UKRI-5495 TechFirst: Payment Function
About This Opportunity
Services tender: UKRI-5495 TechFirst: Payment Function. From UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) in United Kingdom, finance & banking. Submission deadline Jun 2026.
This is a services contract in the finance and banking and information and communication technology sectors, with a focus on artificial intelligence and Banking. Located in United Kingdom, Europe, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums, with an estimated budget of GBP 2.5 million. Proposals must be submitted before June 1, 2026.
Published through UK FTS - Find a Tender Service, a national government procurement portal. Public procurement tenders follow the country's national bidding regulations and may have specific eligibility and documentation requirements for services in the finance and banking sector. Service contracts are typically evaluated on both technical quality and price, and may require bidders to demonstrate relevant experience and qualified personnel. Interested parties should review the full documentation on the original source before submitting their proposal.
Description
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is procuring a managed payment services solution to administer and disburse scholarship-related payments at scale on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The service will provide an end-to-end payment processing function, covering the onboarding of students and universities, verification of identity and bank details, secure payment execution, reconciliation of funds, fraud prevention, and performance reporting.
The scope of the procurement includes payment administration for the TechGrad (undergraduate) Scholarship Programme, the Spärck AI (master’s) Scholarship Programme, and the Semiconductors Undergraduate Scholarship Programme. In addition, the supplier will continue to administer payments for CyberFirst students during the transition period to the TechFirst programme.
The supplier will be responsible for administering all authorised payments to eligible students and higher education institutions in accordance with UKRI/DSIT instructions and applicable grant conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, scheduled and ad hoc payments such as scholarships, stipends, tuition fee payments, summer placement payments, reimbursements, and discretionary payments (for example, travel or hardship payments), delivered within timeframes specified by UKRI/DSIT.
The supplier must establish and operate a straightforward, scalable onboarding process for all participating students and institutions, including secure mechanisms for the collection and verification of identity and bank account details to enable timely and accurate payments.
The service must comply with all relevant legislation, regulatory requirements, and government guidance relating to payments, data protection, and information security. The supplier will be required to implement appropriate due diligence, counter-fraud, and risk management controls, and to provide regular management information and reporting against agreed key performance indicators (KPIs).
Data provenance
This notice is sourced from UK FTS - Find a Tender Service and was originally published on May 14, 2026. Last refreshed today. Reference: 044563-2026. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.
About UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)
UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) has issued 363 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 13 currently open and 324 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in General Supplies & Services, Research & Innovation, and Governance & Public Administration. All notices are published for United Kingdom. Notices are distributed via UK FTS - Find a Tender Service. Most recent publication: May 19, 2026.
Frequently asked questions about this tender
Where will the contract be performed?
The contract is for delivery in United Kingdom. Foreign bidders should review local registration, taxation, and any in-country presence requirements before submitting.
How can I submit a bid?
Visit UK FTS - Find a Tender Service to access the full notice, required documents, and submission instructions. Quote reference 044563-2026 when communicating with the contracting authority.
When does this tender close?
The submission deadline is June 1, 2026. You have 13 days left to prepare and submit your proposal to the contracting authority.
Who is the contracting authority?
This notice was issued by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) in United Kingdom. The authority is responsible for evaluating bids, awarding the contract, and managing performance.
What type of contract is this?
This is a Services contract in the Finance & Banking sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.
What is the estimated budget?
The estimated contract value is £2,531,920 - £2,531,920. Bidders should ensure their proposals are consistent with this range and account for any local taxes and contract execution costs.
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