← Back to opportunities

Towards A National Collection – Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype

Historic Environment Scotland

Buyer Contact Info

Buyer Name: Historic Environment Scotland

Buyer Address: Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, UKM75, EH9 1SH, United Kingdom

Contact Email: procurement@hes.scot

Status
active
Procedure
open
Value
225000.0 GBP
Published
16 Jan 2026, 17:39
Deadline
27 Feb 2026, 12:00
Contract Start
n/a
Contract End
n/a
Category
services
CPV
73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
Region
n/a
Awarded To
n/a
Official Source
Open Find a Tender

Description

Towards A National Collection – Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype

Linked Documents

No linked documents found for this notice.

Opportunity Context

Lots

Lot Description: The Digitisation Capability Pilot is one of the two core work packages delivered through the N-RICH Prototype, alongside the Digital Research Infrastructure Prototype. Its role is to address the supply-side constraints that currently limit the use of cultural heritage collections in computational and data-driven research. While digitisation activity across the UK GLAM sector has expanded access to collections, it has not consistently produced data that is structured, documented and interoperable enough to support large-scale analysis, AI-enabled methods or cross-collection research. The Pilot responds to this gap by focusing on the creation of computation-ready digital collections data, providing a foundation for subsequent infrastructure development and research use. The objectives of the Digitisation Capability Pilot are to: - Define a shared, open and scalable digitisation standard for priority GLAM collection types, specifying baseline, enhanced and aspirational levels of practice; - Ensure the standard is oriented towards interoperability, computational access and reuse, embedding FAIR and CARE principles; - Support data creation, augmentation and computational readiness, including standards for rapid, rich and non-destructive digitisation appropriate to different collection types and research purposes; - Design the standard to be modular and incrementally adoptable by institutions of differing scale, capacity and resource; - Test and refine the standard through limited application with partner GLAM institutions; - Generate evidence on cost, skills and organisational implications to inform future investment decisions; - Publish the standard openly and propose an appropriate model for its future stewardship and evolution.

Lot 1 Status: active

Lot 1 Has Options: Yes

Lot 1 Options: Historic Environment Scotland reserves the right to request additional deliveries by the Successful Tenderer, either intended as partial replacement of services or as extensions of existing services. Historic Environment Scotland may at it's sole discretion exercise this option.

