Official UK procurement notice
Social Research and Analysis Framework
Authority: Scottish Government (Central government)·Consortium: 2 public authorities
What is being bought3 lots · detail below
Published requirement descriptionThe Framework Agreement shall cover the provision of Social Research and Analysis across the Core Scottish Government departments. It shall comprise a multi lot/multi supplier agreement with 3 lots: Lot 1 Consultation Analysis, Lot 2 Evaluations, and Lot 3 Research.
CPV: Evaluation consultancy services · Research services · Social research services · Survey analysis services
How this framework works
From the published notice- Places
- up to 19 suppliers · 32 bids on the busiest of 3 lots (1.7 per place) · 13 appointed
Lots and requirements (3)Procurement structure
3 lots · all with a published value · same evaluation weights on every lotLot #1Consultation AnalysisAwardedRenewalPublished value£2,100,000
The Scottish Government runs a large volume of consultations throughout the year - on average, we publish 100 consultations per year. We, thus, have an ongoing requirement for consultation analysis. We wish, therefore, to establish a framework of external suppliers with the experience, skills, and capacity to deliver both quantitative and qualitative analysis of responses to a wide range of government consultations.
Work that is required under this lot:
Includes: Understanding policy background of consultation, receiving, securely storing and classifying consultation responses. Analysis of responses to consultation questions, setting out key issues and nature and level of support for consultation proposals in full report.
Does not include: conducting public consultations or surveys or evaluation of consultation proposals.
Lot #2EvaluationsAwardedRenewalPublished value£5,500,000
The Scottish Government commissions a wide range of evaluation research to support delivering better outcomes for the people of Scotland by understanding which policies and / or programmes work best and why, and how to learn and improve from the implementation and delivery of policies and programmes. Robust monitoring and evaluation ensures that policies benefit the people who they are designed to help. It also provides evidence for the public to better understand the decisions and activities of the Scottish Government, their impact and their value for money.
Work that is required under this lot:
Includes: Process evaluations. Small-scale evaluations (project value limit 65K GBP) including evaluability and impact assessments, logic modelling and theory of change. Economic evaluations. Statutory monitoring work, performance monitoring and reviews of legislative requirements.
Does not include: Experimental / quasi-experimental impact evaluation, horizon scanning, meta-analysis, feasibility studies
Lot #3Social ResearchAwardedRenewalPublished value£8,100,000
Work that is required under this lot:
Includes: Primary research (collecting data from people): quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods data collection/fieldwork online; by telephone; face to face. Representative surveys and focus groups. Questions in Omnibus surveys if offered by suppliers. In depth, observational interviews. Public engagement and public panels. Case studies, co-creation, ethnography, narrative analysis, focus groups, lived experience research, deliberative methods. Secondary research (analysis of pre-existing data) qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods data analysis and literature reviews, evidence reviews, systematic reviews, rapid evidence reviews. Data linkage.
Does not include: impact assessment, evaluation, consultation analysis, econometric or financial analysis, modelling.
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 sub-criteria (6)
- Framework Management: 35
- Delivery of Services- Call-Off Contracts: 45
- Cyber Security: 10
- Fair Work First: 5
- Community Benefits: 5
- price: 30
Published award criteria (6)
- Framework Management: 35%
- Delivery of Services- Call-Off Contracts: 45%
- Cyber Security: 10%
- Fair Work First: 5%
- Community Benefits: 5%
- Price: 30
- Economic & financial standing
The Contractor must effect and maintain with a reputable insurance company:
public liability insurance in the sum of not less than 5 million GBP.
professional indemnity insurance in the sum of not less than 1 million GBP; and
employer’s liability insurance in accordance with any legal obligation for the time being in force.
- Technical & professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria:
SPD 4C.4 -
Bidders must provide a statement of the relevant supply chain management and/or tracking systems used.
SPD 4C.7 -
Bidders will be required to provide evidence that their organisation has taken steps to build their awareness of the climate change emergency and how they will respond.
