UKRI-5495 TechFirst: Payment Function

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  "language": "en",
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{
  "id": "029233-2026",
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  "date": "2026-03-30T15:46:46+01:00",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05ef3b",
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-PPON-PDQJ-7126-JDHG",
    "name": "UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)"
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  "tender": {
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    "lots": [
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        "value": {
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          "currency": "GBP",
          "amountGross": 3038304
        },
        "status": "active",
        "suitability": {
          "sme": true,
          "vcse": true
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        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
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              "type": "quality",
              "numbers": [
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                  "weight": "percentageExact"
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            },
            {
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              "type": "price",
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                  "weight": "percentageExact"
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        },
        "contractPeriod": {
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          "startDate": "2026-07-01T00:00:00+01:00"
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    ],
    "title": "UKRI-5495 TechFirst: Payment Function",
    "value": {
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      "currency": "GBP",
      "amountGross": 3038304
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    "status": "active",
    "coveredBy": [
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    "documents": [
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      {
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        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029233-2026",
        "format": "text/html",
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    "legalBasis": {
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    "tenderPeriod": {
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    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "submissionTerms": {
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      "electronicSubmissionPolicy": "allowed"
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    "procurementMethod": "open",
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    "submissionMethodDetails": "https://ukri2.my.salesforce-sites.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=Projects&uid=a1MTm0000090p8cMAA&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=&County=\nPlease note the following steps for accessing this opportunity via the Atamis eSourcing platform:\n1. Log in or create an account here: https://ukri2.my.site.com\n2. Navigate to the opportunity in the Find an Opportunity section of the site or via the direct access link above.\n3. Select Register Interest (you will not be able to view the tender documentation without registering an interest).\n4. Go back to the main menu and navigate to the My Proposals and Quotes section of the site.\n5. Select the opportunity from the list. Tender Documents for download are found in the Documents tab.",
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        "locality": "Swindon, Wiltshire",
        "postalCode": "SN2 1FL",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "Polaris House"
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      "identifier": {
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        "email": "corporateprocurement@ukri.org"
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  "language": "en",
  "initiationType": "tender"
}

{
  "id": "081128-2025",
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  "date": "2025-12-09T15:28:30Z",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05ef3b",
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    "id": "GB-PPON-PDQJ-7126-JDHG",
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  "tender": {
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    "lots": [
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        "status": "planning",
        "contractPeriod": {
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          "startDate": "2026-02-09T00:00:00Z"
        }
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        ]
      }
    ],
    "title": "UKRI-5495: CyberFirst/TechFirst undergraduate scholarship, and Spärck AI scholarship programme: Payment Function",
    "value": {
      "amount": 2449000,
      "currency": "GBP",
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    "status": "planning",
    "amendments": [
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    "legalBasis": {
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      "scheme": "UKPGA"
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    "description": "UKRI is engaging the market ahead of procuring a payment processing service for the TechGrad scholarship programme, including secure student payments and related administration.",
    "aboveThreshold": true,
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  ],
  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
