diff --git a/.changeset/fresh-dodos-rush.md b/.changeset/fresh-dodos-rush.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b71c2ad055
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/fresh-dodos-rush.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-tech-insights-node': patch
+---
+
+Adds an optional timeout to fact retriever registrations to stop a task if it runs too long.
diff --git a/.changeset/shiny-seas-yell.md b/.changeset/shiny-seas-yell.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7d5c27520c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/shiny-seas-yell.md
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-tech-insights-backend': minor
+---
+
+Updates tech-insights to use backend-tasks as the Fact Retriever scheduler.
+
+```
+
+```
diff --git a/packages/backend-tasks/api-report.md b/packages/backend-tasks/api-report.md
index 0093616d8f..9f02088bdf 100644
--- a/packages/backend-tasks/api-report.md
+++ b/packages/backend-tasks/api-report.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ export interface PluginTaskScheduler {
   scheduleTask(
     task: TaskScheduleDefinition & TaskInvocationDefinition,
   ): Promise<void>;
+  triggerTask(id: string): Promise<void>;
 }
 
 // @public
diff --git a/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/PluginTaskSchedulerImpl.test.ts b/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/PluginTaskSchedulerImpl.test.ts
index 646a2ce737..95a9729018 100644
--- a/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/PluginTaskSchedulerImpl.test.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/PluginTaskSchedulerImpl.test.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ import { Duration } from 'luxon';
 import waitForExpect from 'wait-for-expect';
 import { migrateBackendTasks } from '../database/migrateBackendTasks';
 import { PluginTaskSchedulerImpl } from './PluginTaskSchedulerImpl';
+import { ConflictError, NotFoundError } from '@backstage/errors';
+
+jest.useFakeTimers();
 
 describe('PluginTaskManagerImpl', () => {
   const databases = TestDatabases.create({
@@ -80,6 +83,72 @@ describe('PluginTaskManagerImpl', () => {
     );
   });
 
+  describe('triggerTask', () => {
+    it.each(databases.eachSupportedId())(
+      'can manually trigger a task, %p',
+      async databaseId => {
+        const { manager } = await init(databaseId);
+
+        const fn = jest.fn();
+        await manager.scheduleTask({
+          id: 'task1',
+          timeout: Duration.fromMillis(5000),
+          frequency: Duration.fromObject({ years: 1 }),
+          initialDelay: Duration.fromObject({ years: 1 }),
+          fn,
+        });
+
+        await manager.triggerTask('task1');
+        jest.advanceTimersByTime(5000);
+
+        await waitForExpect(() => {
+          expect(fn).toBeCalled();
+        });
+      },
+      60_000,
+    );
+
+    it.each(databases.eachSupportedId())(
+      'cant trigger a non-existent task, %p',
+      async databaseId => {
+        const { manager } = await init(databaseId);
+
+        const fn = jest.fn();
+        await manager.scheduleTask({
+          id: 'task1',
+          timeout: Duration.fromMillis(5000),
+          frequency: Duration.fromObject({ years: 1 }),
+          fn,
+        });
+
+        await expect(() => manager.triggerTask('task2')).rejects.toThrow(
+          NotFoundError,
+        );
+      },
+      60_000,
+    );
+
+    it.each(databases.eachSupportedId())(
+      'cant trigger a running task, %p',
+      async databaseId => {
+        const { manager } = await init(databaseId);
+
+        const fn = jest.fn();
+        await manager.scheduleTask({
+          id: 'task1',
+          timeout: Duration.fromMillis(5000),
+          frequency: Duration.fromObject({ years: 1 }),
+          fn,
+        });
+
+        await expect(() => manager.triggerTask('task1')).rejects.toThrow(
+          ConflictError,
+        );
+      },
+      60_000,
+    );
+  });
+
   // This is just to test the wrapper code; most of the actual tests are in
   // TaskWorker.test.ts
   describe('createScheduledTaskRunner', () => {
diff --git a/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/PluginTaskSchedulerImpl.ts b/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/PluginTaskSchedulerImpl.ts
index 8c3166b441..81e0f1e461 100644
--- a/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/PluginTaskSchedulerImpl.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/PluginTaskSchedulerImpl.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ import {
   TaskScheduleDefinition,
 } from './types';
 import { validateId } from './util';
+import { DB_TASKS_TABLE, DbTasksRow } from '../database/tables';
+import { ConflictError, NotFoundError } from '@backstage/errors';
 
