Tender: London: market research services

UK-London: market research services

2008/S 231-307408

CONTRACT NOTICE

Services

SECTION I: CONTRACTING AUTHORITY

I.1) NAME, ADDRESSES AND CONTACT POINT(S):

Address: Organisation: Office of Fair Trading,

Fleetbank House, 7C/07 Procurement, 2-6 Salisbury Square

, Contact: Jimi Ogunfuwa, Attn: Jimi Ogunfuwa, Country code: UK-London Postal code: EC4Y 8JX. Tel. 020 72 11 83 70. E-mail: jimi.ogunfuwa@oft.gsi.gov.uk. Fax 020 72 11 81 24.

Further information can be obtained at: As in above-mentioned contact point(s).

Specifications and additional documents (including documents for competitive dialogue and a dynamic purchasing system) can be obtained at: As in above-mentioned contact point(s).

Tenders or requests to participate must be sent to: As in above-mentioned contact point(s).

I.2) TYPE OF THE CONTRACTING AUTHORITY AND MAIN ACTIVITY OR ACTIVITIES:

Ministry or any other national or federal authority, including their regional or local sub-divisions.

Economic and financial affairs.

The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: yes.

SECTION II: OBJECT OF THE CONTRACT

II.1) DESCRIPTION
II.1.1) Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:

Research Services Framework.

II.1.2) Type of contract and location of works, place of delivery or of performance:

Services.

Service category: No 10.

Main place of performance: London.

II.1.3) The notice involves:

The establishment of a framework agreement.

II.1.4) Information on framework agreement:

Duration of the framework agreement: Duration in year(s): 4

Estimated total value of purchases for the entire duration of the framework agreement:

Estimated value excluding VAT:

Range: between 5 000 000 and 10 000 000 GBP.

II.1.5) Short description of the contract or purchase(s):

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is the UK's consumer and competition authority. The OFT has a requirement to commision external research in support of its own market investigations from time to time. The majority of OFT work consists of analysing and studying markets, enforcing competition and consumer law, undertaking advocacy and working with partners to deliver relevant education programmes to businesses and consumers. The OFT is seeking to award a four year framework agreement to a range of research services suppliers. This Framework agreement will be open to other government departments to utilise. The framework is designed to aid OFT across the full range of its requirements. These requirements, for the purpose of this tender are divided into eleven lots. Suppliers are invited to express an interest in providing research services to the OFT in one or more lots. A pre-qualification questionnaire will be issued to all organisations that express an interest. In order to be considered, the information requested in this questionnaire must be provided. The information will be evaluated and used in the selection of organisations for inclusion on a select list of suppliers who will be invited to tender formally for inclusion in the Research services framework. Once we have concluded this tender and awarded formal OFT research framework status to successful bidders, it will become our normal practice to ask for expression of interest for subsequents needs from all suppliers within the framework capable of meeting the particular need. This will be followed by mini-competition, which will be open to framework suppliers capable of meeting the particular need and that have responded to the expression of interest within the provided timescales. There is no guarantee that those suppliers appointed to the framework agreement will receive any work. The framework agreement that results from this tender shall be effective from 1.11.2009 and expire 31 October 2013.

II.1.6) Common procurement vocabulary (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 , CPV code: "Market and economic research; polling and statistics">79300000 , CPV code: "Statistical services">79330000 , CPV code: "Specialist training services">80510000 , CPV code: "Research and development consultancy services">73200000 , CPV code: "Development consultancy services">73220000 .

II.1.7) Contract covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA):

Yes.

II.1.8) Division into lots:

Yes.

Tenders should be submitted for: one or more lots.

II.1.9) Variants will be accepted:

No.

II.2) QUANTITY OR SCOPE OF THE CONTRACT
II.2.1) Total quantity or scope:
II.2.2) Options:

No.

II.3) DURATION OF THE CONTRACT OR TIME-LIMIT FOR COMPLETION:

INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS

LOT NO 1

TITLE: Market research and other survey activity and analysis: Mystery shopping

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

Suppliers in this lot should have specialist mystery shopping expertise. This ideally should include telephone, face to face and internet mystery shopping techniques.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

LOT NO 2

TITLE: Market research and other survey activity and analysis: Business surveys and market research

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the course of a market study or other investigation, several surveys may be required. These will typically involve face-to-face or telephone interviews, postal questionnaires, or the internet. Qualitative, quantitative as well as deliberative research may be required, involving focus groups or similar techniques.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

LOT NO 3

TITLE: Market research and other survey activity and analysis: Consumer and social surveys and market research

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

In the course of a market study or other investigations several surveys may be commissioned involving consumer research. These will typically involve face-to-face or telephone interviews, or postal questionnaires. Qualitative, quantitative as well as deliberative research may be required, involving focus groups or similar techniques.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

LOT NO 4

TITLE: Market research and other survey activity and analysis: Management of complex and multifaceted market research or market research not captured elsewhere.

