reconfigure the services provided by the NETSCC, CCF, NOCRI and NIHR Academy contracts when they come to an end on 31st March 2027 into a new NIHRCC structure comprised of contracts procured across six Lots.<br/><br/>The Services going forward are divided into the following lots:<br/>Lot 1 – Strategic Business Services and One NIHR hub<br/>Lot 2 – Research Commissioning: Individual Level and Global Health Programmes<br/>Lot 3 – Research Commissioning: Population and Policy Level Programmes<br/>Lot 4 – Research Infrastructure Commissioning: Translational and Delivery<br/>Lot 5 – Research Infrastructure Commissioning: Applied, Public Health and Social Care<br/>Lot 6 – Research Commissioning: Career Development and Capacity Building<br/><br/>The Authority is seeking to appoint a range of suppliers to ensure that it maximises resilience across NIHR and brings to NIHR the benefits of implementing ways of working and best practice from multiple organisations. <br/><br/>Therefore, whilst there is no limitation on a single Tenderer submitting a bid for multiple Lots, the Authority is placing restrictions on the number of Lots any single Tenderer can win, and the Authority will only allow an entity to be involved in one bid submission per Lot. More information on this is set out in the procurement documents.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
364 000 000.00
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
Tenders may be submitted for all lots
Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: 4
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.1) Title
Lot 1 - Strategic Business Services and One NIHR hub
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73110000
75120000
73000000
79411000
73210000
79994000
79990000
79410000
79315000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI32
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Deliver the following Strategic Business Services: <br/>• Communications and partner engagement <br/>• Impact monitoring and evaluation <br/>• Programme Management and Assurance <br/>• Intellectual property (IP) and Contracting<br/>• Open research and publication<br/>• Research Inclusion <br/>• Climate, health and sustainability<br/>• Business development<br/>• Commission and manage the NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
101 900 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/05/2026
End:
31/03/2032
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.1) Title
Lot 2 - Research Commissioning: Individual Level & Global Health Programmes
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73110000
73000000
75120000
79315000
79990000
79411000
73210000
79994000
79410000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI32
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
• End-to-end commissioning, management and oversight of domestic research programmes, with an expected annual budget of approximately £300 million;<br/>• End-to-end commissioning, management and oversight of the global health research (GHR) programme, with an expected annual budget of approximately £170 million; and,<br/>• Coordination and management of the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) and UK Vaccine Network.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
127 260 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/05/2026
End:
31/03/2032
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 3
II.2.1) Title
Lot 3 - Research Commissioning: Population and Policy Level Programmes
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73110000
79990000
75120000
79315000
73000000
79411000
73210000
79994000
79410000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI32
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
• End-to-end commissioning, management and oversight of domestic research programmes, with an expected annual budget of approximately £170 million; and<br/>• Coordination and management of the following functions on behalf of NIHR: <br/>o James Lind Alliance <br/>o Liaison with NHSE, ALBs and the devolved administrations, ensuring their contributions are effectively managed.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
45 480 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/05/2026
End:
31/03/2032
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 4
II.2.1) Title
Lot 4 - Research Infrastructure Commissioning: Translational and Delivery
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73110000
73000000
75120000
79410000
79994000
73210000
79315000
79990000
79411000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI32
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
• End-to-end commissioning and monitoring of infrastructure and infrastructure-like schemes, focussed on individual level interventions, with an expected annual budget of approximately £350 million; and,<br/>• Provide the Research Capability Funding (RCF) function on behalf of NIHR.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
28 380 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/05/2026
End:
31/03/2032
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 5
II.2.1) Title
Lot 5 - Research Infrastructure Commissioning: Applied, Public Health and SC
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73110000
75120000
79990000
73000000
73210000
79315000
79994000
79411000
79410000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI32
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
End-to-end commissioning and monitoring of infrastructure and infrastructure-like schemes, focussed on population, policy, service and public health investments, with an expected annual budget of approximately £170 million.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
13 320 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/05/2026
End:
31/03/2032
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 6
II.2.1) Title
Lot 6 - Research Commissioning: Career Development and Capacity Building
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73110000
79994000
73000000
79411000
73210000
79315000
75120000
79990000
79410000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKI32
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
• End-to-end administration and monitoring of domestic academic training schemes, with an expected annual budget of almost £300 million;<br/>• End-to-end administration and monitoring of global research academic training schemes; and,<br/>• Deliver NIHR research capacity building services.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
47 500 000.00
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start:
01/05/2026
End:
31/03/2032
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
Yes
Description of options:
Optional 4 year extension
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
III.2.2) Contract performance conditions
Please refer to procurement documents
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive dialogue
IV.1.4) Information about reduction of the number of solutions or tenders during negotiation or dialogue
Recourse to staged procedure to gradually reduce the number of solutions to be discussed or tenders to be negotiated
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-025178
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
05/03/2025
Local time: 17:00
IV.2.3) Estimated date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates
Date:
17/03/2025
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 9 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
No
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
VI.3) Additional information
This Tender process will be issued by in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 ( as amended). Competitive Dialogue Procedure will be used for this procurement.<br/>The opportunity will be available on the Authority's e-Sourcing Portal. Select this link to access and register your organisation to the Authority's e-Sourcing Portal: https://health-family.force.com/s/Welcome, if you have not already done so.<br/>To find this opportunity in the e-Sourcing system, select “Find Opportunities” and then search by project number or title. Once you have found the Opportunity, press the ‘Register Interest’ button to register your interest. This will make the project to appear on ‘My proposals and quotes’. From there you can review documents, send clarification messages, submit the response, or decline to respond, if you decide not to participate in the opportunity. For full details on the instruction for the selection stage, please refer to the SQ Guidance Document.<br/>Earlier this year a PIN was issued relating to this procurement, as an early market engagement only. The link is as follows: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025178-2024
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
The High Court
The Strand
London
WC2A 2LL
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: https://www.judiciary.uk/courts-and-tribunals/high-court/
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
03/02/2025