 /**
  * Implements the actual task management.
@@ -34,6 +36,37 @@ export class PluginTaskSchedulerImpl implements PluginTaskScheduler {
     private readonly logger: Logger,
   ) {}
 
+  async triggerTask(id: string): Promise<void> {
+    const knex = await this.databaseFactory();
+
+    // get the task definition
+    const rows = await knex<DbTasksRow>(DB_TASKS_TABLE)
+      .select({
+        currentRun: 'current_run_ticket',
+        id: 'id',
+      })
+      .where('id', '=', id);
+
+    // validate the task exists
+    if (rows.length <= 0 || rows[0].id !== id) {
+      throw new NotFoundError(`Task ${id} does not exist`);
+    }
+
+    if (rows[0].currentRun) {
+      throw new ConflictError(`task ${id} is currently running`);
+    }
+
+    const updatedRows = await knex<DbTasksRow>(DB_TASKS_TABLE)
+      .where('id', '=', id)
+      .whereNull('current_run_ticket')
+      .update({
+        next_run_start_at: knex.fn.now(),
+      });
+    if (updatedRows < 1) {
+      throw new ConflictError(`task ${id} is currently running`);
+    }
+  }
+
   async scheduleTask(
     task: TaskScheduleDefinition & TaskInvocationDefinition,
   ): Promise<void> {
diff --git a/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/types.ts b/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/types.ts
index acd651adcf..513e0dbae4 100644
--- a/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/types.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-tasks/src/tasks/types.ts
@@ -134,6 +134,17 @@ export interface TaskRunner {
  * @public
  */
 export interface PluginTaskScheduler {
+  /**
+   * Manually triggers a task by ID.
+   *
+   * If the task doesn't exist, a NotFoundError is thrown.
+   * If the task is currently running, a ConflictError is thrown.
+   *
+   * @param id - The task ID
+   *
+   */
+  triggerTask(id: string): Promise<void>;
+
   /**
    * Schedules a task function for coordinated exclusive invocation across
    * workers. This convenience method performs both the scheduling and
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/plugins/techInsights.ts b/packages/backend/src/plugins/techInsights.ts
index e249b1db9b..94ce27656a 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/plugins/techInsights.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/plugins/techInsights.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ export default async function createPlugin(
     logger: env.logger,
     config: env.config,
     database: env.database,
+    scheduler: env.scheduler,
     discovery: env.discovery,
     factRetrievers: [
       createFactRetrieverRegistration({
diff --git a/plugins/tech-insights-backend-module-jsonfc/package.json b/plugins/tech-insights-backend-module-jsonfc/package.json
index 39162b54e1..1f4b7de469 100644
--- a/plugins/tech-insights-backend-module-jsonfc/package.json
+++ b/plugins/tech-insights-backend-module-jsonfc/package.json
@@ -46,8 +46,7 @@
     "winston": "^3.2.1"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@backstage/cli": "^0.16.1-next.0",
-    "@types/node-cron": "^3.0.1"
+    "@backstage/cli": "^0.16.1-next.0"
   },
   "files": [
     "dist"
diff --git a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/api-report.md b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/api-report.md
index d56e3c8082..08c6e82385 100644
--- a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/api-report.md
+++ b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/api-report.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import { FactRetrieverRegistration } from '@backstage/plugin-tech-insights-node'
 import { Logger } from 'winston';
 import { PluginDatabaseManager } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 import { PluginEndpointDiscovery } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import { PluginTaskScheduler } from '@backstage/backend-tasks';
 import { TechInsightCheck } from '@backstage/plugin-tech-insights-node';
 import { TechInsightsStore } from '@backstage/plugin-tech-insights-node';
 