- Staff
- Names and qualifications of delivery staff must be submitted
- Price carries 30 of 130 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
- “Social Research and Analysis Framework” is a framework: the contest is a place on its panel, up to 19 suppliers, not a single contract.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record · publisher note attached- Procedure method
- Open procedure
- Legal basis
- CELEX · 32014L0024 Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (Directive 2014/24/EU)
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Unspecified in notice
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- 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
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- No (one-off requirement)
- First published
- 7 Mar 2023, 10:57 GMT
- Last source update
- 1 May 2025, 15:30 BST
- Award evaluation window
- 8 Jul 2024 – …
- Authority reference
CASE/605656- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-018509- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-03ae9dFind a Tender
- Electronic trading
- e-invoicing allowed · electronic ordering · electronic payment
- Performance terms
As stated in the procurement documents
Publisher note: All suppliers on this framework are committed to offering differing packages of Fair Work Practices, packages include the payment of the Real Living Wage or higher for the duration of this framework. All suppliers on this framework committed to delivering Community Benefits, if awarded 50k GBP or above of work under the framework in a reporting period. Suppliers offered differing packages of Community Benefits focusing around: -Making sub-contracting opportunities available to SMEs, third sector an supported businesses; -Targeted employment support, recruitment and work related training for priority groups; -Educational support initiatives; -Support for existing charity and third sector organisations; -Up-skilling existing workforce; -Equality and diversity initiatives. Delivery of Community Benefits will be monitored as part of framework management over the framework period. (SC Ref:796103)
How it was run
Official noticeTender documents are also served through a separate tool: https://www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk ↗
- Appointment period ends
- 18 Jul 2024, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- {"electronicSubmission"}
- Accepted languages
- en
- Bid validity
- 180 days from the deadline
- Bids opened
- 8 Jul 2024, 12:30 BST
Timeline
28 Apr 2023 → 1 May 2025 · 4 dates- Next notice expected28 Apr 2023, 00:00 BST
- Bids opened8 Jul 2024, 12:30 BST
- Admission / appointment period endsperiod end, not a bid countdown18 Jul 2024, 12:00 BST
- Notice published1 May 2025, 15:30 BST
Notice history
8 events · 5 releases on Find a Tender · since 17 May 2024- Published value updated to £15,700,00017 May 2024, 14:19 BSTwas £15,000,000
- Status changed to active17 May 2024, 14:19 BST
- Procurement method changed17 May 2024, 14:19 BST
- Deadline published: 8 Jul 2024, 12:00 BST17 May 2024, 14:19 BST
- Buyer details updated17 May 2024, 14:19 BST
- Deadline moved to 15 Jul 2024, 12:00 BST30 May 2024, 12:15 BST+7 days · was 8 Jul 2024, 12:00 BST
- Deadline moved to 18 Jul 2024, 12:00 BST9 Jul 2024, 10:19 BST+3 days · was 15 Jul 2024, 12:00 BST
- Status changed to complete1 May 2025, 15:30 BST
Published amendments (2 · 2 deadline changes)
| When | What | Before | After | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | DeadlineTime limit · IV.2.2 | 8 Jul 2024 | 15 Jul 2024 | +7 d |
| — | Bid openingConditions for opening of tenders · IV.2.7 | 8 Jul 2024 | 15 Jul 2024 | +7 d |
| — | DeadlineTime limit · IV.2.2 | 15 Jul 2024 | 18 Jul 2024 | +3 d |
| — | Bid openingConditions for opening of tenders · IV.2.7 | 15 Jul 2024 | 18 Jul 2024 | +3 d |
Deadline for receipt of tenders now extended by a week to allow additional time for submission of bids.
PCS-T will not be available on the weekend of 13 and 14 July
Routine re-releases (5)
- 2024-05: 1 release · 17 May 2024
- 2023-03: 1 release · 7 Mar 2023
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast3 suppliers are admitted to this framework without individual award values or dates, see the supplier list below.
Contracts
Social Research
- Signed
- 11 Apr 2025
- Value
- £8,100,000
- Status
- active
Consultation Analysis
- Signed
- 11 Apr 2025
- Value
- £2,100,000
- Status
- active
Evaluations
- Signed
- 11 Apr 2025
- Value
- £5,500,000
- Status
- active
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Lot | Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 · Consultation Analysis | 17bids · 17 electronic · 17 from abroad | 14 | — | — |
| 2 · Evaluations | 32bids · 32 electronic · 32 from abroad | 25 | — | — |
| 3 · Social Research | 30bids · 30 electronic · 30 from abroad | 22 | — | — |
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
2 public bodies on the noticeDispute resolution & review bodies
- Edinburgh Sheriff CourtReview body
Framework contractors & participating bidders
13 commercial parties on the notice- AECOM LimitedFramework contractor
- Alma EconomicsFramework contractor
- CraigforthFramework contractor
- EKOSFramework contractor
- GC Insight LtdFramework contractor
- Griesbach & AssociatesFramework contractor
- Ipsos (market research) LtdFramework contractor
- KSO Research LimitedFramework contractor
- National Centre for Social ResearchFramework contractor
- Progressive PartnershipFramework contractor
Show 3 more suppliers
- The Lines Between LtdFramework contractor
- Thinks Insight and Strategy (Britain Thinks) LimitedFramework contractor
- Wellside Research LtdFramework contractor
Official documents & specifications
Official links; attachments are not copiedNo document links were published on the notice.