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Innovation Marketplace
AI Summary
The Government Commercial Agency is convening an Innovation Marketplace, a dynamic and compliant platform designed for central government departments, arm’s‑length bodies and other eligible public sector organisations to identify, test, and acquire innovative products, services, and solutions. The initiative seeks to streamline the procurement of novel technologies and services that can accelerate public‑sector transformation, enhance operational efficiency, improve service delivery, and foster economic growth. By creating a transparent, fair, and commercially viable route, the Marketplace aims to lower the barriers for small‑and‑medium‑enterprises, start‑ups, and scale‑ups, allowing them to scale more rapidly while positioning the public sector as a strategic buyer of innovation.
Suppliers will be invited to join the platform throughout its lifespan and can engage with government buyers following pre‑market activities such as challenge definition, pilots, proofs‑of‑concept, and other evidence‑building exercises. This arrangement works in tandem with the existing Commercial Innovation Hub by providing a commercial procurement pathway that complements the Hub’s pre‑tender activities. The contracting framework will support the continual evolution of procurement practices, enabling public entities to secure cutting‑edge solutions that drive better outcomes for citizens and the wider economy. Applicants must meet the relevant regulatory, data protection, and procurement compliance requirements.
Description
This requirement supports wider government work to improve how innovation is identified, tested and scaled, while reducing barriers for innovative suppliers, including SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, to access public sector opportunities.
The scope is expected to include establishing and operating a Dynamic Market for innovation, enabling eligible suppliers to apply to join throughout the life of the arrangement. The Innovation Marketplace may cover a broad range of innovative technologies, products, services and solutions that support public sector transformation, improved outcomes, efficiency, and economic growth.
The Innovation Marketplace is intended to be used by central government departments, arm’s length bodies and other eligible public sector organisations. It is expected to support procurement following pre-market engagement, challenge definition, pilots, proofs of concept or other evidence-building activity.
The arrangement is expected to complement the Innovation Hub (Commercial Innovation Hub - Find a Tender) by providing a transparent, fair and compliant commercial route for buyers to procure relevant innovative solutions.
Our ambition is to make the government a more strategic buyer of innovation. The result is a more connected innovation ecosystem where innovative suppliers can scale more quickly, government can access better solutions faster, and public money works harder to support both public service transformation and economic growth.
When contacting GCA regarding this agreement, please ensure that you reference the agreement details in all correspondence.
Estimated date of publication of contract notice: 2027-02-17T23:59:59+00:00
Contract location: UK
Engagement process description
GCA will undertake supplier and customer engagement during August and September 2026 via webinars, surveys and focus groups.
The dates for these events are as follows:
Supplier Webinars:
25th & 26th August 2026
Supplier Focus Groups:
● Start Ups and Scale Ups - 1 September 2026
● SMEs - 1st and 2nd September
● Large Organisations -2nd and 3rd September
● VCSE’s, Academia, Innovation Hubs, Accelerators etc - 3rd September
Customer Engagement Sessions:
27 August
28 August
1 September
2 September
3 September
4 September
8 September
Customer Focus Group Drop in sessions:
9 September
10 September
11 September
15 September
16 September
We are keen to engage with suppliers of all sizes and market sectors who are leaders in innovation and research and development activities and can help us design this agreement.SMEs and startups are encouraged to express their interest in this opportunity.
In express your interest in taking part in this engagement process, please contact GCA via the email address in this notice confirming the following information
Organisation Name
Organisation industry/market sector
Primary Contact Name
Primary Contact Email Address
Primary Contact Tel No
Lot: 1
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En