@@ -94,6 +95,8 @@ export interface TechInsightsOptions<
   factRetrievers: FactRetrieverRegistration[];
   // (undocumented)
   logger: Logger;
+  // (undocumented)
+  scheduler: PluginTaskScheduler;
 }
 
 // (No @packageDocumentation comment for this package)
diff --git a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/package.json b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/package.json
index 65ccb137c7..475e5e98ae 100644
--- a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/package.json
+++ b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/package.json
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@backstage/backend-common": "^0.13.2-next.0",
+    "@backstage/backend-tasks": "^0.2.2-next.0",
     "@backstage/catalog-client": "^1.0.1-next.0",
     "@backstage/catalog-model": "^1.0.1-next.0",
     "@backstage/config": "^1.0.0",
@@ -47,7 +48,6 @@
     "knex": "^1.0.2",
     "lodash": "^4.17.21",
     "luxon": "^2.0.2",
-    "node-cron": "^3.0.0",
     "semver": "^7.3.5",
     "uuid": "^8.3.2",
     "winston": "^3.2.1",
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@
     "@backstage/backend-test-utils": "^0.1.23-next.0",
     "@backstage/cli": "^0.16.1-next.0",
     "@types/supertest": "^2.0.8",
-    "@types/node-cron": "^3.0.0",
     "@types/semver": "^7.3.8",
-    "supertest": "^6.1.3"
+    "supertest": "^6.1.3",
+    "wait-for-expect": "^3.0.2"
   },
   "files": [
     "dist",
diff --git a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverEngine.test.ts b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverEngine.test.ts
index 1b5dad1f33..a019c533a1 100644
--- a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverEngine.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverEngine.test.ts
@@ -22,20 +22,16 @@ import {
 } from '@backstage/plugin-tech-insights-node';
 import { FactRetrieverRegistry } from './FactRetrieverRegistry';
 import { FactRetrieverEngine } from './FactRetrieverEngine';
-import { getVoidLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import { DatabaseManager, getVoidLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 import { ConfigReader } from '@backstage/config';
-import { schedule } from 'node-cron';
+import { TestDatabaseId, TestDatabases } from '@backstage/backend-test-utils';
+import { TaskScheduler } from '@backstage/backend-tasks';
+import waitForExpect from 'wait-for-expect';
 
-jest.mock('node-cron', () => {
-  const original = jest.requireActual('node-cron');
-  return {
-    ...original,
-    schedule: jest.fn(),
-  };
-});
+jest.useFakeTimers();
 
 const testFactRetriever: FactRetriever = {
-  id: 'test-factretriever',
+  id: 'test_factretriever',
   version: '0.0.1',
   entityFilter: [{ kind: 'component' }],
   schema: {
@@ -59,94 +55,162 @@ const testFactRetriever: FactRetriever = {
     ];
   }),
 };
-const cadence = '1 * * * *';
+const defaultCadence = '1 * * * *';
 describe('FactRetrieverEngine', () => {
   let engine: FactRetrieverEngine;
-  let factSchemaAssertionCallback: (
+  type FactSchemaAssertionCallback = (
     factSchemaDefinition: FactSchemaDefinition,
   ) => void;
-  let factInsertionAssertionCallback: (facts: TechInsightFact[]) => void;
 
-  const mockRepository: TechInsightsStore = {
-    insertFacts: (facts: TechInsightFact[]) => {
-      factInsertionAssertionCallback(facts);
-      return Promise.resolve();
-    },
-    insertFactSchema: (def: FactSchemaDefinition) => {
-      factSchemaAssertionCallback(def);
-      return Promise.resolve();
-    },
-  } as unknown as TechInsightsStore;
+  jest.setTimeout(15000);
 
-  const mockFactRetrieverRegistry: FactRetrieverRegistry = {
-    listRetrievers(): FactRetriever[] {
-      return [testFactRetriever];
-    },
-    listRegistrations(): FactRetrieverRegistration[] {
-      return [{ factRetriever: testFactRetriever, cadence }];
-    },
-  } as unknown as FactRetrieverRegistry;
+  type FactInsertionAssertionCallback = ({
+    facts,
+    id,
+  }: {
+    id: string;
+    facts: TechInsightFact[];
+  }) => void;
 
