Customer Research and Engagement

• How the procedure runs: Competitive flexible procedure description Stage 1: Invitation to participate and conditions of participation Stage 1 commenced with the issuing of this Tender Notice and the publication of the Conditions of Participation Document (COP) in NWL's Ariba Sourcing tool. The document includes a COP questionnaire which all suppliers are required to complete and return in accordance with the procurement timetable and instructions within the document. NWL will use this stage to confirm that neither the supplier, nor any related persons within its corporate group, associated persons relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors are listed on the Cabinet Office debarment list. To the extent that any such entities are listed on the debarment list, NWL will consider whether to exclude the supplier from participating in this procurement in accordance with its obligations under the Act. In addition, NWL will consider whether any supplier or related persons within its corporate group, associated persons relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors are excluded or excludable suppliers, and before NWL determines that a supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier, it will provide the supplier reasonable opportunity to make representations and provide evidence as is proportionate in the circumstances. If the supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier only by virtue of an associated person or proposed sub-contractor, NWL will notify the supplier of its intention to exclude the supplier and provide the supplier with reasonable opportunity to replace the associated person or subcontractor. If as a consequence of this process NWL excludes the supplier from participating in this procurement or is aware of an associated person or sub-contract having been replaced, it will give notice of this fact within 30 days of its decision to the Procurement Review Unit (PRU). NWL will also undertake a review of the completed COP with reference to any information held on the Central Digital Platform. Responses to any conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the selection process and any criteria as set out in the tender notice and described in this document. The assessment of these responses will identify the top 10 number of suppliers to be invited to participate in Stage 2. Stage 1 will complete with suppliers being notified in writing of whether or not they have been successfully shortlisted to participate in Stage 2. Suppliers not invited to stage 2 will be provided with a written explanation of the reasons why they have not been shortlisted to participate in Stage 2. Suppliers should note that NWL reserves the right to re-assess any response to the conditions of participation at any stage of this procurement, including in light of any new relevant information that comes to NWL's attention. Stage 2: Invitation to submit initial tenders Stage 2 will commence with the notification, inviting those suppliers which have successfully been shortlisted at stage 1 of this procurement to submit initial tenders. The notification will also provide details of any new information made available to suppliers at this stage of this procurement. Initial tenders must be submitted in accordance with the procurement timetable and instructions set out in RFP document and any additional information provided. Following the deadline for submission of initial tenders, NWL will assess initial tenders in accordance with the assessment process and award criteria set out in the tender notice and described in this document. The assessment process will progress to interview (Stage 3). All suppliers part of stage 2 will be invited to stage 3 (interview) to provide additional clarity of responses. Stage 3: Interview We will notify vendors of how we will describe how the dialogue and/or negotiations will be conducted during interviews, including the location and dates for the relevant meetings, as well as the attendee arrangements. Stage 4: Invitation to submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO) Stage 4 will commence with the issuing of a letter inviting all suppliers remaining at stage 3 to submit their Best and Final Offer. Best and Final offers must be submitted in accordance with the Procurement Timetable and instructions set out in this document and any additional information provided. After the deadline for submission of best and final offers, NWL will reconsider, in respect of each supplier that submitted, whether the supplier or any related persons within its corporate group, associated suppliers relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors, are excluded or excludable suppliers and will consider whether to disregard the best and final offer submitted in accordance with its obligations under the Act. If the supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier only by virtue of an associated supplier or proposed sub-contractor, NWL will notify the supplier of its intention to disregard its tender and provide the supplier with a reasonable opportunity to replace the associated supplier or sub-contractor. If as a consequence of this process NWL disregards a tender from an excluded or excludable supplier or is aware of an associated supplier or subcontractor having been replaced, it will give notice of this fact within 30 days of its decision to the Procurement Review Unit (PRU) NWL will conduct an assessment of all Best and Final offers in order to identify the supplier which has submitted the most advantageous tender in accordance with the assessment methodology and award criteria set out in the tender notice and described in this document. In carrying out this assessment, NWL will disregard any final tender from a supplier who does not satisfy the conditions of participation. Once the assessment has concluded, NWL will provide an assessment summary to all suppliers that submitted Best and Final Offers to: a. inform them whether they have been successful in being awarded the contract b. provide an explanation of the assessment of the supplier's tender against the relevant award criteria, in accordance with the requirements of the Act c. where different to the supplier concerned, provide information in respect of the most advantageous tender submitted, including details of the assessment of this tender against the relevant award criteria and the supplier's name Once the assessment summaries have been provided to the suppliers that submitted Best and Final offers NWL will also publish a contract award notice on the Central Digital Platform to commence the mandatory standstill period. Subject to completion of the mandatory standstill period, stage 4 will end with NWL entering into preferred supplier stage with the preferred supplier. Stage 5: Preferred supplier stage The highest scoring six supplier will be invited to engage in further discussions with NWL as part of a preferred supplier stage. This stage will be used to finalise the draft contract terms and conditions, in accordance with the limitations set out in the Act.

