Official UK procurement notice
Media Consumption Pathways and Trust
Authority: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionDCMS is seeking to commission a two-phase research project to investigate UK media consumption habits and public trust in media. Phase 1 would consist of a behavioural cohort study (or another appropriate methodology) to map the specific "user pathways" audiences take to find, consume, and value information across different media sources, such as traditional news broadcasts and social media, across different demographics. Building on these findings, Phase 2 would explore how individuals perceive trust in different media sources due to their own perception of mis/disinformation, assess the broader effects of these consumption pathways on factors such as viewer retention and wider social cohesion, as well as overall integrity of the UK's information ecosystem.
This is part of the DCMS Science and Analysis R&D Programme, which supports R&D capability within the department. This project will run concurrently alongside three other large projects across 2027-2030; these include 'what works' research into AI adoption in DCMS sectors; a continuation of previous research to develop data-intensive approaches for capturing engagement at unticketed cultural, heritage, and sporting events/activities/locations, e.g. using mobile app data to model how people participate in our events; and a continuation of previous research to design and improve methods for holistically tracking the long-term impact of major events, tested on a major event.
- Two-stage procedure: up to 5 candidates will be invited to tender.
- How the procedure runs: Under Section 3(2) and Schedule 2: Exempted Contracts, Part 2: Subject-matter Exempted Contracts, Paragraph 11: Research and development services, of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23), public contracts consisting solely of pure research and development that are intended for general public benefit are explicitly exempt from statutory "covered procurement" rules. As this contract qualifies for the R&D Exemption under Schedule 2, Paragraph 11 of the Procurement Act 2023, DCMS will operate outside of the statutory constraints of a covered procurement. Because this is an exempted contract, the statutory challenge regime and automatic suspension provisions under Part 9 of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply. However, DCMS is committed to conducting a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory process in voluntary alignment with core PA23 principles This procurement is structured as a two-stage competitive procedure, Suppliers are invited to complete the Stage 1 Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) to participate in the shortlisting stage. Suppliers should read the PSQ Guidance document before completing the questionnaire. Bidders will be shortlisted based on pass/fail criteria and on their total weighted scores for the PSQ. The top 5 highest scoring candidates will be invited to Stage 2. The shortlisted candidates will be issued the Invitation to Tender (ITT) to submit their full technical proposal and commercial pricing for evaluation. This will be evaluated in accordance with the ITT guidance that will be released to the shortlisted candidates.
CPV: Research and development services and related consultancy services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Published value£1,500,000
- Economic & financial standing
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Suppliers are required to satisfy the baseline financial capacity conditions set out in Part 3 of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). Bidders must self-certify and provide two years of verified financial statements demonstrating a minimum annual turnover equivalent to 1x the maximum estimated annual contract value (£400,000 per year). Where a bidder is a newly formed entity, or consortium relying on parent/associated entity support, alternative evidence of financial standing (such as parent company guarantees, bank references, or confirmed grant funding allocations) may be provided to satisfy this threshold on a pass/fail basis.
- Technical & professional ability
Technical ability conditions of participation
To demonstrate technical capability under Part 3 of the PSQ, suppliers must provide details of two relevant case studies from the past five years that illustrate experience of a similar size, scale, and complexity to this requirement. Bidders must complete either Route 1 (Q15a & Q15b) for formal commercial/public contract history or Route 2 (Q15c & Q15d) for non-contractual, grant-funded, or academic experience. Submissions across both routes will be scored and evaluated against four weighted criteria:
Research aims and scope, detailing the overarching research questions. (10%)
The approach, design and execution of mixed-methods research methodologies, such as large behavioural cohort studies, digital ethnography, targeted diary studies and passive online monitoring software (40%)
The specific outputs produced and the practical impact achieved (e.g, evidence-backed policy changes, research reports) (30%)
Managing project delivery, sub-contractors, external stakeholders and engagement with the contracting authority (20%)
DCMS will then shortlist the top 5 highest-scoring bidders to progress to Stage 2.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Selection criteria:
The department will use a two-stage competitive process.
In Stage 1, candidate suppliers will be evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis against Part 1 (Supplier Information), Part 2 (Exclusions), and Part 3 Conditions of Participation (Financial Turnover threshold of £400k/year and Required Insurance Levels).