-  const defaultEngineConfig = {
-    factRetrieverContext: {
-      logger: getVoidLogger(),
-      config: ConfigReader.fromConfigs([]),
-      discovery: {
-        getBaseUrl: (_: string) => Promise.resolve('http://mock.url'),
-        getExternalBaseUrl: (_: string) => Promise.resolve('http://mock.url'),
+  function createMockRepository(
+    insertCallback: FactInsertionAssertionCallback,
+    assertionCallback: FactSchemaAssertionCallback,
+  ): TechInsightsStore {
+    return {
+      async insertFacts(f: { facts: TechInsightFact[]; id: string }) {
+        insertCallback(f);
       },
-    },
-    factRetrieverRegistry: mockFactRetrieverRegistry,
-    repository: mockRepository,
-  };
-
-  it('Should update fact retriever schemas on initialization', async () => {
-    factSchemaAssertionCallback = ({ id, schema, version, entityFilter }) => {
-      expect(id).toEqual('test-factretriever');
-      expect(version).toEqual('0.0.1');
-      expect(entityFilter).toEqual([{ kind: 'component' }]);
-      expect(schema).toEqual({
-        testnumberfact: {
-          type: 'integer',
-          description: '',
-        },
-      });
-    };
-
-    engine = await FactRetrieverEngine.create(defaultEngineConfig);
-  });
-  it('Should insert facts when scheduled step is run', async () => {
-    (schedule as jest.Mock).mockImplementation(
-      (cronCadence: string, retrieverAction: Function) => {
-        return {
-          cadence: cronCadence,
-          triggerScheduledJobNow: retrieverAction,
-        };
+      async insertFactSchema(def: FactSchemaDefinition) {
+        assertionCallback(def);
       },
-    );
+    } as unknown as TechInsightsStore;
+  }
 