Lot 1 Value: GBP 225,000

Lot 1 Contract Start: 2026-05-11T00:00:00+01:00

Lot 1 Contract End: 2026-11-27T23:59:59Z

Lot 1 Award Criterion (quality): Technical

Lot 1 Award Criterion (quality): Interview

Raw Notice JSON

Expand raw payload
{
  "buyer": {
    "id": "GB-FTS-1169",
    "name": "Historic Environment Scotland"
  },
  "date": "2026-01-16T17:39:34Z",
  "description": "HES cannot sign up to suppliers terms and conditions. We will not negotiate at point of award or post contract award.\nNOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Public Contracts Scotland Web Site at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=820927.\nThe buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.\nSuppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.\n(SC Ref:820927)\nDownload the ESPD document here: https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ESPD/ESPD_Download.aspx?id=820927",
  "id": "004095-2026",
  "initiationType": "tender",
  "language": "en",
  "links": [
    {
      "href": "https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000820927",
      "rel": "canonical"
    }
  ],
  "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-060817",
  "parties": [
    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Edinburgh",
        "postalCode": "EH9 1SH",
        "region": "UKM75",
        "streetAddress": "Longmore House, Salisbury Place"
      },
      "contactPoint": {
        "email": "procurement@hes.scot",
        "url": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/"
      },
      "details": {
        "buyerProfile": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00164",
        "classifications": [
          {
            "description": "National or federal agency/office",
            "id": "NATIONAL_AGENCY",
            "scheme": "TED_CA_TYPE"
          },
          {
            "description": "Heritage, Tourism, Conservation, Built Environment",
            "scheme": "COFOG"
          }
        ],
        "url": "http://historicenvironment.scot"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-1169",
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Historic Environment Scotland"
      },
      "name": "Historic Environment Scotland",
      "roles": [
        "buyer",
        "centralPurchasingBody"
      ]
    },
    {
      "address": {
        "countryName": "United Kingdom",
        "locality": "Edinburgh"
      },
      "id": "GB-FTS-97989",
      "identifier": {
        "legalName": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justic of the Peace Court"
      },
      "name": "Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justic of the Peace Court",
      "roles": [
        "reviewBody"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "tag": [
    "tender"
  ],
  "tender": {
    "awardPeriod": {
      "startDate": "2026-02-27T12:00:00Z"
    },
    "bidOpening": {
      "date": "2026-02-27T12:00:00Z"
    },
    "classification": {
      "description": "Research and development services and related consultancy services",
      "id": "73000000",
      "scheme": "CPV"
    },
    "contractTerms": {
      "electronicInvoicingPolicy": "allowed",
      "hasElectronicOrdering": true,
      "hasElectronicPayment": true
    },
    "coveredBy": [
      "GPA"
    ],
    "description": "Towards A National Collection \u2013 Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype",
    "hasRecurrence": false,
    "id": "HES/C/4336",
    "items": [
      {
        "deliveryAddresses": [
          {
            "region": "UKM75"
          }
        ],
        "id": "1",
        "relatedLot": "1"
      }
    ],
    "legalBasis": {
      "id": "32014L0024",
      "scheme": "CELEX"
    },
    "lots": [
      {
        "awardCriteria": {
          "criteria": [
            {
              "description": "60",
              "name": "Technical",
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "description": "30",
              "name": "Interview",
              "type": "quality"
            },
            {
              "description": "10",
              "type": "price"
            }
          ]
        },
        "contractPeriod": {
          "endDate": "2026-11-27T23:59:59Z",
          "startDate": "2026-05-11T00:00:00+01:00"
        },
        "description": "The Digitisation Capability Pilot is one of the two core work packages delivered through the N-RICH Prototype, alongside the Digital Research Infrastructure Prototype. Its role is to address the supply-side constraints that currently limit the use of cultural heritage collections in computational and data-driven research.\nWhile digitisation activity across the UK GLAM sector has expanded access to collections, it has not consistently produced data that is structured, documented and interoperable enough to support large-scale analysis, AI-enabled methods or cross-collection research.\nThe Pilot responds to this gap by focusing on the creation of computation-ready digital collections data, providing a foundation for subsequent infrastructure development and research use.\nThe objectives of the Digitisation Capability Pilot are to:\n- Define a shared, open and scalable digitisation standard for priority GLAM collection types, specifying baseline, enhanced and aspirational levels of practice;\n- Ensure the standard is oriented towards interoperability, computational access and reuse, embedding FAIR and CARE principles;\n- Support data creation, augmentation and computational readiness, including standards for rapid, rich and non-destructive digitisation appropriate to different collection types and research purposes;\n- Design the standard to be modular and incrementally adoptable by institutions of differing scale, capacity and resource;\n- Test and refine the standard through limited application with partner GLAM institutions;\n- Generate evidence on cost, skills and organisational implications to inform future investment decisions;\n- Publish the standard openly and propose an appropriate model for its future stewardship and evolution.",
        "hasOptions": true,
        "hasRenewal": false,
        "id": "1",
        "options": {
          "description": "Historic Environment Scotland reserves the right to request additional deliveries by the Successful Tenderer, either intended as partial replacement of services or as extensions of existing services. Historic Environment Scotland may at it\u0027s sole discretion exercise this option."
        },
        "status": "active",
        "submissionTerms": {
          "variantPolicy": "notAllowed"
        },
        "value": {
          "amount": 225000,
          "currency": "GBP"
        }
      }
    ],
    "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
    "procurementMethod": "open",
    "procurementMethodDetails": "Open procedure",
    "selectionCriteria": {
      "criteria": [
        {
          "appliesTo": [
            "supplier"
          ],
          "description": "HES use Scotbis, an independent provider of business credit reports, to assess the financial standing of tenderers. The overall aim of this assessment is to ensure, as far as possible, that any potential Supplier will not have financial difficulties that endanger their ability to perform the Contract. If financial information cannot be gained from that source Historic Environment Scotland will request that you provide full audited accounts for the last full financial year. If Suppliers cannot provide any of the assurances as detailed above, and it is determined by HES that your financial strength is not adequate, then your company may not pass the financial evaluation. If you can provide the assurances as detailed above, HES may explore these options with you before determining whether your company can be taken forward in this procurement exercise. Bank details may also be sought to support the above.",
          "minimum": "Minimum level(s) of standards required:\nEmployers Liability Insurance - 5 million GBP\nPublic Liability Insurance - 10 million GBP\nProfessional Indemnity Insurance - 1 million GBP",
          "type": "economic"
        }
      ]
    },
    "status": "active",
    "submissionMethod": [
      "electronicSubmission"
    ],
    "submissionMethodDetails": "https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/",
    "submissionTerms": {
      "bidValidityPeriod": {
        "durationInDays": 150
      },
      "languages": [
        "en"
      ]
    },
    "tenderPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-02-27T12:00:00Z"
    },
    "title": "Towards A National Collection \u2013 Digitisation Capability Pilot for N-RICH Prototype",
    "value": {
      "amount": 225000,
      "currency": "GBP"
    }
  }
}