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        "id": "081128-2025",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/081128-2025",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK2",
        "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
        "datePublished": "2025-12-09T15:28:30Z"
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    ],
    "milestones": [
      {
        "id": "engagement",
        "type": "engagement",
        "status": "scheduled",
        "dueDate": "2025-12-16T23:59:59Z",
        "description": "UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is undertaking preliminary market engagement to help shape an upcoming procurement supporting delivery of the TechGrad programme, part of the wider £187m TechFirst initiative to strengthen the UK’s domestic tech talent pipeline.\nTechGrad is an undergraduate scholarship programme supporting up to 900 UK students per year with a £4,000 annual scholarship throughout their studies. It forms the core of TechFirst, building on the successful CyberFirst model, where graduates have achieved an 88% employment rate in the cyber sector.\nThe programme also includes the Spärck AI scholarship, offering up to 100 fully funded AI master’s degrees each year. Both scholarship schemes will provide wraparound support such as industry and government placements and training.\nTogether, these initiatives aim to invest earlier in future tech talent, helping students gain the skills, experience, and networks needed to fill critical skills gaps and support growth in frontier tech industries. As competition for global talent increases, TechGrad seeks to incentivise domestic students and ensure the UK has a strong pipeline of skilled British nationals driving innovation and supporting national security.\nAbout This Procurement\nThis procurement focuses on the payment processing function for the TechGrad programmes, delivered under a single contract of up to four years. The provider will manage the transfer of scholarship and other relevant payments directly to students on the TechFirst scholarship programme, ensuring compliance with all relevant legal, financial, and programme conditions.\nThe TechFirst Scholarship Programme aims to support top domestic talent through their undergraduate studies. The first cohort will start in Autumn 2026, with approximately 600 students joining the programme (250 transferring from the existing CyberFirst bursary and 350 new students). There will be three further cohorts of up to 900 students recruited (2026/27, 2027/28, 2028/29). No recruitment is currently planned for 2029/30.\nThe Spärck AI scholarship scheme aims to support domestic and international talent through their master's studies with a range of opportunities. The first cohort will start in Autumn 2026, with approximately 70-80 students that will sit across the nine partnered universities. There will be three further cohorts again of up to 100 students a year recruited (2027/28, 2028/29, 2029/30).\nExpected High-Level Requirements:\nOnboard TechGrad/CyberFirst students, including a route for students to submit identity and bank details for placement and scholarship payments.\nCooperate with other TechGrad suppliers, IUK, and DSIT on data sharing while complying with robust data protection principles.\nAbility to securely manage data for individuals who have undergone national security vetting. Required for the TechGrad/CyberFirst scholarship programme, not for the Spärck AI scholarship programme.\nAbility to accept and process stipend budget from UKRI in the form of grants. The stipend money will be managed and delivered separately from the contract/service budget by UKRI. \nEnsure payment processes comply with all relevant guidance and regulations, including appropriate due diligence and counter-fraud processes.\nMake annual £4,000 scholarship payments to TechGrad students each September.\nProcess annual placement stipend payments (approx. £2,000) for TechGrad/CyberFirst students, with first payments made between May and June 2026.\nPayments for the Spärck AI scholarship programme under this contract will take place for cohorts from 2027/28 onwards. Payments for the first cohort starting in Autumn 2026 will be managed through UKRI and universities directly.\nFor the cohorts 2027/28 onwards, to make Stipend payments to Spärck scholars on a monthly/quarterly basis from the Autumn. The total stipend cost for each scholar over the course of their academic year will be between £21-24,000, dependant on London/non-London weighting. \nTuition fee payments to be made directly to each university on a quarterly basis from the Autumn that year. This will be around £20,000 per scholar for the whole academic year. Universities will absorb the remainder of the scholar’s tuition fee.\nProvide appropriate management information and programme data to IUK for contract management and evaluation purposes.\nMarket Engagement Webinar:\nA market engagement webinar will take place on 16th December 2025 at 10:00 AM. Following the session, the presentation and Q&A will be shared with participants. This webinar is an opportunity to learn more about the TechGrad Programme and the procurement process, as well as to provide valuable feedback.\nIf you would like to take part, please register here:\nhttps://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d3dfc304-1a01-4246-bd64-30b6b049571c@8bb7e08e-daa4-4a8e-927e-fca38db04b7e/registration\nPlease note that not registering an interest will not prevent any organisation from participating in any future procurement, nor will any information shared during preliminary market engagement provide an advantage in any subsequent process."