-    factSchemaAssertionCallback = () => {};
-    factInsertionAssertionCallback = facts => {
-      expect(facts).toHaveLength(1);
-      expect(facts[0]).toEqual({
-        ref: 'test-factretriever',
-        entity: {
-          namespace: 'a',
-          kind: 'a',
-          name: 'a',
-        },
-        facts: {
-          testnumberfact: 1,
-        },
-      });
-    };
-    engine = await FactRetrieverEngine.create(defaultEngineConfig);
-    engine.schedule();
-    const job: any = engine.getJob('test-factretriever');
-    job.triggerScheduledJobNow();
-    expect(job.cadence!).toEqual(cadence);
-    expect(testFactRetriever.handler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-      expect.objectContaining({ entityFilter: testFactRetriever.entityFilter }),
-    );
+  function createMockFactRetrieverRegistry(
+    cadence?: string,
+    factRetriever?: FactRetriever,
+  ): FactRetrieverRegistry {
+    const cron = cadence ?? defaultCadence;
+    const retriever: FactRetriever = factRetriever
+      ? factRetriever
+      : testFactRetriever;
+    return {
+      listRetrievers(): FactRetriever[] {
+        return [retriever];
+      },
+      listRegistrations(): FactRetrieverRegistration[] {
+        return [{ factRetriever: retriever, cadence: cron }];
+      },
+      get: (_: string): FactRetrieverRegistration => {
+        return { factRetriever: retriever, cadence: cron };
+      },
+    } as unknown as FactRetrieverRegistry;
+  }
+
+  const databases = TestDatabases.create({
+    ids: ['POSTGRES_13', 'POSTGRES_9', 'SQLITE_3'],
   });
+
+  async function createEngine(
+    databaseId: TestDatabaseId,
+    insert: FactInsertionAssertionCallback,
+    schema: FactSchemaAssertionCallback,
+    cadence?: string,
+    factRetriever?: FactRetriever,
+  ): Promise<FactRetrieverEngine> {
+    const knex = await databases.init(databaseId);
+    const databaseManager: Partial<DatabaseManager> = {
+      forPlugin: (_: string) => ({
+        getClient: async () => knex,
+      }),
+    };
+    const manager = databaseManager as DatabaseManager;
+    const scheduler = new TaskScheduler(manager, getVoidLogger());
+    return await FactRetrieverEngine.create({
+      factRetrieverContext: {
+        logger: getVoidLogger(),
+        config: ConfigReader.fromConfigs([]),
+        discovery: {
+          getBaseUrl: (_: string) => Promise.resolve('http://mock.url'),
+          getExternalBaseUrl: (_: string) => Promise.resolve('http://mock.url'),
+        },
+      },
+      factRetrieverRegistry: createMockFactRetrieverRegistry(
+        cadence,
+        factRetriever,
+      ),
+      repository: createMockRepository(insert, schema),
+      scheduler: scheduler.forPlugin('tech-insights'),
+    });
+  }
+
+  it.each(databases.eachSupportedId())(
+    'Should update fact retriever schemas on initialization',
+    async databaseId => {
+      const schemaAssertionCallback = jest.fn((def: FactSchemaDefinition) => {
+        expect(def.id).toEqual('test_factretriever');
+        expect(def.version).toEqual('0.0.1');
+        expect(def.entityFilter).toEqual([{ kind: 'component' }]);
+        expect(def.schema).toEqual({
+          testnumberfact: {
+            type: 'integer',
+            description: '',
+          },
+        });
+      });
+
+      engine = await createEngine(
+        databaseId,
+        () => {},
+        schemaAssertionCallback,
+      );
+      expect(schemaAssertionCallback).toBeCalled();
+    },
+    60_000,
+  );
+
+  it.each(databases.eachSupportedId())(
+    'Should insert facts when scheduled step is run',
+    async databaseId => {
+      function insertCallback({
+        facts,
+        id,
+      }: {
+        id: string;
+        facts: TechInsightFact[];
+      }) {
+        expect(facts).toHaveLength(1);
+        expect(id).toEqual('test_factretriever');
+        expect(facts[0]).toEqual({
+          entity: {
+            namespace: 'a',
+            kind: 'a',
+            name: 'a',
+          },
+          facts: {
+            testnumberfact: 1,
+          },
+        });
+      }
+
+      engine = await createEngine(databaseId, insertCallback, () => {});
+      engine.schedule();
+      const job: FactRetrieverRegistration = engine.getJobRegistration(
+        testFactRetriever.id,
+      );
+      expect(job.cadence!!).toEqual(defaultCadence);
+
+      await engine.triggerJob(job.factRetriever.id);
+      jest.advanceTimersByTime(5000);
+
+      await waitForExpect(() => {
+        expect(testFactRetriever.handler).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+          expect.objectContaining({
+            entityFilter: testFactRetriever.entityFilter,
+          }),
+        );
+      });
+    },
+    60_000,
+  );
 });
diff --git a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverEngine.ts b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverEngine.ts
index 85e7e680c7..9f9c91b4ee 100644
--- a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverEngine.ts
+++ b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverEngine.ts
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@ import {
   FactLifecycle,
   FactRetriever,
   FactRetrieverContext,
+  FactRetrieverRegistration,
   TechInsightFact,
   TechInsightsStore,
 } from '@backstage/plugin-tech-insights-node';
 import { FactRetrieverRegistry } from './FactRetrieverRegistry';
-import { schedule, validate, ScheduledTask } from 'node-cron';
 import { Logger } from 'winston';
+import { PluginTaskScheduler } from '@backstage/backend-tasks';
+import { Duration } from 'luxon';
 
 function randomDailyCron() {
   const rand = (min: number, max: number) =>
@@ -37,26 +39,30 @@ function duration(startTimestamp: [number, number]): string {
 }
 