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

Often requirements for market research will be complex and multifaceted. Suppliers here should have wide experience of market research and other survey techniques and be able to demonstrate a capacity to make these work together efficiently and coherently in the course of a project. In addition, this lot is defined to capture elements or aspects of market research that do not fit in any of other market research categories. For this reason also, suppliers should have extensive experience across a range of research methodologies, including a variety of both qualitative, quantitative and deliberative techniques.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

LOT NO 5

TITLE: Social and Economic research and analysis

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

Suppliers will be required to provide social and economic research to enable the OFT to enhance its understanding, application and evaluation of competition and consumer policy and enforcement. New issues and challenges are constantly being identified in these areas and it is the OFT's aim to remain at the ‘cutting edge' of underlying philosophy, technical analysis and remedy design. This frequently means that the research must help take the OFT beyond the existing academic literature, but it must also be of practical use and accessible by non-specialists. Economic researchers must have a good understanding of the UK and European competition and/or consumer law framework and case law.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 , CPV code: "Market and economic research; polling and statistics">79300000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

LOT NO 6

TITLE: Combining social/economic research with market research

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

Often the OFT will require research and analysis which combines both market research and social and economic research and analysis. Suppliers in this lot should have the capacity to perform both these functions or an ability and willingness to contract the necessary aspects in.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 , CPV code: "Market and economic research; polling and statistics">79300000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

LOT NO 7

TITLE: Statistical and econometric service and analysis

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

Sometimes the OFT has a requirement to commission experts in the field to undertake specialized statistical analysis. In particular, econometric analysis might be needed in support of the economic analysis of cases, or to review the work of others. Such requirements encompass the micro-econometric modelling of demand for the purposes of market definition in Competition Act cases and may arise in other areas such as sampling of obscure populations, conjoint analysis, or the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of data obtained from a number of independent survey exercises. Suppliers in this lot should be able to meet these requirements.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 , CPV code: "Statistical services">79330000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

LOT NO 8

TITLE: Industry and market-specific research and technical analysis

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

As part of either a market study conducted under The Enterprise Act, or an investigation aimed at enforcement activity, the OFT may require a better understanding of the dynamics of a specific market and its participants. The assessment may cover the conduct of one or more companies in the market. Depending on the content of the investigation, coverage might include: - market definition; - factual background to the market, its structure, and its participants; - the nature and effect of any entry barriers; - key indicators such as profitability and price levels and trends, at a line-of- business, individual firm or market level - consumer behaviour and the level and transparency of information available; - the nature of competition; - how other factors (e.g. regulations) affect the operation of the market; - international comparisons; - any identifiable anti-competitive practice or conduct, and - examination of complaints, enforcement and contractual issues. In addition, the OFT may require general project management support in conducting the market study or enforcement activity. Suppliers in this lot should be able to meet these requirements.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

LOT NO 9

TITLE: Provision of specialist advice and services relating to research, evaluation and the economics of industrial organisations

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

Suppliers in this lot should be able to provide specialist advice in the development of research and evaluation techniques and/or provide specialist knowledge, advice and support on developments in the economics of industrial organisations. Research and evaluation techniques might include; the sampling of particularly difficult to reach populations, advising on aspects of econometric modelling analysis, critiquing the work of others in any of these areas and competition/consumer issues more generally.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

LOT NO 10

TITLE: Provision of specialist training

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

Suppliers in this lot should be able to undertake specialist advice and support related to the provision of training to OFT staff. This could for example include econometrics, sampling and questionnaire design.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 , CPV code: "Specialist training services">80510000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

LOT NO 11

TITLE: Behavioural and psychological research

1) SHORT DESCRIPTION:

Suppliers in this lot should be able to provide specialist knowledge on behavioural economics and psychological research. This might include the effective design of experimental research, advice and support on emerging academic theory, insights into lessons from the behavioural and psychological literature, or providing training on these issues. Considering how consumers behave is important to the work of OFT, particularly to the development of consumer enforcement strategy and policy.

2) COMMON PROCUREMENT VOCABULARY (CPV):

CPV code: "Market research services">79310000 , CPV code: "Research and development consultancy services">73200000 , CPV code: "Development consultancy services">73220000 .

