UKRI-5448 2025 SciVal and Scopus renewal UKRI/EPSRC/STFC

Location

Description

This is a transparency notice to inform the market that UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is renewing its contract with Elsevier for the provision of SciVal, a bibliometric analytics platform that supports research evaluation, strategic analysis and statutory review activities across multiple UKRI councils. The direct award is being made under Section 41 and paragraph 6 of Schedule 5 of the Procurement Act 2023 to justify the use of direct award in special cases on the basis that there is an absence of competition for technical reasons and there are no reasonable alternatives to those services or substitute exists. Elsevier’s SciVal platform provides unique topic-modelling capabilities and long-established datasets that are integral to ongoing evaluations, including Quinquennial Reviews and major investment assessments. Changing supplier would result in significant incompatibility with existing methodologies, loss of longitudinal comparability, and disproportionate operational and financial burdens. This notice is published to ensure transparency prior to award.

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• None found

Legal Justification

This direct award is made in accordance with the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023, which permit such an award where competition is absent for technical reasons and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists, or where changing the supplier would result in incompatibility and introduce significant financial and operational burdens. In this case, the required goods/services are uniquely provided by the incumbent supplier due to proprietary systems and integration requirements. Transitioning to an alternative supplier would cause substantial disruption, incur disproportionate costs, and compromise continuity of service, thereby meeting the statutory criteria for a direct award.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. **