 export class FactRetrieverEngine {
-  private scheduledJobs = new Map<string, ScheduledTask>();
-
   constructor(
     private readonly repository: TechInsightsStore,
     private readonly factRetrieverRegistry: FactRetrieverRegistry,
     private readonly factRetrieverContext: FactRetrieverContext,
     private readonly logger: Logger,
+    private readonly scheduler: PluginTaskScheduler,
     private readonly defaultCadence?: string,
+    private readonly defaultTimeout?: Duration,
   ) {}
 
   static async create({
     repository,
     factRetrieverRegistry,
     factRetrieverContext,
+    scheduler,
     defaultCadence,
+    defaultTimeout,
   }: {
     repository: TechInsightsStore;
     factRetrieverRegistry: FactRetrieverRegistry;
     factRetrieverContext: FactRetrieverContext;
+    scheduler: PluginTaskScheduler;
     defaultCadence?: string;
+    defaultTimeout?: Duration;
   }) {
     await Promise.all(
       factRetrieverRegistry
@@ -69,39 +75,46 @@ export class FactRetrieverEngine {
       factRetrieverRegistry,
       factRetrieverContext,
       factRetrieverContext.logger,
+      scheduler,
       defaultCadence,
+      defaultTimeout,
     );
   }
 
   schedule() {
     const registrations = this.factRetrieverRegistry.listRegistrations();
     const newRegs: string[] = [];
-    registrations.forEach(registration => {
-      const { factRetriever, cadence, lifecycle } = registration;
-      if (!this.scheduledJobs.has(factRetriever.id)) {
-        const cronExpression =
-          cadence || this.defaultCadence || randomDailyCron();
-        if (!validate(cronExpression)) {
-          this.logger.warn(
-            `Validation failed for cron expression ${cronExpression} when trying to schedule fact retriever ${factRetriever.id}`,
-          );
-          return;
-        }
-        const job = schedule(
-          cronExpression,
-          this.createFactRetrieverHandler(factRetriever, lifecycle),
+    registrations.forEach(async registration => {
+      const { factRetriever, cadence, lifecycle, timeout } = registration;
+      const cronExpression =
+        cadence || this.defaultCadence || randomDailyCron();
+      const timeLimit =
+        timeout || this.defaultTimeout || Duration.fromObject({ minutes: 5 });
+      try {
+        await this.scheduler.scheduleTask({
+          id: factRetriever.id,
+          frequency: { cron: cronExpression },
+          fn: this.createFactRetrieverHandler(factRetriever, lifecycle),
+          timeout: timeLimit,
+        });
+      } catch (e) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `Failed to schedule fact retriever ${factRetriever.id}, ${e}`,
         );
-        this.scheduledJobs.set(factRetriever.id, job);
-        newRegs.push(factRetriever.id);
       }
+      newRegs.push(factRetriever.id);
     });
     this.logger.info(
-      `Scheduled ${newRegs.length} fact retrievers to Fact Retriever Engine.`,
+      `Scheduled ${newRegs.length} fact retrievers to Fact Retriever Engine through Backend Tasks`,
     );
   }
 
-  getJob(ref: string) {
-    return this.scheduledJobs.get(ref);
+  getJobRegistration(ref: string): FactRetrieverRegistration {
+    return this.factRetrieverRegistry.get(ref);
+  }
+
+  async triggerJob(ref: string): Promise<void> {
+    return this.scheduler.triggerTask(ref);
   }
 
   private createFactRetrieverHandler(
diff --git a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverRegistry.ts b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverRegistry.ts
index 719f8bf504..b122f52f0a 100644
--- a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverRegistry.ts
+++ b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/fact/FactRetrieverRegistry.ts
@@ -39,14 +39,14 @@ export class FactRetrieverRegistry {
     this.retrievers.set(registration.factRetriever.id, registration);
   }
 
