Public procurement notice: Contract Notice
Published: 2019-11-08
Buyer: University of Essex
Country: UK
Contract type: Services
Procedure: Open procedure
CPV classification: 72314000: Data collection and collation services | 79310000 | 79311100 | 79311200
Estimated value: 30000000 GBP
Submission deadline: 2020-01-21
Award criteria: The most economic tender

Technical requirements: Understanding Society: managing the questionnaire scripting, fieldwork, data management and delivery of Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study, 2020-2025. This includes 3 waves of the main-stage (interviewing adults in 26 000 households) plus a general population sample boost of 10 000 participating households at Wave 13, and 3 waves of the Innovation Panel (interviewing adults in 1 500 households). The survey is mixed mode, using online, face-to-face (CAPI), and telephone (CATI) data collection modes.
Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) is a major household panel survey funded by the Economic and Social Research Council with co-funding from some government departments. It includes 3 core annual mixed mode surveys — for the main sample — approximately 26 000 households interviewed continuously throughout the year — and the Innovation Panel (IP) — approximately 1 500 household interviewed spring/summer each year. In addition, we have a programme of continuous innovation both to improve the quality of data on the core surveys and to enhance the study to extended samples and/or content. This invitation to tender covers activities associated with data collection for Waves 13 to 15 of the main survey and Waves 15 to 17 of the IP. This includes the ‘core’ annual surveys, but also a number of enhancements:
3) The inclusion at Wave 14 of additional households who are associated with the core sample, such as separated or co-parenting parents who are not in sample;
4) An online survey of sample members who are identified as emigrating from the UK (to be developed during Wave 12). In addition, we ask bidders to provide information about their capacity and capability on other parts of the project which may be taken up in the future;
6) A regular between-wave data collection exercise to identify key events that have happened to the sample member, with appropriate follow-up surveys (subject to additional funding); and
7) A parallel pregnancy study, in which sample members who become pregnant are followed up and invited to participate in 1 or 2 data collection exercises, including online and in-person interviewing, and biomarker collection (subject to additional funding). The budget for the core study, including the 3 waves of the main-stage and the Innovation Panels and enhancements 1-4 is 30 000 000 GBP including VAT.
The fieldwork period for the main-stage of Understanding Society Wave 13 will start in early January 2021 and the sample will be issued over 2 calendar years. Wave 14 will start in early January 2022, and Wave 15 in early January 2023 — thus there will be an overlapping fieldwork design. There may be a pilot survey in September 2020. The fieldwork period for the annual Innovation Panel will start in late May and run through to mid-September, with IP15 being conducted in 2022. Understanding Society is a mixed mode survey using online, face-to-face (CAPI) and telephone (CATI) data collection. Survey Organisations need to be able to demonstrate their ability to manage mixed mode surveys, while maintaining interviewer motivation and capacity for high quality face-to-face interviews still required.
The duration of the contract will be for an initial period of 68 months, with the option to extend for a further 12 months, subject to confirmation of additional activities in scope of this contract and funding by the Economic and Social Research Council.
Managing the questionnaire scripting, fieldwork, data management and delivery of Understanding Society: the UK Household Longitudinal Study, 2020-2025. This includes 3 waves of the main-stage (interviewing adults in 26 000 households) and 3 waves of the Innovation Panel (interviewing adults in 1 500 households). The survey is mixed mode, using online, face-to-face (CAPI) and telephone (CATI) data collection modes.
The University reserves the right to cancel the procurement at any stage of the process and not to proceed with the award of any contract. The University shall not be liable for interested parties’ or tenderers’ costs in relation to this procurement in any circumstances.
The University is conducting this procurement on behalf of itself and any members of its group from time to time. The successful tenderer may be required to participate in works related economic, social and environmental regeneration of the area in and around the place of delivery. Accordingly, contract performance conditions may relate in particular to social, economic and environmental considerations.
The University will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar days standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers. The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). Generally, such action must be brought within 30 days from the date the aggrieved party knew or ought to have known about the breach.


Award value: 30000000