Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
UK Research & Innovation
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1FL
Telephone
+44 1793867000
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKK14 - Swindon
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Other activity
Research
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
UKRI-4491 ESRC-BBSRC Food Systems Commercialisation Catalyst
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79410000 - Business and management consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
UKRI requires a supplier to support the development and delivery of an early-stage mission-led commercialisation catalyst (The Programme).
The key aims for the Programme are to:
i.Enable collaboration between bioscience and social science researchers: recruiting researchers, building and supporting multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary teams to address an agreed team challenge.
ii.Support skills and capacity development: training, supporting and enabling the cohort of grant holders to grow and sustain positive social and/or environmental impact from their research in the mission area of healthy, sustainable and resilient food systems. This may include formal training, mentoring and peer support, networking, and facilitating connections with relevant expertise and national/international markets.
iii.Support grant holders to explore alternative (non-traditional commercial) enterprise models to create effective and self-sustaining impact. Grant administration will be managed by UKRI.
This requirement will be for initial period of 12 months with an optional extension of up to a further 6 months. The value of the requirement will be up to £500,000.00 for the initial period and £300,000.00 for the extension which will be subject to approval.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £800,000
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
UNITED KINGDOM
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
UKRI requires a supplier to support the development and delivery of an early-stage mission-led commercialisation catalyst (The Programme).
The key aims for the Programme are to:
i.Enable collaboration between bioscience and social science researchers: recruiting researchers, building and supporting multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary teams to address an agreed team challenge.
ii.Support skills and capacity development: training, supporting and enabling the cohort of grant holders to grow and sustain positive social and/or environmental impact from their research in the mission area of healthy, sustainable and resilient food systems. This may include formal training, mentoring and peer support, networking, and facilitating connections with relevant expertise and national/international markets.
iii.Support grant holders to explore alternative (non-traditional commercial) enterprise models to create effective and self-sustaining impact. Grant administration will be managed by UKRI.
This Programme is in response to both ESRC and BBSRC’s (two of UKRI’s component research councils) strategic aims to support commercialisation for social, economic, and environmental good. ESRC and BBSRC are investing:
•Up to £1m in maximum 10 grants within a single competition in 2025. The grant award facilitates researchers to develop their idea with a view to its eventual launch (10 awards at £100k each = £1m). The supplier will manage the grant competition; UKRI will administer the grants.
•Up to £500k (exc. VAT) for this ‘mission-led commercialisation catalyst support package’ as described in this scope of work. The overall project costs cannot exceed this amount.
To support delivery of this Programme, the supplier will be expected to recruit researchers, build and support multi/inter-disciplinary teams, where each award-holding team must have a mix of social science and bioscience expertise. The supplier will also be expected to train, support and enable these researchers to grow and sustain positive social / environmental impact from their research in the mission area of healthy, sustainable and resilient food systems. As such, the supplier must have expertise in social science commercialisation, commercialisation of bioscience innovations, as well as commercialisation of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research.
Duration of Initial period will be 12 months commencing in March 2025. there will be an optional extension period of up to a further 6 months subject to approval.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quaity / Weighting: 90
Cost criterion - Name: Price / Weighting: 10
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-041050
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
8 April 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 3
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Zinc Ventures Limited
24 Eversholt St,
London
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI - London
National registration number
10796984
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £800,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £800,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
To view this notice, please click here:
https://ukri.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=946186734 GO Reference: GO-202551-PRO-30400143
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
United Kingdom Research & Innovation
Swindon
SN2 1FL
Country
United Kingdom