-  get(retrieverReference: string): FactRetriever {
+  get(retrieverReference: string): FactRetrieverRegistration {
     const registration = this.retrievers.get(retrieverReference);
     if (!registration) {
       throw new NotFoundError(
         `Tech insight fact retriever with identifier '${retrieverReference}' is not registered.`,
       );
     }
-    return registration.factRetriever;
+    return registration;
   }
 
   listRetrievers(): FactRetriever[] {
diff --git a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/router.test.ts b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/router.test.ts
index 0b7d3b7c45..2ddc5aeebb 100644
--- a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/router.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/router.test.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
  */
 import { buildTechInsightsContext } from './techInsightsContextBuilder';
 import { createRouter } from './router';
-import { getVoidLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
+import { DatabaseManager, getVoidLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 import { ConfigReader } from '@backstage/config';
 import request from 'supertest';
 import express from 'express';
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import { PersistenceContext } from './persistence/persistenceContext';
 import { TechInsightsStore } from '@backstage/plugin-tech-insights-node';
 import { DateTime } from 'luxon';
 import { Knex } from 'knex';
+import { TaskScheduler } from '@backstage/backend-tasks';
 
 describe('Tech Insights router tests', () => {
   let app: express.Express;
@@ -44,6 +45,18 @@ describe('Tech Insights router tests', () => {
   });
 
   beforeAll(async () => {
+    const databaseManager: Partial<DatabaseManager> = {
+      forPlugin: () => ({
+        getClient: () => {
+          return Promise.resolve({
+            migrate: {
+              latest: () => {},
+            },
+          }) as unknown as Promise<Knex>;
+        },
+      }),
+    };
+    const manager = databaseManager as DatabaseManager;
     const techInsightsContext = await buildTechInsightsContext({
       database: {
         getClient: () => {
@@ -56,6 +69,9 @@ describe('Tech Insights router tests', () => {
       },
       logger: getVoidLogger(),
       factRetrievers: [],
+      scheduler: new TaskScheduler(manager, getVoidLogger()).forPlugin(
+        'tech-insights',
+      ),
       config: ConfigReader.fromConfigs([]),
       discovery: {
         getBaseUrl: (_: string) => Promise.resolve('http://mock.url'),
diff --git a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/techInsightsContextBuilder.ts b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/techInsightsContextBuilder.ts
index 75e24b7c06..5e599ab664 100644
--- a/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/techInsightsContextBuilder.ts
+++ b/plugins/tech-insights-backend/src/service/techInsightsContextBuilder.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import {
   PersistenceContext,
 } from './persistence/persistenceContext';
 import { CheckResult } from '@backstage/plugin-tech-insights-common';
+import { PluginTaskScheduler } from '@backstage/backend-tasks';
 
 /**
  * @public
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ export interface TechInsightsOptions<
   config: Config;
   discovery: PluginEndpointDiscovery;
   database: PluginDatabaseManager;
+  scheduler: PluginTaskScheduler;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -101,6 +103,7 @@ export const buildTechInsightsContext = async <
     discovery,
     database,
     logger,
+    scheduler,
   } = options;
 
   const factRetrieverRegistry = new FactRetrieverRegistry(factRetrievers);
@@ -111,6 +114,7 @@ export const buildTechInsightsContext = async <
   );
 
   const factRetrieverEngine = await FactRetrieverEngine.create({
+    scheduler,
     repository: persistenceContext.techInsightsStore,
     factRetrieverRegistry,
     factRetrieverContext: {
diff --git a/plugins/tech-insights-node/api-report.md b/plugins/tech-insights-node/api-report.md
index 45426587e3..7d9f2e00b7 100644
--- a/plugins/tech-insights-node/api-report.md
+++ b/plugins/tech-insights-node/api-report.md
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import { CheckResult } from '@backstage/plugin-tech-insights-common';
 import { Config } from '@backstage/config';
 import { DateTime } from 'luxon';
+import { Duration } from 'luxon';
 import { DurationLike } from 'luxon';
 import { Logger } from 'winston';
 import { PluginEndpointDiscovery } from '@backstage/backend-common';
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ export type FactRetrieverContext = {
 export type FactRetrieverRegistration = {
   factRetriever: FactRetriever;
   cadence?: string;
+  timeout?: Duration;
   lifecycle?: FactLifecycle;
 };
 
diff --git a/plugins/tech-insights-node/src/facts.ts b/plugins/tech-insights-node/src/facts.ts
index 24b6764ba4..a5df4bae85 100644
--- a/plugins/tech-insights-node/src/facts.ts
+++ b/plugins/tech-insights-node/src/facts.ts
@@ -13,8 +13,7 @@
  * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  * limitations under the License.
  */
-
-import { DateTime, DurationLike } from 'luxon';
+import { DateTime, Duration, DurationLike } from 'luxon';
 import { Config } from '@backstage/config';
 import { PluginEndpointDiscovery } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 import { Logger } from 'winston';
@@ -243,6 +242,13 @@ export type FactRetrieverRegistration = {
    */
   cadence?: string;
 