Bidders meeting all Pass/Fail conditions will then be evaluated and ranked based on their response to Question 15 (Technical Ability Case Studies, completed via Route 1 or Route 2). Responses will be evaluated against four weighted criteria:
Research aims and scope, detailing the overarching research questions. (10%)
The approach, design and execution of mixed-methods research methodologies, such as large behavioural cohort studies, digital ethnography, targeted diary studies and passive online monitoring software (40%)
The specific outputs produced and the practical impact achieved (e.g, evidence-backed policy changes, research reports) (30%)
Managing project delivery, sub-contractors, external stakeholders and engagement with the contracting authority (20%)
The top 5 highest-scoring suppliers based on total weighted score will be invited to Stage 2 (Invitation to Tender). In the event of a tie for the 5th shortlist position, a sequential tie-break methodology will be applied based on unweighted scores in Criterion 2 (40%), Criterion 3 (30%), and Criterion 4 (20%). If still tied, all tied 5th-place suppliers will be invited to Stage 2.
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published award criteria (2)
- Quality: Full details will be provided at ITT stage (Stage2). 70% will be weighted towards quality 10% will be weighted towards social value
- Price: Pricing schedule will be provided within the ITT (Stage 2). 20% weighting will be toward price.
- Economic & financial standing
Legal and financial capacity conditions of participation
Suppliers are required to satisfy the baseline financial capacity conditions set out in Part 3 of the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). Bidders must self-certify and provide two years of verified financial statements demonstrating a minimum annual turnover equivalent to 1x the maximum estimated annual contract value (£400,000 per year). Where a bidder is a newly formed entity, or consortium relying on parent/associated entity support, alternative evidence of financial standing (such as parent company guarantees, bank references, or confirmed grant funding allocations) may be provided to satisfy this threshold on a pass/fail basis.
- Technical & professional ability
Technical ability conditions of participation
To demonstrate technical capability under Part 3 of the PSQ, suppliers must provide details of two relevant case studies from the past five years that illustrate experience of a similar size, scale, and complexity to this requirement. Bidders must complete either Route 1 (Q15a & Q15b) for formal commercial/public contract history or Route 2 (Q15c & Q15d) for non-contractual, grant-funded, or academic experience. Submissions across both routes will be scored and evaluated against four weighted criteria:
Research aims and scope, detailing the overarching research questions. (10%)
The approach, design and execution of mixed-methods research methodologies, such as large behavioural cohort studies, digital ethnography, targeted diary studies and passive online monitoring software (40%)
The specific outputs produced and the practical impact achieved (e.g, evidence-backed policy changes, research reports) (30%)
Managing project delivery, sub-contractors, external stakeholders and engagement with the contracting authority (20%)
DCMS will then shortlist the top 5 highest-scoring bidders to progress to Stage 2.
- Condition of participationshortlisting
Selection criteria:
The department will use a two-stage competitive process.
In Stage 1, candidate suppliers will be evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis against Part 1 (Supplier Information), Part 2 (Exclusions), and Part 3 Conditions of Participation (Financial Turnover threshold of £400k/year and Required Insurance Levels).
Bidders meeting all Pass/Fail conditions will then be evaluated and ranked based on their response to Question 15 (Technical Ability Case Studies, completed via Route 1 or Route 2). Responses will be evaluated against four weighted criteria:
Research aims and scope, detailing the overarching research questions. (10%)
The approach, design and execution of mixed-methods research methodologies, such as large behavioural cohort studies, digital ethnography, targeted diary studies and passive online monitoring software (40%)
The specific outputs produced and the practical impact achieved (e.g, evidence-backed policy changes, research reports) (30%)
Managing project delivery, sub-contractors, external stakeholders and engagement with the contracting authority (20%)
The top 5 highest-scoring suppliers based on total weighted score will be invited to Stage 2 (Invitation to Tender). In the event of a tie for the 5th shortlist position, a sequential tie-break methodology will be applied based on unweighted scores in Criterion 2 (40%), Criterion 3 (30%), and Criterion 4 (20%). If still tied, all tied 5th-place suppliers will be invited to Stage 2.
- Price carries 20 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 2 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- Turnover usually expected at this size: about £999,088 (twice the annual value).
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula. Turnover is an indicative market norm (≈2× annual value), not a published condition.
Competition analysis · published record, not a forecast of who will bid
How Department for Culture, Media and Sport buys Research and development services (CPV 73), and who usually turns up
Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s own published record, next to the published market for the same work. Frameworks and DPS are kept out: they attract a different number of bids. Whole-market view: Research and development services (CPV 73) →
How the contest usually goes
Winner shares use published awards; bid and price charts use contested lots.
i
How often small and medium firms win.
