Contract award notice
Results of the procurement procedure
Section I: Contracting
entity
I.1) Name and addresses
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
London
SW1A 2EG
UK
Contact person: Kerry Hart
E-mail: ProfessionalServices@UKSBS.co.uk
NUTS: UK
Internet address(es)
Main address: www.uksbs.co.uk
I.2) Joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
General public services
Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title
1800000.00
Reference number: PS24030
II.1.2) Main CPV code
73000000
II.1.3) Type of contract
Services
II.1.4) Short description
Framework Overview
UKSBS on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) (the Contracting Authority) wishes to establish a framework to procure the Energy and Net Zero Behavioural Science Framework. This Framework will replace the current Energy and Climate Change Behavioural Science Framework.
The current Framework agreement acts as a mechanism for colleagues working across the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to commission small-scale behavioural science research in the energy and net zero space at pace. It has proved very useful thus far; since launching in August 2022, we have already commissioned 15 projects through it for a range of teams across DESNZ and we anticipate this high level of interest to continue.
Due to popular demand, the current framework is set to shortly meet its maximum spend and so we are reprocuring to avoid a period without this mechanism in place.
UK SBS is managing this procurement process in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as may be amended from time to time) (the “Regulations”).
The award of this Framework will be based on 3 Lots:
Lot 1 – Applying innovative behavioural thinking to a policy problem.
Lot 2 – Policy development and testing with the general population.
Lot 3 – Policy development and testing with complex samples.
This Framework will be made accessible for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) (The Contracting Authority) and it is intended that 3 Suppliers will be appointed for each of the Lots detailed above.
Potential bidders / consortia are invited to tender for one or more Lots on an individual basis.
The Framework duration shall be for a maximum period of 5 years.
The Framework is expected to run from June 2024 until 31st June 2027. However, the Contracting Authority will be implementing a break clause within the Framework, placed at the end of June 2028 and June 2029. The break clause will enable the Contracting Authority to ensure that Government priorities and budget availability are still aligned. Therefore, this Framework is being let on a 3, +1, +1 basis.
The break clauses must be formally instructed by the Contracting Authority prior to moving into the next year of the Framework Agreement.
The Framework will have a maximum value cap of £1,800,000.00 across the full potential duration.
II.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots:
Yes
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement
Value excluding VAT:
1 800 000.00
GBP
II.2) Description
Lot No: 1
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 1: Applying innovative behavioural thinking to a policy problem.
Energy & Net Zero policy often faces new difficult problems which require original perspectives. These might be knotty complex problems and cut across a range of policy areas which would benefit from joined up thinking and taking a wide perspective. It may also be useful to further understand the behavioural processes or unintended consequences which affect green choices (e.g. social identity, co-benefits).
Projects like this would require thinking innovatively and challenging existing thinking or approaches. This might involve approaches such as: applying behavioural models, evidence and techniques in new ways; drawing from other fields to inform behavioural problems; or bringing new theoretical or methodological perspectives to the issue. Example projects could be drawing on historical or international trends to outline potential behavioural impacts of future events; anticipating any behavioural spillover effects of green choices; and understanding the impact of uncertainty relating to future Net Zero policies on green choices.
We would generally not expect these projects to involve primary research. Instead, they may include workshops (generally online or in person) and/or reviewing the literature to provide a behavioural perspective. Ideally, they should bring together a range of experts (e.g. from academia) to work on these problems innovatively and progress our thinking.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 2
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 2: Policy development and testing with the general population.
This lot includes two requirements: (a) understanding end users to inform policy development and (b) testing the impact of policy proposals.
For (a), research will focus on policy areas in early stages of development which require further understanding and engaging the general population. This will require translating problems into behavioural terms, conducting primary and/or secondary research and applying behavioural analysis to the findings (e.g. barriers analysis, consumer journey mapping, solution generation). This could include qualitative research, quantitative research, or mixed methods. This should be able to cover owner occupiers and tenants across a range of ages, environmental views and heating types. Note that projects may require additional small components with other samples too (e.g. stakeholder interviews). We would expect these projects to draw on the findings to present a range of behavioural solutions to the issues raised to help inform the design and delivery of policy.