CPV: Research services

Type

Closed framework

Call-offs

every call-off is a further competition among the appointed suppliers

Places

up to 6 suppliers · 6 appointed (full)

Framework period

4 yrs from 1 Apr 2026

Procedure method

Competitive flexible procedure

Legal basis

UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023

Procurement category

Services

Notice status

Awarded

Procurement threshold

Above threshold (FTS publication)

Regulatory regime

Utilities

Commercial structure

Framework agreement

Who may use this agreement

Not stated in the notice; call-off rights may be limited to the establishing authority

Competition type

Competitive procedure

GPA / WTO covered

Unspecified in notice

Recurring procurement

Unspecified in notice

First published

17 Nov 2025, 15:29 GMT

Last source update

17 Mar 2026, 17:02 GMT

Award evaluation window

Submission end – 7 Mar 2026

Authority reference

NW3023

FTS notice number

2025/S 000-074473

Latest notice

Contract award notice (UK6)

Classification (CPV)

Research services

Delivery area

North East (UKC)East of England (UKH1)

Official registry OCID

ocds-h6vhtk-05e2a8 Find a Tender

Contract terms summary

45 days

How it runs

Competitive flexible procedure description

Stage 1: Invitation to participate and conditions of participation

Stage 1 commenced with the issuing of this Tender Notice and the

publication of the Conditions of Participation Document (COP) in NWL's Ariba Sourcing tool.

The document includes a COP questionnaire which all suppliers are required to complete and return in accordance with the procurement timetable and instructions within the document.

NWL will use this stage to confirm that neither the supplier, nor any related persons within its corporate group, associated persons relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors are listed on the

Cabinet Office debarment list. To the extent that any such entities are listed on the debarment list, NWL will consider whether to exclude the supplier from participating in this procurement in accordance with its obligations

under the Act.

In addition, NWL will consider whether any supplier or related persons within its corporate group, associated persons relied on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors are excluded or excludable suppliers, and before NWL determines that a supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier, it will provide the supplier reasonable opportunity to make representations and provide evidence as is proportionate in the

circumstances. If the supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier only by virtue of an associated person or proposed sub-contractor, NWL will notify the supplier of its intention to exclude the supplier and provide the supplier with reasonable opportunity to replace the associated person or subcontractor. If as a consequence of this process NWL excludes the supplier

from participating in this procurement or is aware of an associated person or sub-contract having been replaced, it will give notice of this fact within 30 days of its decision to the Procurement Review Unit (PRU).

NWL will also undertake a review of the completed COP with reference to any information held on the Central Digital Platform. Responses to any conditions of participation will be assessed in accordance with the selection process and any criteria as set out in the tender notice and described in this document. The assessment of these responses will identify the top 10

number of suppliers to be invited to participate in Stage 2.

Stage 1 will complete with suppliers being notified in writing of whether or not they have been successfully shortlisted to participate in Stage 2.

Suppliers not invited to stage 2 will be provided with a written explanation of the reasons why they have not been shortlisted to participate in Stage 2.

Suppliers should note that NWL reserves the right to re-assess any response to the conditions of participation at any stage of this procurement, including in light of any new relevant information that comes to NWL's attention.

Stage 2: Invitation to submit initial tenders

Stage 2 will commence with the notification, inviting those suppliers which have successfully been shortlisted at stage 1 of this procurement to submit initial tenders.

The notification will also provide details of any new information made available to suppliers at this stage of this procurement.

Initial tenders must be submitted in accordance with the procurement timetable and instructions set out in RFP document and any additional information provided.

Following the deadline for submission of initial tenders, NWL will assess initial tenders in accordance with the assessment process and award criteria set out in the tender notice and described in this document. The assessment process will progress to interview (Stage 3).