Share of awards where the winner’s size is known.
The counts under this question show how many awards have a known supplier size.
Small firms have won here. Neither number says whether you qualify; it describes who has been winning.
i
How often local firms win similar work.
Winners with a registered address in the delivery region, out of awards with a known address.
Here, local means registered in Greater London (authority’s region).
A local branch does not count if the registered address is elsewhere.
Most of this buyer’s recorded winners are registered outside Greater London.
i
How long buyers here take to decide after bids close.
Middle value in days from the deadline to the first award notice, on competitions that published both dates.
Only decided tenders count, so slow ones still waiting are not in.
Half of these awards were announced within 36 days of the bid deadline.
i
How often work is awarded with no recorded rival.
Direct awards and tenders where every published lot count shows one bid.
Both shares are minimums: some awards have no bid count.
Thin markets produce this too; it is not proof of a tailored specification.
Direct awards or one recorded bid are common here. Check the route before spending time on a bid.
How many bids did past lots attract?
i
How many bids past lots received.
Each colour is a bid-count range. Only competed lots with a published count are included.
Past bids do not predict this tender.
1 bid9%
2–319%
4–638%
7+34%
How did awards compare with estimates?
i
Where winning prices landed against estimates.
Each colour shows awards below, close to or above the published estimate, one lot at a time.
Past prices are a guide, not a bid price.
Below estimate47%
Within ±2%47%
Above estimate6%
Assess each lot i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
i
What past awards tell you about each lot.
See the forecast, this buyer’s earlier suppliers and firms with relevant wins.
No supplier is confirmed as a bidder.
Open a lot for its forecast, this buyer’s previous supplier and possible competitors, from published award history, not a bid list
Lot #1Published estimate£1.5m
i
How many bids this lot may attract.
The forecast uses similar past competitions. The bar shows either that forecast or past bid counts; the line below says which.
Each lot shows its own forecast based on its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A forecast, not a list of bidders.
1 bid10%
2–323%
4–645%
7+22%
i
Where the award price may land.
The forecast uses similar awards and the buyer’s estimate. The band covers the middle half of likely prices.
Based on 22 comparable awards. Each lot reflects its own category; forecasts for different lots of the same notice are not comparative.
A statistical guide from past awards, not a price to bid.
Middle 50%£1.5m
Estimate£1.5m
Who has supplied this buyer on similar work? i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
i
Who has done similar work for this buyer.
Past contracts are matched by buyer, title and type of work.
A past supplier may not bid again.
No earlier contract of this buyer matches this lot on the published record.
Who could compete for this lot? i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
i
Who could compete for this lot?
Firms with relevant past wins. On a framework, we show firms on that agreement.
None is confirmed as a bidder.
| Supplier | Won in this category | Live contracts | Award vs estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| £9.3m11 awards in 36m · last 1 months ago | 4 live · £1.6m iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=5 | |
| £5.3m15 awards in 36m · last 2 months ago | 2 live · £336k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | at estimate n=3 | |
| £1.1m14 awards in 36m · last 5 months ago | 1 live · £98k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 2% below n=3 | |
YOUGOV PLCLarge | £667k17 awards in 36m · last 6 months ago | 6 live · £754k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 4% below n=3 |
| £1.4m3 awards in 36m · last 9 months ago | 1 live · £120k iPublic contracts this supplier still holds. Its awards whose published end date is still in the future, with their values. Many contracts publish no end date, so this is a floor, not the whole book. Unexpired says nothing about spare capacity. | 58% below n=1 |
About this data
- Source. Official UK public procurement notices (Find a Tender), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. New notices arrive through the day; the figures are rebuilt nightly.
- Two views, kept apart. The authority’s own track record and the wider market for the same kind of work sit side by side and are never mixed. Where the local picture is too thin, a figure widens to a broader market and says which one it used.
- Forecasts are labelled. The price forecast and its range, possible competitors and the earlier-work matches are our estimates from past awards: not published facts, not win chances and not price advice. Official notices do not say who is bidding.
