Official UK procurement notice
Strategic Innovation Delivery Partner
Authority: Thames Freeport (Public body)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThames Freeport is seeking to appoint a Strategic Innovation Delivery Partner (SIDP) to support the delivery of its long-term innovation strategy through a Competitive Flexible Procedure. The successful organisation or consortia will provide both strategic leadership and operational delivery across a portfolio of complex innovation programmes, working with a diverse stakeholder base including public sector bodies, NHS organisations, local authorities, academia, and private sector partners.
The initial priority for the SIDP will be the delivery of a £3.3 million AI Centre within a regional hospital. This programme will create a national demonstrator for applied artificial intelligence in frontline health and care, requiring the SIDP to lead programme mobilisation, NHS engagement, technical deployment of AI use cases, workforce development, and creation of a sustainable operating model. Proven delivery experience within regulated or clinical environments will be a key assessment criterion.
Following successful mobilisation of the AI Centre, the SIDP will hold a call-off contract with an estimated value of up to £15 million over three years. Additional commissions may include delivery of innovation programmes across Thames Freeport’s core sectors: sustainable construction, advanced manufacturing, public services, and digital logistics, contributing to the Freeport’s ambition to become an internationally recognised centre for applied AI and smart infrastructure.
Bidders must demonstrate clear leadership, operational capacity, sector expertise, investment-readiness, and the ability to operate effectively across complex public-private ecosystems. Consortium bids are permitted but must be fully formed at the point of submission, with a designated lead organisation.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London… ↗
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
- How the procedure runs: The Contracting Authority (Thames Freeport) is conducting this procurement using the Competitive Flexible Procedure permitted under Section 43 of the Procurement Act 2023. This procedure has been designed to ensure flexibility, transparency, equal treatment and value for money while allowing appropriate dialogue with the market. The following stages will apply: Stage 1 – Expression of Interest and Supplier Questionnaire (SQ) Interested suppliers will submit a response to the Supplier Questionnaire (SQ). The SQ includes pass/fail questions relating to eligibility, capability, and conflict of interest, alongside scored technical questions assessing technical delivery experience and capacity. Submissions will be evaluated in accordance with published pass/fail criteria and weighted scored criteria. A minimum of three of the highest scoring suppliers will be shortlisted for the next stage. Stage 2 – Invitation to Tender (ITT) Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to submit full tenders. The Authority will issue a detailed Invitation to Tender (ITT), setting out full requirements, evaluation methodology, and any updated award criteria. Clarification questions may be raised and addressed during this stage to ensure mutual understanding of requirements. Stage 3 – Dialogue and/or Negotiation (Optional) The Authority reserves the right to enter into dialogue or negotiation with shortlisted suppliers following receipt of initial tenders. This may include: Structured dialogue sessions. Presentations or demonstrations of proposals. Site visits or audits. Negotiation meetings to refine proposals. Any dialogue or negotiation activity will be conducted in a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner, equally applied to all remaining bidders. Stage 4 – Final Tender Submission Following any dialogue or negotiation, suppliers may be invited to submit final tenders. Final tenders will be evaluated against the published award criteria. Stage 5 – Evaluation and Award Final tenders will be evaluated using the defined evaluation criteria and scoring methodology. The supplier achieving the highest overall score will be recommended for contract award, subject to internal approvals. Stage 6 – Voluntary Standstill The Authority may apply a voluntary standstill period prior to contract signature to allow for feedback and transparency. Stage 7 – Contract Award and Transparency A Contract Award Notice will be published on Find a Tender in accordance with Procurement Act 2023 requirements. Outcome notifications and feedback will be available to all suppliers by request upon conclusion of the procurement.
CPV: Business and management consultancy and related services · Business and management consultancy services · Project management consultancy services · Research and development consultancy services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedWhat it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (3)
- Technical: 60%
- Value for Money: 30%
- Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
- Value for Money: value for money
- Social Value: SV
- Technical
- Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Unspecified in notice
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 12 Jun 2025, 19:05 BST
- Last source update
- 12 Jun 2025, 19:05 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 29 Aug 2025
- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-032104- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05481cFind a Tender
- How it runs
The Contracting Authority (Thames Freeport) is conducting this procurement using the Competitive Flexible Procedure permitted under Section 43 of the Procurement Act 2023. This procedure has been designed to ensure flexibility, transparency, equal treatment and value for money while allowing appropriate dialogue with the market.
The following stages will apply:
Stage 1 – Expression of Interest and Supplier Questionnaire (SQ)
Interested suppliers will submit a response to the Supplier Questionnaire (SQ).
The SQ includes pass/fail questions relating to eligibility, capability, and conflict of interest, alongside scored technical questions assessing technical delivery experience and capacity.
Submissions will be evaluated in accordance with published pass/fail criteria and weighted scored criteria.
A minimum of three of the highest scoring suppliers will be shortlisted for the next stage.
Stage 2 – Invitation to Tender (ITT)
Shortlisted suppliers will be invited to submit full tenders.
The Authority will issue a detailed Invitation to Tender (ITT), setting out full requirements, evaluation methodology, and any updated award criteria.
Clarification questions may be raised and addressed during this stage to ensure mutual understanding of requirements.
Stage 3 – Dialogue and/or Negotiation (Optional)
The Authority reserves the right to enter into dialogue or negotiation with shortlisted suppliers following receipt of initial tenders.
This may include:
Structured dialogue sessions.
Presentations or demonstrations of proposals.
Site visits or audits.
Negotiation meetings to refine proposals.
Any dialogue or negotiation activity will be conducted in a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner, equally applied to all remaining bidders.
Stage 4 – Final Tender Submission
Following any dialogue or negotiation, suppliers may be invited to submit final tenders.
Final tenders will be evaluated against the published award criteria.
Stage 5 – Evaluation and Award
Final tenders will be evaluated using the defined evaluation criteria and scoring methodology.
The supplier achieving the highest overall score will be recommended for contract award, subject to internal approvals.
Stage 6 – Voluntary Standstill
The Authority may apply a voluntary standstill period prior to contract signature to allow for feedback and transparency.
Stage 7 – Contract Award and Transparency
A Contract Award Notice will be published on Find a Tender in accordance with Procurement Act 2023 requirements.
Outcome notifications and feedback will be available to all suppliers by request upon conclusion of the procurement.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 7 Jul 2025, 09:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 7 Jul 2025, 09:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 7 Jul 2025, 09:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
12 Jun 2025 → 1 Sept 2025 · 5 dates- Tender notice published12 Jun 2025, 19:05 BST
- Clarification questions by7 Jul 2025, 09:00 BST
- Submission deadline7 Jul 2025, 09:00 BST
- Award decision expected by29 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST
- Contract starts1 Sept 2025, 00:00 BST
Notice history
1 event · 1 release on Find a Tender- Tender notice published12 Jun 2025, 19:05 BSTUK4
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (1)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender