← Back to search results

planningFind a Tender · planning
BuyerDepartment for Science, Innovation & Technology
Statusplanning
DeadlineNot published
ValueValue not published
Published28 Apr 2026

What is being bought

The Semiconductor Unit in DSIT has secured ISF funding over 3 years for a Hardware Security Research Platform. Its aim is to accelerate commercial adoption of hardware security solutions by lowering the cost of solutions development, facilitating researcher/industry engagement, and researcher access to industry-grade resources and tape-outs. The project idea was developed by UK and US government and industry in early 2025 and is currently at concept stage. We require a scoping study to provide DSIT with sufficient evidence to satisfy internal investment approvers and to shape a call for candidate organisations to bid to establish and run the platform itself. The study should broadly cover analysis and actionable recommendations on the viability, structure, and operation of a hardware security research platform. The study should evidence optimal structural, operational, and costs /financial models; identify specific services and infrastructure needed to support the platform and its target users; and assess potential risks, liabilities, and performance metrics. As the platform was originally conceived as a joint UK-US project, the study should also outline platform feasibility with both UK and US involvement, and UK-only.

Categories

Research services 73110000

Lot details

Lot 1

No lot description published.

Statusplanning
Contract periodFrom 28 Aug 2026 to 28 Mar 2027
SME suitabilitySuitable for SMEs

What is included

ItemCategoryQuantity
1Research servicesNot published

Comparable-procurement analytics

Benchmarked against retained Find a Tender procedures with CPV division 73. The category anchor is Research services (73110000); this is a deliberately broad market comparator. The comparison is shown at several levels rather than pretending one company or region is always the best benchmark.

Comparison setProceduresReported bids per procedureNamed award suppliersPrice evidence
Market: CPV division 731,2153 median · 31.3 average (278 of 1,215 with a bid count)2.7 average (306 of 1,215 with named award suppliers)Not published
Same buyer13Not publishedNot publishedNot published

“Reported bids” is an official aggregate, sometimes reported per lot; it is the closest available competition measure. “Named award suppliers” are winners, not all applicants.

Price-outcome signal

Not enough comparable procedures currently publish both a GBP tender value and a usable lowest-valid-bid value to calculate a responsible price-reduction benchmark. Tenderline deliberately does not infer a saving from named award suppliers or from missing award values.

Procurement strategy & market signals

Framework agreementNot published
Dynamic purchasing systemNot published
Competitive procurementNot published
Recurring requirementNot published
Procurement method rationaleNot published
Rationale classificationsNot published
Special regimeNot published
Covered byNot published
Submission policyNot published
Selection criteriaNot published
Risk detailsNot published

Planning & early market engagement

BudgetValue not published
No-engagement rationaleNot published
Planning documents1
Planning milestones1
MilestoneTypeDueStatus
We plan to hold a pre-market engagement session 14th May 16:00 - 17:00 GMT. This will include a slidedeck outlining the project and expectations from the potentail supplier, Q&A Session and potentially an RFI (Request For Information). Please get in touch with matthew.findlow@dsit.gov.uk if you would like to join the session.engagement15 May 2026scheduled

Related procurements

No linked framework, prior procurement or reprocurement published.

Documents & submission route

Source data inventory

Diagnostic view. “Not published” means this current release does not provide a value.

OCIDocds-h6vhtk-068d33
Latest release ID038788-2026
Latest release timestampTue Apr 28 2026 15:24:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Sourcefind-a-tender
Official notice URLNot published
Tender statusplanning
Procurement methodNot published
Procurement method detailsNot published
Main procurement categoryservices
Above thresholdYes
Legal basis2023/54
Tender period: startNot published
Tender period: endNot published
Expression of interest deadlineNot published
Enquiry deadlineNot published
Award period: startNot published
Award period: endNot published
Submission method detailsNot published
Submission languagesNot published
Electronic catalogue policyNot published
Total tender valueNot published
Tender lots in source1
Tender items in source1
Tender documents in source0
Awards in latest release0
Contracts in latest release0
Parties in latest release1

Notice history

DateEventReference
28 Apr 2026planning038788-2026

All source data

Unmodified official OCDS data retained by Tenderline for this procurement process.