- Every figure shows what it rests on. Not every notice publishes a bid count, a value or a delivery region, so each figure carries the number of records behind it, and one built on few records is marked as such. The on a figure explains it; the counting rules are in the methodology. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Requests to participate open
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 27 Jul 2026, 16:16 BST
- Last source update
- 8 Oct 2026, 16:43 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 15 Feb 2027
- Authority reference
105016- FTS notice number
2026/S 000-095400- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d487Find a Tender
- How it runs
Under Section 3(2) and Schedule 2: Exempted Contracts, Part 2: Subject-matter Exempted Contracts, Paragraph 11: Research and development services, of the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23), public contracts consisting solely of pure research and development that are intended for general public benefit are explicitly exempt from statutory "covered procurement" rules.
As this contract qualifies for the R&D Exemption under Schedule 2, Paragraph 11 of the Procurement Act 2023, DCMS will operate outside of the statutory constraints of a covered procurement.
Because this is an exempted contract, the statutory challenge regime and automatic suspension provisions under Part 9 of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply. However, DCMS is committed to conducting a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory process in voluntary alignment with core PA23 principles
This procurement is structured as a two-stage competitive procedure, Suppliers are invited to complete the Stage 1 Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ) to participate in the shortlisting stage. Suppliers should read the PSQ Guidance document before completing the questionnaire. Bidders will be shortlisted based on pass/fail criteria and on their total weighted scores for the PSQ. The top 5 highest scoring candidates will be invited to Stage 2.
The shortlisted candidates will be issued the Invitation to Tender (ITT) to submit their full technical proposal and commercial pricing for evaluation. This will be evaluated in accordance with the ITT guidance that will be released to the shortlisted candidates.
How to participate & submission route
Official notice Submit via portal- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 6 Nov 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Tender submission deadline
- 6 Nov 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 26 Oct 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
- Shortlist
- up to 5 candidates invited to tender
The information and/or documents for this opportunity are available on the Atamis e-sourcing portal: dcms.my.site.com/login ↗ .
You must register on this site to respond. If you are already registered you will not need to register again, simply use your existing username and password. Please note there is a password reminder link on the homepage.
**Once registered on Atamis, click 'Find Opportunities' and register your interest. Once you have confirmed your interest, go to 'My Proposal and Quotes' to view the documentation.***
Please ensure you have clicked 'SUBMIT' after uploading your response.
Please ensure you review all communications and follow any instruction provided to you.
Any questions or clarification requests regarding this opportunity must be submitted exclusively through the Atamis portal messaging system before the Clarification Deadline.
If you experience any technical difficulties please contact the Atamis eSourcing Helpdesk at: [email protected]
**Please ensure you have registered on the Central Digital Platform to obtain your unique identifier. This is a requirement for all public sector contracts governed under The Procurement Act.*** It is available at www.gov.uk/find-tender ↗
Timeline
27 Jul 2026 → 1 Mar 2027 · 8 dates- Planning notice published85 days ago27 Jul 2026, 16:16 BST
- Market engagement31 days ago18 Sept 2026, 23:59 BST
The virtual engagement webinar has now ended. Please see below a copy of the presentation and Q&A.
Presentation:
drive.google.com/file/d/1CzUx0lrJdJ0W… ↗
Q&A
- Tender notice published12 days ago8 Oct 2026, 16:42 BST
- Next notice expected4 days ago15 Oct 2026, 23:59 BST
- Today20 Oct 2026
- Clarification questions byin 6 days26 Oct 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Submission deadlinein 17 days6 Nov 2026, 17:00 GMT
- Award decision expected byin 119 days15 Feb 2027, 23:59 GMT
- Contract startsin 132 days1 Mar 2027
Notice history
8 events · 6 releases on Find a Tender · since 27 Jul 2026- Preliminary market engagement notice published27 Jul 2026, 16:16 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published27 Jul 2026, 17:17 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published14 Sept 2026, 10:07 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published28 Sept 2026, 10:45 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published8 Oct 2026, 16:42 BSTUK4
- Status changed to active8 Oct 2026, 16:42 BST
- Procurement method changed8 Oct 2026, 16:42 BST
- Tender notice published8 Oct 2026, 16:43 BSTUK4
Published amendments (4)
Title change
The virtual webinar has now concluded. The presentation and Q&A are now available in this notice.
The estimated date for the UK4 Tender notice has been updated. Please note this is estimated and not a firm commitment.
Incorrect mention of framework.
Routine re-releases (6)
- 2026-09: 1 release · 14 Sept 2026
- 2026-07: 2 releases · 27 Jul 2026, 27 Jul 2026
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Nothing awarded yet- Awards (0)
- No award published
- Contracts (0)
- No contract published
- Bid statistics
- No aggregate bid statistics published
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (6)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender