Contract notice
Section I: Contracting
authority
I.1) Name and addresses
University Of Edinburgh
Charles Stewart House, 9-16 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1HT
UK
Contact person: Laura Schouten
E-mail: laura.schouten@ed.ac.uk
NUTS: UKM75
Internet address(es)
Main address: http://www.ed.ac.uk
Address of the buyer profile: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00107
I.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge at:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
Additional information can be obtained from the abovementioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically to:
https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Education
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
Strategic Leadership in Research Training Programme
Reference number: EC1075
II.1.2) Main CPV code
80500000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
The University of Edinburgh (UoE) wishes to appoint a Supplier to co-design, deliver, and monitor elements of its Strategic Leadership in Research Training Programme over the next 4 years.
Please refer to the ITT tender documents for full details of the requirement.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT:
183 333.34
GBP
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
No
II.2) Description
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
80530000
80511000
80521000
80500000
80570000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UKM75
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
The University of Edinburgh offers a Strategic Leadership in Research Training Programme which provides a framework to develop core research leadership skills and behaviours to progress experienced mid-career researchers into prominent future research leaders. The programme is suited to experienced mid-career researchers who demonstrate the potential and motivation to develop into a research leader role and is designed to advance research leadership skills that are applicable to both internal and external research environments.
The programme is conducted once per annum over a period of 6 months per cohort. Each cohort has up to 24 participants and the programme comprises of various elements, which we anticipate will be conducted as a combination of in-person and virtual events. The frequency will be 1 iteration of programme per annum for 4 years, running alternately for either open or targeted cohorts.
Please refer to the ITT tender documents for full details of the requirement.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Criteria below:
Quality criterion: Quality
/ Weighting: 80
Price
/ Weighting:
20
II.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT:
183 333.34
GBP
II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months: 48
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
The anticipated contract period for this tender is August 2026 to July 2028. As detailed in the ITT, the University has the option to extend this contract by two periods of 12 months each, potentially taking the contract through to July 2030.
II.2.9) Information about the limits on the number of candidates to be invited
II.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted:
No
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
II.2.14) Additional information
The estimated value in this Contract Notice is based on the budget of 166,666.67 GBP excluding VAT over four years plus an additional 10% contingency for if and when additional associated services are required.
Section III: Legal, economic, financial and technical information
III.1) Conditions for participation
III.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Part IV: Selection criteria - B: Economic and financial standing – Question 4B1.1 (turnover requirement) and 4B5.1 and 4B5.2 (insurance requirements).
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Question 4B1.1
Bidders will be required to have a minimum “general” yearly turnover of 100,000 GBP for the last 3 years.
Where turnover information is not available for the time period requested, the bidder will be required to state the date which they were set up/started trading in question 4B3
Question 4B5.1b and 4B5.2
Employer's (Compulsory) Liability Insurance = 5M GBP per single event
Public Liability Insurance = 2M GBP per single event
Professional Indemnity Insurance = 1M GBP per single event
III.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria:
Part IV: Selection criteria - C: Technical and Professional Ability – Question 4C1.2 (Relevant Experience) and 4C.10 (Subcontracting)
Minimum level(s) of standards required:
Question 4C1.2:
Bidders will be required to provide examples that demonstrate that they have the relevant experience to deliver the services as described in part II.2.4 of the Contract Notice. Please refer to the ITT tender documents for full details.
Question 4C10:
Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract.
III.2) Conditions related to the contract
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2026/S 000-007477
IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date:
04/05/2026
Local time: 12:00
IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
EN
IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 4 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date:
04/05/2026
Local time: 12:00
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement:
Yes
Estimated timing for further notices to be published:
Spring 2030
VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
VI.3) Additional information
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 31504. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
Community benefits are included in this requirement. For more information see: https://www.gov.scot/policies/public-sector-procurement/community-benefits-in-procurement/
A summary of the expected community benefits has been provided as follows:
Please refer to the ITT tender documents for full details.
(SC Ref:827619)
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Edinburgh Sheriff Court, 27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
UK
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
02/04/2026