3) QUANTITY OR SCOPE:
4) INDICATION ABOUT DIFFERENT DATE FOR DURATION OF CONTRACT OR STARTING/COMPLETION:
5) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT LOTS:

SECTION III: LEGAL, ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION

III.1) CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE CONTRACT
III.1.1) Deposits and guarantees required:
III.1.2) Main financing conditions and payment arrangements and/or reference to the relevant provisions regulating them:
III.1.3) Legal form to be taken by the group of economic operators to whom the contract is to be awarded:

Where a consortium is tendering then the OFT reserves the right to require groupings of contractors to take a particular legal form or to require a single contractor to take primary liability or to require that each party undertakes joint and several liability prior to a work award by the authority.

III.1.4) Other particular conditions to which the performance of the contract is subject:

No.

III.2) CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
III.2.1) Personal situation of economic operators, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers:

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met: In accordance with Articles 45 to 50 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulations 23 to 25 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 and as set out in the pre-qualification questionnaire which is available from the address set out in section 1.1 above.

III.2.2) Economic and financial capacity:

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met: In accordance with Articles 45 to 50 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulations 23 to 25 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 and as set out in the pre-qualification questionnaire which is available from the address set out in section 1.1 above.

Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: In accordance with Articles 45 to 50 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulations 23 to 25 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 and as set out in the pre-qualification questionnaire which is available from the address set out in section 1.1 above.

III.2.3) Technical capacity:

Information and formalities necessary for evaluating if requirements are met: In accordance with Articles 45 to 50 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulations 23 to 25 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 and as set out in the pre-qualification questionnaire which is available from the address set out in section 1.1 above.

Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required: In accordance with Articles 45 to 50 of Directive 2004/18/EC and Regulations 23 to 25 of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 and as set out in the pre-qualification questionnaire which is available from the address set out in section 1.1 above.

III.2.4) Reserved contracts:

No.

III.3) CONDITIONS SPECIFIC TO SERVICES CONTRACTS
III.3.1) Execution of the service is reserved to a particular profession:

No.

III.3.2) Legal entities should indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff responsible for the execution of the service:

SECTION IV: PROCEDURE

IV.1) TYPE OF PROCEDURE
IV.1.1) Type of procedure:

Restricted.

IV.1.2) Limitations on the number of operators who will be invited to tender or to participate:
IV.1.3) Reduction of the number of operators during the negotiation or dialogue:
IV.2) AWARD CRITERIA
IV.2.1) Award criteria:

The most economically advantageous tender in terms of the criteria stated in the specifications, in the invitation to tender or to negotiate or in the descriptive document.

IV.2.2) An electronic auction will be used:

No.

IV.3) ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
IV.3.1) File reference number attributed by the contracting authority:

PROC 0006.

IV.3.2) Previous publication(s) concerning the same contract:

No.

IV.3.3) Conditions for obtaining specifications and additional documents or descriptive document:

Payable documents: no.

IV.3.4) Time-limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate:

9.1.2009 - 12:00.

IV.3.5) Date of dispatch of invitations to tender or to participate to selected candidates:

4.3.2009.

IV.3.6) Language(s) in which tenders or requests to participate may be drawn up:

English.

IV.3.7) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender:
IV.3.8) Conditions for opening tenders:

SECTION VI: COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

VI.1) THIS IS A RECURRENT PROCUREMENT:

Yes.

Estimated timing for further notices to be published: December 2012.

VI.2) CONTRACT RELATED TO A PROJECT AND/OR PROGRAMME FINANCED BY EU FUNDS:

No.

VI.3) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

A pre-qualification questionnaire will be issued to all organisations that express an interest. In order to be considered the information requested in this questionnaire must be provided. The information will be evaluated and used in the selection of companies for inclusion on a select list of suppliers who will be invited to tender formally for inclusion in the Research Services Framework. Any invitation to tender based on this questionnaire does not imply any acceptance by the OFT of your financial stability, technical competence or ability in any way to carry out the services. We reserve the right to return to these matters as part of the tender evaluation. The pre-qualification questionnaire can be obtained by contacting the awarding authority at the address in 1.1.

VI.4) PROCEDURES FOR APPEAL
VI.4.1) Body responsible for appeal procedures:
VI.4.2) Lodging of appeals:

Precise information on deadline(s) for lodging appeals: The Office of Fair Trading will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point which information on the award of the framework is communicated to tenderers. This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing from the OFT before the framework is entered into. Applicants have two working days from notification of the award decision to request additional debriefing and that information has to be provided a minimum of three working days before the expiry of the standstill period. Such additional information should be required from the OFT Head of Procurement at the address given in Section 1.1. If an appeal regarding the award of a framework has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (Sl 2006 No 5) 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). Any such action must be brought within 3 months. Where a framework has not been entered into the Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or order the authority to amend any document and may award damages. If the framework has been entered into the Court may only award damages.

VI.4.3) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
VI.5) DATE OF DISPATCH OF THIS NOTICE:

25.11.2008.