Complete current OCDS release JSON
{
  "id": "038788-2026",
  "tag": [
    "planning"
  ],
  "date": "2026-04-28T16:24:40+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-068d33",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PVWZ-3216-PVQL",
    "name": "Department for Science, Innovation & Technology"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-068d33",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "planning",
        "description": null,
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2027-03-28T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2026-08-28T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "73110000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Research services"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Semi-Conductor Study",
    "status": "planning",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "description": "The Semiconductor Unit in DSIT has secured ISF funding over 3 years for a Hardware Security Research Platform. Its aim is to accelerate commercial adoption of hardware security solutions by lowering the cost of solutions development, facilitating researcher/industry engagement, and researcher access to industry-grade resources and tape-outs.\nThe project idea was developed by UK and US government and industry in early 2025 and is currently at concept stage. We require a scoping study to provide DSIT with sufficient evidence to satisfy internal investment approvers and to shape a call for candidate organisations to bid to establish and run the platform itself. The study should broadly cover analysis and actionable recommendations on the viability, structure, and operation of a hardware security research platform. The study should evidence optimal structural, operational, and costs /financial models; identify specific services and infrastructure needed to support the platform and its target users; and assess potential risks, liabilities, and performance metrics. \nAs the platform was originally conceived as a joint UK-US project, the study should also outline platform feasibility with both UK and US involvement, and UK-only.",
    "communication": {
      "futureNoticeDate": "2026-05-29T23:59:59+01:00"
    },
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PVWZ-3216-PVQL",
      "name": "Department for Science, Innovation & Technology",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKI32",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "SW1A 2EG",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "22 Whitehall"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - central government"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PVWZ-3216-PVQL",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "matthew.findlow@dsit.gov.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "038788-2026",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038788-2026",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK2",
        "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
        "datePublished": "2026-04-28T16:24:40+01:00"
      }
    ],
    "milestones": [
      {
        "id": "engagement",
        "type": "engagement",
        "status": "scheduled",
        "dueDate": "2026-05-15T23:59:59+01:00",
        "description": "We plan to hold a pre-market engagement session 14th May 16:00 - 17:00 GMT. This will include a slidedeck outlining the project and expectations from the potentail supplier, Q&A Session and potentially an RFI (Request For Information).\nPlease get in touch with matthew.findlow@dsit.gov.uk if you would like to join the session."
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}
Complete JSON history (1 releases)
28 Apr 2026 · 038788-2026 · planning
{
  "id": "038788-2026",
  "tag": [
    "planning"
  ],
  "date": "2026-04-28T16:24:40+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-068d33",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PVWZ-3216-PVQL",
    "name": "Department for Science, Innovation & Technology"
  },
  "tender": {
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-068d33",
    "lots": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "status": "planning",
        "description": null,
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2027-03-28T23:59:59+01:00",
          "startDate": "2026-08-28T00:00:00+01:00"
        }
      }
    ],
    "items": [
      {
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1",
        "additionalClassifications": [
          {
            "id": "73110000",
            "scheme": "CPV",
            "description": "Research services"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "Semi-Conductor Study",
    "status": "planning",
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "2023/54",
      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
    },
    "description": "The Semiconductor Unit in DSIT has secured ISF funding over 3 years for a Hardware Security Research Platform. Its aim is to accelerate commercial adoption of hardware security solutions by lowering the cost of solutions development, facilitating researcher/industry engagement, and researcher access to industry-grade resources and tape-outs.\nThe project idea was developed by UK and US government and industry in early 2025 and is currently at concept stage. We require a scoping study to provide DSIT with sufficient evidence to satisfy internal investment approvers and to shape a call for candidate organisations to bid to establish and run the platform itself. The study should broadly cover analysis and actionable recommendations on the viability, structure, and operation of a hardware security research platform. The study should evidence optimal structural, operational, and costs /financial models; identify specific services and infrastructure needed to support the platform and its target users; and assess potential risks, liabilities, and performance metrics. \nAs the platform was originally conceived as a joint UK-US project, the study should also outline platform feasibility with both UK and US involvement, and UK-only.",
    "communication": {
      "futureNoticeDate": "2026-05-29T23:59:59+01:00"
    },
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
  },
  "parties": [
    {
      "id": "GB-PPON-PVWZ-3216-PVQL",
      "name": "Department for Science, Innovation & Technology",
      "roles": [
        "buyer"
      ],
      "address": {
        "region": "UKI32",
        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "London",
        "postalCode": "SW1A 2EG",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "22 Whitehall"
      },
      "details": {
        "classifications": [
          {
            "id": "publicAuthorityCentralGovernment",
            "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
            "description": "Public authority - central government"
          }
        ]
      },
      "identifier": {
        "id": "PVWZ-3216-PVQL",
        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "matthew.findlow@dsit.gov.uk"
      }
    }
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
    "documents": [
      {
        "id": "038788-2026",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038788-2026",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK2",
        "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
        "datePublished": "2026-04-28T16:24:40+01:00"
      }
    ],
    "milestones": [
      {
        "id": "engagement",
        "type": "engagement",
        "status": "scheduled",
        "dueDate": "2026-05-15T23:59:59+01:00",
        "description": "We plan to hold a pre-market engagement session 14th May 16:00 - 17:00 GMT. This will include a slidedeck outlining the project and expectations from the potentail supplier, Q&A Session and potentially an RFI (Request For Information).\nPlease get in touch with matthew.findlow@dsit.gov.uk if you would like to join the session."
      }
    ]
  },
  "initiationType": "tender"
}