The Government Commercial Agency (GCA), working with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, is developing a new Innovation Marketplace with an estimated value of £1.08 billion including VAT. The planned commercial tool is a Dynamic Market, giving eligible suppliers the ability to apply throughout the life of the arrangement.
The scope is deliberately broad and is not limited to management consultancy. It is intended for innovative products, technologies, services and solutions that can address operational, service-delivery and policy challenges across government and the wider public sector. If you are considering whether your offer is genuinely suited to this route, contact Thornton & Lowe for a practical assessment.
Why the Dynamic Market model matters
Unlike a closed framework with a single application window, the Innovation Marketplace is expected to allow eligible suppliers to join throughout its life. That should reduce one of the common barriers for start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs whose products or capabilities develop after the initial launch.
The notice says the route may support procurement following pre-market engagement, challenge definition, pilots, proofs of concept and other evidence-building activity. In practical terms, suppliers will need to show both innovation and a credible route to delivery. A novel idea without evidence, governance or a clear public-sector use case is unlikely to be enough.
Our guide to Dynamic Markets in procurement explains how these arrangements differ from traditional frameworks and why ongoing admission can change supplier pipeline planning.
Who should be interested?
The market is relevant to businesses that can demonstrate an innovative solution to a public-sector problem. That could include technology companies, research and development specialists, product businesses, data and analytics providers, engineering or scientific innovators, service-design specialists and other organisations able to test and scale new approaches.
The engagement programme specifically invites SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups, alongside large organisations, VCSEs, academia, innovation hubs and accelerators. Suppliers should avoid forcing a conventional consultancy offer into the opportunity unless there is a clear innovation proposition behind it.
Commercial detail
- Reference: RM6419
- Commercial tool: Dynamic Market
- Estimated value: £900 million excluding VAT / £1.08 billion including VAT
- Estimated start: 17 March 2027
- Estimated initial end: 16 March 2033
- Possible extension: to 16 March 2035
- Engagement deadline: 15 September 2026
- Estimated tender notice: 17 February 2027
Supplier webinars are planned for 25 and 26 August 2026, with focus groups during September. The Innovation Marketplace Find a Tender notice contains the current engagement schedule.
How to prepare
Suppliers should be able to explain the problem their solution addresses, the evidence behind it, what has already been tested and how the product or service can move from pilot to scaled delivery. Relevant case studies should quantify outcomes rather than simply describing technology features.
Public-sector buyers will also need confidence around data, security, ethics, accessibility, implementation, commercial sustainability and supplier resilience. Start-ups and smaller suppliers should treat these as part of the innovation proposition, not as administrative details to solve after selection.
Support for Innovation Marketplace suppliers
Thornton & Lowe can help you assess fit, organise evidence and develop a clear supplier proposition for Dynamic Market applications and subsequent competitions. Discuss the Innovation Marketplace with our team.
