PS21034 - Framework for Consumer Research on Product Safety Standard Issues

The final date and time for the submission of bids is Thursday 2nd September 2021 at 11:00

DO NOT apply directly to the buyer.

UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) on behalf of The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), wishes to establish a Framework for the provision of Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) Strategic Research Programme.

UK SBS is managing this procurement process in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) (the "Regulations").

The duration of this Framework will be 48 Months (From award until Friday 3rd October 2025).

It is intended that there will be 3 suppliers awarded to this Framework. These awarded suppliers will be ranked 1st 2nd and 3rd based of the scores awarded from this completion of this procurement.

Background:

This contract is being commissioned as part of the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) Strategic Research Programme. OPSS was established by BEIS in January 2018 in order to enhance protections for consumers and drive forward increased productivity, growth and business confidence. The OPSS strategic research programme provides high quality, strategic, science-based research to strengthen the evidence base for OPSS policy development, delivery and enforcement.

In recent months it has been necessary to seek consumer insight on a number of issues such as the recall of large white goods and purchase and use of certain consumer products in relation to Covid-19. It is expected that further issues will arise where consumer insight can help shape the OPSS response. In addition to this OPSS has recently taken on regulation of construction products, presenting a new research area where consumer insight could add value.

Please ensure you review all attached information to ensure a full understanding of this requirement. All attachments can be found with the Document Uploads tab within the Delta eSourcing Portal.

This contract will be awarded based on the evaluation criteria set out in the RFP document.

How to apply:

UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) will be using the Delta eSourcing Portal for this procurement.

To register on the Delta eSourcing portal please use the link https://delta-esourcing.com and follow the instructions to register.

If you are already registered on the Delta eSourcing Portal and wish to participate in this procurement, please use the link https://delta-esourcing.com and then follow the instructions to 'Login'.

Once you are logged into the system you will be able to link yourself into this procurement using the Access code: EJ34ZD9MFR

Please disregard any content in this notice that requests your organisation 'to apply directly to the buyer' as this is unfortunately a system generated error, that is outside of the Contracting Authorities control.

Additional information: DO NOT APPLY DIRECTLY TO BUYER

The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement. All submissions will be assessed in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, for procurement values that exceed Regulation 5 (Threshold amounts).

Responses must be received by the date in the tender documentation; responses received outside of the deadline or not sent via the Delta eSourcing portal will not be accepted or considered further for this opportunity. As a user of the Delta eSourcing Portal you will have access to the Delta messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific tender event. Please note it is your responsibility to access these messages on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information applicable to this opportunity.

The contracting authority expressly reserves the right: i. not to award any contract as a result of the procurement process commenced by publication of this notice; and ii. to make whatever changes it may see fit to the content and structure of the procurement; and in no circumstances will the contracting authority be liable for any costs incurred by any supplier. If the contracting authority decides to enter into a contract with the successful supplier, this does not mean that there is any guarantee of subsequent contracts being awarded. Any expenditure, work or effort undertaken prior to contract award is accordingly a matter solely for the commercial judgement of bidders.

UK Shared Business Services Ltd wishes to establish an agreement for use by the following UK public sector bodies (and any future successors to these organisations) UK Research and Innovation UK Shared Business Services Ltd are able to accept unstructured electronic invoicing.

The sourcing documents can be accessed using the instructions detailed in I.3

The sourcing documents can be accessed at: www.delta-esourcing.com. Access Code is: EJ34ZD9MFR

Closing date and time for Bidder to request RFP documents: 02/09/2021 @ 10:00hrs BST

Closing date and time for Bidder to submit their response ('the deadline'): 02/09/2021 @ 11:00hrs BST

This contract has not been sub-divided into lots as there is only one delivery locations and therefore lots are not appropriate