For (b), research will focus on policy areas in later stages of development that might need to test policy proposals or behavioural interventions to identify their potential impact at scale. This could include trialling different communication and implementation techniques or experiments to test the impact of different policy ideas against each other. This will likely require experimental methods or qualitative / user testing if experimental methods are inappropriate. Experimental research might involve randomised controlled trials and/or quasi-experimental methods, although they may have to be conducted online given the rapid nature of the framework. We may also ask the supplier to provide expert behavioural review of policy proposals or provide expert advice such as developing methodologies to support testing of behavioural interventions.
For quantitative research (both surveys and experiments), suppliers should be able to draw on random probability samples, which are the default requirement for projects. Alternatives such as adding questions to omnibus surveys and quota samples will occasionally be considered where appropriate for individual projects. We ask that bidders detail their sampling approaches in their application, including detailed information on panels and their risk of bias.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Lot No: 3
II.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
73000000
II.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS code:
UK
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Lot 3: Policy development and testing with complex samples.
This lot includes the same two requirements as Lot 2: (a) understanding end users to inform policy development and (b) testing the impact of policy proposals, but specifically focuses on complex and hard to reach samples.
For (a), the research will focus on policy areas in early stages of development which require further understanding and engaging with complex and hard to reach groups. This will require translating problems into behavioural terms, conducting primary and/or secondary research and applying behavioural analysis to the findings (e.g. barriers analysis, consumer journey mapping, solution generation). This could include qualitative research, quantitative research, or mixed methods. We expect suppliers to be able to sample from a range of groups, including SMEs, large businesses, installers, private landlords, and owner occupiers and tenants who are harder to reach (e.g. individuals with disabilities, digitally excluded). This would include being able to work with sampling frames provided by the Contracting Authority and the ability to contact match and address match.
For (b), the research will focus on policy areas in later stages of development that might need to test policy proposals or behavioural interventions to identify their potential impact at scale. This could include trialling different communication and implementation techniques or experiments to test the impact of different policy ideas against each other. This will likely require experimental methods or qualitative / user testing if experimental methods are inappropriate or difficult given sampling requirements. Experimental research might involve randomised controlled trials and/or quasi-experimental methods, although they may have to be conducted online given the rapid nature of the framework. This could also involve providing expert behavioural review of policy proposals or providing expert advice such as developing methodologies to support testing of behavioural interventions.
For quantitative research (both surveys and experiments), suppliers should be able to draw on random probability samples, which are the default requirement for projects. Alternatives such as adding questions to omnibus surveys and quota samples will occasionally be considered where appropriate for individual projects. We ask that bidders detail their sampling approaches in their application, including detailed information on panels and their risk of bias.
II.2.5) Award criteria
Price
II.2.11) Information about options
Options:
No
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds:
No
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
IV.1.8) Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement:
Yes
IV.2) Administrative information
IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number in the OJ S:
2024/S 000-006301
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: Lot 1 and 2
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
07/08/2024
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 31
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Behavioural Insights Ltd
08567792
London
EC4Y 0DS
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
Yes
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 1 800 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1, 2 and 3
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
07/08/2024
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 31
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Verian UK Ltd
London
SW1P 3JA
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 1 800 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: 1 and 3
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
07/08/2024
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 31
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Ipsos (Market Research) Ltd
00948470
London
E1W 1YW
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 1 800 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section V: Award of contract
Lot No: Lot 2 and 3
A contract/lot is awarded:
Yes
V.2 Award of contract
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
07/08/2024
V.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 31
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators:
No
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
National Centre for Social Research
04392418
London
EC1V 0AX
UK
NUTS: UK
The contractor is an SME:
No
V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot:
: 1 800 000.00
GBP
V.2.5) Information about subcontracting
Section VI: Complementary information
VI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
UK Shared Business Services Ltd
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1FF
UK
Internet address(es)
URL: www.uksbs.co.uk
VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
UK Shared Business Services Ltd
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon
SN2 1FF
UK
E-mail: ProfessionalServices@UKSBS.co.uk
VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice
14/08/2024