Public procurement notice: Contract Award Notice
Published: 2020-08-18
Buyer: OFCOM
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Restricted procedure
CPV classification: 79310000
Estimated value: 20000000 GBP
Award criteria: Lowest price

Technical requirements: Ofcom’s Market Research team commissions primary research services for a range of teams across the organisation, including Consumer Policy, Spectrum Policy Group, Competition Group and the Content and Strategy teams. Examples of our work can be located in the Market Research section of the Ofcom website:
There are four Market Research Lots in the new framework for the provision of standard market research services, each of which relate to a broad area of standard research expertise; quantitative, qualitative, omnibus and online panel research. If Ofcom has a specialist or niche market research service requirement we may choose to commission that through the framework, or we may choose to commission it via an open Invitation to Tender Process, by inviting specialist suppliers to bid.
At this stage of the process, Applicants are invited to express an interest in providing standard market research services to Ofcom in one or more of these lots
Proven expertise in a range of standard quantitative research techniques, including face to face, online and telephone interviews. Robust Data Quality Assurance processes are essential. Tenderers should also have expertise with UK consumers and advanced statistical analysis techniques. Projects will relate to broadcasting, telecoms, and postal services markets. Projects will include residential and business surveys. Recent examples include surveys on media consumption and supplier switching. Tenderers must comply with the Market Research Society's Code of Conduct and GDPR and related legislation.
There are two options to extend the contract at Ofcom's sole discretion, each option is for a 12 month extension.
Proven expertise in a range of standard qualitative research techniques amongst UK consumers for example, focus groups, depth interviews, deliberative techniques and ethnography. Projects will relate to broadcasting, telecoms, and postal services markets. Projects will include both residential and business research and may include use of audio visual recording. Recent examples include research into public service broadcasting and telecoms service supply to SMEs. Tenderers must comply with the market research society’s code of conduct and GDPR and related legislation.
— Label 3 will be for suppliers with expertise in qualitative research conducted amongst business decision makers, and
— Label 4 will be for suppliers with expertise in qualitative research conducted amongst minority or hard to reach groups, and may include suppliers who specialise in research amongst a particular population segment.
There are two options to extend the contract at Ofcom's sole discretion, each option is for a 12 month extension
For the purposes of this framework, our definition of an omnibus survey is one that is conducted face to face and covers a number of topics, usually for different clients, among a nationally representative sample of UK adults. Clients are charged by the market research agency on the basis of the questionnaire space or the number of questions required. Ofcom regularly uses omnibus surveys to collect quantitative data for a variety of purposes. Typically this research will be designed to efficiently collect consumer data to deliver to relatively tight project deadlines. We therefore require Tenderers that have strong credentials in face to face and telephone omnibus surveys. Recent examples include research into purchase of Pay TV services and experience of nuisance calls. Tenderers must comply with the Market Research Society's Code of Conduct.
Our requirements from suppliers will typically be for a 'full-service' provision, to include advice, questionnaire design and analysis and reporting. Bids to join the framework will be assessed on this basis, although the winning bidder(s) will also be required to provide 'field and tab' services from time to time, where Ofcom would provide the agency with a questionnaire and the output requirement will be data tables and files only.
There are two options to extend the contract at Ofcom's sole discretion, each option is for a 12 month extension
For the purposes of our framework, online panel research is defined as surveys which provide access to a large number of consumers, from which quantitative data can be collected quickly and at relatively low cost. Ofcom usually uses online panel surveys to collect quantitative data from minority groups in the UK population or when a fast-turnaround/ cost efficient approach is required. Recent examples survey research amongst those who frequently listen to podcasts. Tenderers must comply with the Market Research Society's Code of Conduct.
Our requirements from suppliers will typically be for a 'full-service' provision, to include advice, questionnaire design and analysis and reporting. Bids to join the framework will be assessed on this basis, although the winning bidder(s) will also be required to provide 'field and tab' services from time to time, where Ofcom would provide the agency with a questionnaire and the output requirement will be data tables and files only.
There are two options to extend the contract at Ofcom's sole discretion, each option is for a 12 month extension


Winner: BDRC Continental Ltd
Award value: 20000000
Number of bids: 13