All suppliers part of stage 2 will be invited to stage 3 (interview) to provide additional clarity of responses.

Stage 3: Interview

We will notify vendors of how we will describe how the dialogue and/or negotiations will

be conducted during interviews, including the location and dates for the relevant meetings, as

well as the attendee arrangements.

Stage 4: Invitation to submit a Best and Final Offer (BAFO)

Stage 4 will commence with the issuing of a letter inviting all suppliers

remaining at stage 3 to submit their Best and Final Offer.

Best and Final offers must be submitted in accordance with the

Procurement Timetable and instructions set out in this document and any

additional information provided.

After the deadline for submission of best and final offers, NWL will

reconsider, in respect of each supplier that submitted, whether the supplier

or any related persons within its corporate group, associated suppliers relied

on to meet the conditions of participation, or proposed sub-contractors, are

excluded or excludable suppliers and will consider whether to disregard the

best and final offer submitted in accordance with its obligations under the

Act. If the supplier is an excluded or excludable supplier only by virtue of an

associated supplier or proposed sub-contractor, NWL will notify the supplier

of its intention to disregard its tender and provide the supplier with a

reasonable opportunity to replace the associated supplier or sub-contractor.

If as a consequence of this process NWL disregards a tender from an

excluded or excludable supplier or is aware of an associated supplier or

subcontractor having been replaced, it will give notice of this fact within 30

days of its decision to the Procurement Review Unit (PRU)

NWL will conduct an assessment of all Best and Final offers in order to

identify the supplier which has submitted the most advantageous tender in accordance with the assessment methodology and award criteria set out in the tender notice and described in this document. In carrying out this assessment, NWL will disregard any final tender from a supplier who does not satisfy the conditions of participation.

Once the assessment has concluded, NWL will provide an assessment summary to all suppliers that submitted Best and Final Offers to:

a. inform them whether they have been successful in being awarded the contract

b. provide an explanation of the assessment of the supplier's tender against the relevant award criteria, in accordance with the requirements of the Act

c. where different to the supplier concerned, provide information in respect of the most advantageous tender submitted, including details of the assessment of this tender against the relevant award criteria and the supplier's name

Once the assessment summaries have been provided to the suppliers that submitted Best and Final offers NWL will also publish a contract award notice on the Central Digital Platform to commence the mandatory standstill period.

Subject to completion of the mandatory standstill period, stage 4 will end with NWL entering into preferred supplier stage with the preferred supplier.

Stage 5: Preferred supplier stage

The highest scoring six supplier will be invited to engage in further discussions with NWL as part of a preferred supplier stage. This stage will be used to finalise the draft contract terms and conditions, in accordance with the limitations set out in the Act.

Requests to participate (first stage)

12 Dec 2025, 09:00 GMT

Appointment period ends

12 Dec 2025, 09:00 GMT

Submission channel

Official e-sourcing portal

Electronic submission

Allowed

Accepted languages

en

• ACCENT MARKETING AND RESEARCH LIMITEDFramework contractorGB-COH: 02231083GB-PPON: PHDB-7438-PQCP 2 Leman Street, London, London, E1W 9USContact emailShow contact details
• BMG RESEARCH LTDFramework contractorGB-COH: 02841970GB-PPON: PNDR-5918-WHYT Spring Lodge 172 Chester Road, Cheshire, North West, WA6 0ARContact emailShow contact details
• EXPLAIN MARKET RESEARCH LIMITEDFramework contractorGB-COH: 02880683GB-PPON: PCDZ-2365-RQVR Earl Grey House, 75-85 Grey Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North East, NE1 6EFContact emailShow contact details
• I C S CONSULTING LIMITEDFramework contractorGB-COH: 04092342GB-PPON: PDZD-5539-RCZP 12 King Street, Leeds, Yorkshire & Humber, LS1 2HLContact emailShow contact details
• IMPACT RESEARCH LTDFramework contractorGB-COH: 07245397GB-PPON: PDVR-7185-QTQR 3 The Quintet, Walton-On-Thames, South East, KT12 2TZContact emailShow contact details
• Qa ResearchFramework contractorGB-COH: 03186539GB-PPON: PJPW-4771-WLTZ 5 Merus Court, Leicester, East Midlands, LE19 1RJContact emailShow contact details