Official UK procurement notice
Procurement of Data Research Repository Replacement Proof of Concept
Authority: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionProcurement of a discrete Proof of Concept through a compliant CCS Framework
CPV: IT software package
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · no lot value publishedLot #1Defra has a legal obligation to publish its research outputs on compliant platforms…Awarded
Defra has a legal obligation to publish its research outputs on compliant platforms and to manage its R&D programme with transparency, auditability, and accountability—demonstrating the value and impact of public investment. As part of Discovery work, a Proof of Concept exercise was run through a compliant framework for a short-term period (three months) to understand and test the requirements needed to support a future procurement exercise.<br/>Discussions were held with Project team to understand the market and potential solutions that would meet the requirements. Given the requirements for a Cloud solution, it was felt that the use of the G-Cloud 14 framework offered the best route to market for the purchase of the exploratory pilot Research Repository Service. A downselect was conducted via G-Cloud 14 in accordance with the Framework terms.<br/><br/>Although this is a call-off from the G-Cloud 14 Framework, the justification for this Direct Award is under regulation 32 (2) (b) of the PCR 2015 for use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication is against reason ii) “competition is absent for technical reasons” – the Call Off has downselected on technical criteria against a list of suppliers in accordance with the framework.<br/><br/>The value of the contract is a total contract value of £37,438.00 (ex VAT) for a three- month period. Additional information: Defra has a legal obligation to publish its research outputs on compliant platforms and to manage its R&D programme with transparency, auditability, and accountability—demonstrating the value and impact of public investment. As part of Discovery work, a Proof of Concept exercise was run through a compliant framework for a short-term period (three months) to understand and test the requirements needed to support a future procurement exercise.<br/>Discussions were held with Project team to understand the market and potential solutions that would meet the requirements. Given the requirements for a Cloud solution, it was felt that the use of the G-Cloud 14 framework offered the best route to market for the purchase of the exploratory pilot Research Repository Service. A downselect was conducted via G-Cloud 14 in accordance with the Framework terms.<br/><br/>Although this is a call-off from the G-Cloud 14 Framework, the justification for this Direct Award is under regulation 32 (2) (b) of the PCR 2015 for use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication is against reason ii) “competition is absent for technical reasons” – the Call Off has downselected on technical criteria against a list of suppliers in accordance with the framework.<br/><br/>The value of the contract is a total contract value of £37,438.00 (ex VAT) for a three- month period.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Goods
- Notice status
- Awarded without competition
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Direct award (no call for competition)
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 25 Mar 2026, 07:22 GMT
- Last source update
- 25 Mar 2026, 07:22 GMT
- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-027091- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-067360Find a Tender
- Why no open competition
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator due to absence of competition for technical reasons
- Published justification
Defra has a legal obligation to publish its research outputs on compliant platforms and to manage its R&D programme with transparency, auditability, and accountability—demonstrating the value and impact of public investment. As part of Discovery work, a Proof of Concept exercise was run through a compliant framework for a short-term period (three months) to understand and test the requirements needed to support a future procurement exercise.<br/>Discussions were held with Project team to understand the market and potential solutions that would meet the requirements. Given the requirements for a Cloud solution, it was felt that the use of the G-Cloud 14 framework offered the best route to market for the purchase of the exploratory pilot Research Repository Service. A downselect was conducted via G-Cloud 14 in accordance with the Framework terms.<br/><br/>Although this is a call-off from the G-Cloud 14 Framework, the justification for this Direct Award is under regulation 32 (2) (b) of the PCR 2015 for use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication is against reason ii) “competition is absent for technical reasons” – the Call Off has downselected on technical criteria against a list of suppliers in accordance with the framework.<br/><br/>The value of the contract is a total contract value of £37,438.00 (ex VAT) for a three- month period.
Publisher note: Defra has a legal obligation to publish its research outputs on compliant platforms and to manage its R&D programme with transparency, auditability, and accountability—demonstrating the value and impact of public investment. As part of Discovery work, a Proof of Concept exercise was run through a compliant framework for a short-term period (three months) to understand and test the requirements needed to support a future procurement exercise.<br/>Discussions were held with Project team to understand the market and potential solutions that would meet the requirements. Given the requirements for a Cloud solution, it was felt that the use of the G-Cloud 14 framework offered the best route to market for the purchase of the exploratory pilot Research Repository Service. A downselect was conducted via G-Cloud 14 in accordance with the Framework terms.<br/><br/>Although this is a call-off from the G-Cloud 14 Framework, the justification for this Direct Award is under regulation 32 (2) (b) of the PCR 2015 for use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication is against reason ii) “competition is absent for technical reasons” – the Call Off has downselected on technical criteria against a list of suppliers in accordance with the framework.<br/><br/>The value of the contract is a total contract value of £37,438.00 (ex VAT) for a three- month period.
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elsevier B.V. | £37,438 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
Contract 027091-2026-1 · Elsevier B.V.
- Signed
- 15 Jan 2026
- Value
- £37,438
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1bids · 1 electronic · 1 from abroad | 1 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Elsevier B.VAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.