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}

{
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  "date": "2025-12-05T07:40:59Z",
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05ef3b",
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    "name": "UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)"
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    ],
    "title": "UKRI-5495: CyberFirst/TechFirst undergraduate scholarship, and Spärck AI scholarship programme: Payment Function",
    "value": {
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    "status": "planning",
    "legalBasis": {
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      "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents",
      "scheme": "UKPGA"
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    "description": "UKRI is engaging the market ahead of procuring a payment processing service for the TechGrad scholarship programme, including secure student payments and related administration.",
    "aboveThreshold": true,
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services"
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        "country": "GB",
        "locality": "Swindon, Wiltshire",
        "postalCode": "SN2 1FL",
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "streetAddress": "Polaris House"
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      "details": {
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        "classifications": [
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        "scheme": "GB-PPON"
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  "language": "en",
  "planning": {
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        "id": "079955-2025",
        "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/079955-2025",
        "format": "text/html",
        "noticeType": "UK2",
        "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
        "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
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    "milestones": [
      {
        "id": "engagement",
        "type": "engagement",
        "status": "scheduled",
        "dueDate": "2025-12-16T23:59:59Z",
        "description": "UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), is undertaking preliminary market engagement to help shape an upcoming procurement supporting delivery of the TechGrad programme, part of the wider £187m TechFirst initiative to strengthen the UK’s domestic tech talent pipeline.\nTechGrad is an undergraduate scholarship programme supporting up to 900 UK students per year with a £4,000 annual scholarship throughout their studies. It forms the core of TechFirst, building on the successful CyberFirst model, where graduates have achieved an 88% employment rate in the cyber sector.\nThe programme also includes the Spärck AI scholarship, offering up to 100 fully funded AI master’s degrees each year. Both scholarship schemes will provide wraparound support such as industry and government placements and training.\nTogether, these initiatives aim to invest earlier in future tech talent, helping students gain the skills, experience, and networks needed to fill critical skills gaps and support growth in frontier tech industries. As competition for global talent increases, TechGrad seeks to incentivise domestic students and ensure the UK has a strong pipeline of skilled British nationals driving innovation and supporting national security.\nAbout This Procurement\nThis procurement focuses on the payment processing function for the TechGrad programmes, delivered under a single contract of up to four years. The provider will manage the transfer of scholarship and other relevant payments directly to students on the TechFirst scholarship programme, ensuring compliance with all relevant legal, financial, and programme conditions.\nThe TechFirst Scholarship Programme aims to support top domestic talent through their undergraduate studies. The first cohort will start in Autumn 2026, with approximately 600 students joining the programme (250 transferring from the existing CyberFirst bursary and 350 new students). There will be three further cohorts of up to 900 students recruited (2026/27, 2027/28, 2028/29). No recruitment is currently planned for 2029/30.\nThe Spärck AI scholarship scheme aims to support domestic and international talent through their master's studies with a range of opportunities. The first cohort will start in Autumn 2026, with approximately 70-80 students that will sit across the nine partnered universities. There will be three further cohorts again of up to 100 students a year recruited (2027/28, 2028/29, 2029/30).\nExpected High-Level Requirements:\nOnboard TechGrad/CyberFirst students, including a route for students to submit identity and bank details for placement and scholarship payments.\nCooperate with other TechGrad suppliers, IUK, and DSIT on data sharing while complying with robust data protection principles.\nAbility to securely manage data for individuals who have undergone national security vetting. Required for the TechGrad/CyberFirst scholarship programme, not for the Spärck AI scholarship programme.\nAbility to accept and process stipend budget from UKRI in the form of grants. The stipend money will be managed and delivered separately from the contract/service budget by UKRI. \nEnsure payment processes comply with all relevant guidance and regulations, including appropriate due diligence and counter-fraud processes.\nMake annual £4,000 scholarship payments to TechGrad students each September.\nProcess annual placement stipend payments (approx. £2,000) for TechGrad/CyberFirst students, with first payments made between May and June 2026.\nPayments for the Spärck AI scholarship programme under this contract will take place for cohorts from 2027/28 onwards. Payments for the first cohort starting in Autumn 2026 will be managed through UKRI and universities directly.\nFor the cohorts 2027/28 onwards, to make Stipend payments to Spärck scholars on a monthly/quarterly basis from the Autumn. The total stipend cost for each scholar over the course of their academic year will be between £21-24,000, dependant on London/non-London weighting. \nTuition fee payments to be made directly to each university on a quarterly basis from the Autumn that year. This will be around £20,000 per scholar for the whole academic year. Universities will absorb the remainder of the scholar’s tuition fee.\nProvide appropriate management information and programme data to IUK for contract management and evaluation purposes.\nMarket Engagement Webinar:\nA market engagement webinar will take place on 16th December 2025 at 10:00 AM. Following the session, the presentation and Q&A will be shared with participants. This webinar is an opportunity to learn more about the TechGrad Programme and the procurement process, as well as to provide valuable feedback.\nIf you would like to take part, please register here:\nhttps://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d3dfc304-1a01-4246-bd64-30b6b049571c@8bb7e08e-daa4-4a8e-927e-fca38db04b7e/registration\nPlease note that not registering an interest will not prevent any organisation from participating in any future procurement, nor will any information shared during preliminary market engagement provide an advantage in any subsequent process."
      }
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}