Scope
Description
The Government Office for Science (GOS) is awarding a service contract for the development and maintenance of the Areas of Research Interest (ARI) database, Ari.org.uk. The database supports government departments in publishing and accessing ARI questions, primarily for external experts but also to be used by Civil Servants to improve coordination across departments.
The following conditions are met in relation to the public contract:
Section 41, Schedule 5, Paragraph 5 - Single Supplier: (a) due to a particular supplier having intellectual property rights or other exclusive rights, only that supplier can supply the goods, services or works required, and (b) there are no reasonable alternatives to those goods, services or works.
VAT is recoverable on this contract.
Contract 1. ARI Database
Supplier
Contract value
- £45,000 excluding VAT
- £54,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Date signed
6 January 2026
Contract dates
- 7 January 2026 to 8 January 2029
- Possible extension to 8 January 2031
- 5 years, 2 days
Description of possible extension:
The Buyer may extend the Contract for a period of 24 months in total (in two 12-month increments) if no suitable migration solution is found for the ari.org.uk site to be built on HMG AWS.
Main procurement category
Goods
CPV classifications
- 48612000 - Database-management system
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Signed contract documents
ARI contract_Redacted.pdf
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - without competition
Supplier
Open Policy Limited (Overton)
210 Euston Road, London, England
London
NW1 2DA
United Kingdom
Email: support@overton.io
Region: UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No
Contract 1. ARI Database
Contracting authority
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PVWZ-3216-PVQL
22 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2EG
United Kingdom
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government