Economic research services

Tender description

A framework is required for the provision of specialist consultancy advice relating to economic and social research. The framework has been divided into the following broad lots: Lot 1 — Social and Economic Research and Analysis Related to Competition and Consumer Policy. Lot 2 — Combining Social and Economic Research and Analysis with Market Research in Relation to Competition and Consumer Policy and Regulation Lot 3 — Behavioural Economics and Psychological Research and Training Lot 4 — Statistical and Econometric Service and Analysis Related to Competition and Consumer Policy and Enforcement and Regulation Lot 5 — Industry & Market Specific Research and Technical Analysis Lot 6 — Provision of Specialist Advice relating to Research, Evaluation and the Economics of Industrial Organisations Lot 7 — Specialist Academic Advice Relating to Competition and Regulatory Economics Lot 8 — Specialist Advice Relating to Competition and Regulatory Finance and Accounting. This lot will cover all aspects of social and economic research related to competition and consumer policy and regulation. Framework Providers in this lot will provide economic research and analysis that takes the CMA beyond the existing academic literature and enables the CMA to enhance its understanding, application and evaluation of competition and consumer policy and enforcement and regulation. This lot will cover areas where economic research and analysis related to competition and consumer policy and regulation is combined with market research and analysis. Bidders for this lot will be required to demonstrate: — Expertise and knowledge base to assist the CMA in remaining at the ‘cutting edge’ of underlying economic theories, technical analysis and remedy design when new issues and challenges are identified in different areas of competition and consumer policy and enforcement and regulation. — Ability to conduct economic research in the areas of competition and consumer policy that is of practical use and accessible by non-specialists. — Ability to combine economic research and analysis with market research and analysis (either as the provider or the commissioner of market research). Good understanding of the UK and European competition and/or consumer law framework and case law may also be required. This lot will cover all research that focusses on understanding the way in which businesses and consumers use information and make decisions and its implications for competition and consumer policy. Bidders for this lot will be required to demonstrate: — Specialist knowledge of behavioural economics and psychological research and ability to provide advice and support on emerging academic theory in these areas. — Knowledge base to assist the CMA in understanding how businesses and consumers behave and make decisions, particularly in the context of developing competition and consumer enforcement strategy and policy. — Knowledge and experience of designing and conducting experimental research. This lot will cover the provision of statistical and econometric service and analysis to support the CMA in its work related to consumer and competition policy and enforcement and regulation. Suppliers will be asked either to provide statistical and econometric analysis or to review and improve the statistical or econometric analysis of others. Bidders for this lot will be required to demonstrate: — Expertise in statistical and econometric techniques and ability to provide statistical and econometric analysis to support the economic analysis of the CMA in various cases and projects. — Knowledge and experience of micro-econometric modelling of demand for the purposes of market definition e.g. in Competition Act cases. — Knowledge and experience of conjoint analysis, sampling of obscure populations and synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of data obtained from a number of independent survey exercises. This lot will cover all aspects of industrial and market-specific research and technical analysis that supports the CMA in achieving a better understanding of the dynamics of a specific market and its participants in the context of merger control, market studies, market investigations and competition and consumer enforcement. This lot will cover areas where the CMA needs specialist advice on different aspects of economic research and evaluation and the economics of industrial organisations in relation to these areas. Suppliers will be asked either to provide such advice or to review and critique the work of others in these areas. This lot will cover all aspects of competition and regulatory economics, including applied economics. Framework Providers in this lot will provide advice and support to CMA staff on a range of issues. This lot will cover all aspects of competition and regulatory finance and accounting. Framework Providers in this lot will provide authoritative peer review, guidance and advice to CMA staff on a range of issues across the CMA's case load.