+  /**
+   * A duration to determine how long the fact retriever should be allowed to run,
+   * defaults to 5 minutes.
+   *
+   */
+  timeout?: Duration;
+
   /**
    * Fact lifecycle definition
    *
diff --git a/yarn.lock b/yarn.lock
index 09d924c5bb..ea2b0fcf94 100644
--- a/yarn.lock
+++ b/yarn.lock
@@ -6259,11 +6259,6 @@
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/ms/-/ms-0.7.31.tgz#31b7ca6407128a3d2bbc27fe2d21b345397f6197"
   integrity sha512-iiUgKzV9AuaEkZqkOLDIvlQiL6ltuZd9tGcW3gwpnX8JbuiuhFlEGmmFXEXkN50Cvq7Os88IY2v0dkDqXYWVgA==
 
-"@types/node-cron@^3.0.0", "@types/node-cron@^3.0.1":
-  version "3.0.1"
-  resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node-cron/-/node-cron-3.0.1.tgz#e01a874d4c2aa1a02ebc64cfd1cd8ebdbad7a996"
-  integrity sha512-BkMHHonDT8NJUE/pQ3kr5v2GLDKm5or9btLBoBx4F2MB2cuqYC748LYMDC55VlrLI5qZZv+Qgc3m4P3dBPcmeg==
-
 "@types/node-fetch@^2.5.0", "@types/node-fetch@^2.5.12", "@types/node-fetch@^2.5.7":
   version "2.5.12"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/@types/node-fetch/-/node-fetch-2.5.12.tgz#8a6f779b1d4e60b7a57fb6fd48d84fb545b9cc66"
@@ -17997,7 +17992,7 @@ modify-values@^1.0.0:
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/modify-values/-/modify-values-1.0.1.tgz#b3939fa605546474e3e3e3c63d64bd43b4ee6022"
   integrity sha512-xV2bxeN6F7oYjZWTe/YPAy6MN2M+sL4u/Rlm2AHCIVGfo2p1yGmBHQ6vHehl4bRTZBdHu3TSkWdYgkwpYzAGSw==
 
-moment-timezone@^0.5.31, moment-timezone@^0.5.x:
+moment-timezone@^0.5.x:
   version "0.5.34"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/moment-timezone/-/moment-timezone-0.5.34.tgz#a75938f7476b88f155d3504a9343f7519d9a405c"
   integrity sha512-3zAEHh2hKUs3EXLESx/wsgw6IQdusOT8Bxm3D9UrHPQR7zlMmzwybC8zHEM1tQ4LJwP7fcxrWr8tuBg05fFCbg==
@@ -18272,13 +18267,6 @@ node-cache@^5.1.2:
   dependencies:
     clone "2.x"
 
-node-cron@^3.0.0:
-  version "3.0.0"
-  resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/node-cron/-/node-cron-3.0.0.tgz#b33252803e430f9cd8590cf85738efa1497a9522"
-  integrity sha512-DDwIvvuCwrNiaU7HEivFDULcaQualDv7KoNlB/UU1wPW0n1tDEmBJKhEIE6DlF2FuoOHcNbLJ8ITL2Iv/3AWmA==
-  dependencies:
-    moment-timezone "^0.5.31"
-
 node-dir@^0.1.17:
   version "0.1.17"
   resolved "https://registry.npmjs.org/node-dir/-/node-dir-0.1.17.tgz#5f5665d93351335caabef8f1c554516cf5f1e4e5"