Research and Experimental Development Tenders and Contracts

Research and experimental development tenders cover experimental development, prototype and trial work, and formal research and development contracts, including R&D tied to security and defence materials. They cover early-stage feasibility studies and applied engineering and testing programmes procured by public bodies.

Stotles brings together research and development tenders and contracts from 100+ portals into one search, so you do not have to check each portal separately, and you can set alerts for new opportunities across the UK and Ireland.

If you want to search the government portals directly, Find a Tender carries higher-value contracts across the UK and Contracts Finder carries lower-value contracts in England. Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Ireland's eTenders covers Irish public bodies, and many councils, NHS bodies and housing associations publish on their own e-tendering portals such as ProContract. Research and development contracts are often exempt from the usual competition rules, and market engagement or requests for information come first.

Research suppliers must handle data in line with UK data protection law and research ethics rules, and defence research may need security-cleared staff. Tenders usually set minimum insurance cover, check financial standing and ask for evidence of similar contracts at selection stage. Under the Procurement Act 2023, suppliers can be excluded for certain criminal convictions, insolvency or failure to pay tax.

Government departments including the Ministry of Defence, research councils and universities are regular buyers. NHS bodies and other public sector organisations also commission research and development work relevant to their own operations.

Read research and innovation strategies, departmental areas of research interest, programme funding calls and requests for information, which show research and development work coming due ahead of a notice. On Stotles you can track those signals and the buyers behind them, then follow a notice from pre-tender through to award.

Research and development notices carry 73000000 (Research and development services and related consultancy services) and 73110000 (Research services).