RM1043.9-4-Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

Tender description

Summary of the work: GDS Product and Services requires a supplier to recruit research participants for user research across the United Kingdom. The service will support remote and in-person qualitative and quantitative research for digital products and services. Individual research briefs will confirm participant profiles, screening criteria, numbers, locations, accessibility needs, research format and timetable. Organisation the work is for: Government Digital Service (GDS), within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Latest start date: 2026-12-01 Expected contract length: 1-00-00 Expected contract structure: Initial contract term of 12 months, with an option to extend for a further 12 months using any remaining contractual budget, subject to the necessary approvals. Estimated contract value (excl VAT): 100000 Why the work is being done: GDS Product and Services teams need suitable research participants to test and improve digital products and services. The contract will provide flexible UK-wide participant recruitment, including remote and in-person research and harder-to-reach participants or people with accessibility needs. Individual research briefs will confirm the participant profile, research dates and recruitment deadline. Proposed supplier start date: 1 December 2026, subject to completion of the procurement and contract signature Work done so far: Budget and Approval to Procure have been obtained. Search and Save and early market engagement have been completed. Stage 1 shortlisting criteria and the Stage 2 practical assessment have been prepared. Incumbent supplier: No Studio location: The primary requirement is participant recruitment. However, the supplier must have access to a network of suitable research studio facilities that GDS can book through the supplier when required. Locations will vary depending on individual research requirements. Studio availability: Studio requirements will vary by research project. Individual research briefs will confirm the required dates, location and availability. The supplier must be able to arrange suitable studio facilities when required. Studio facilities: Where studio facilities are required, they must be suitable for the individual research project and accessible to participants. Specific facility and accessibility requirements will be confirmed in the individual research brief. Participant requirements: Participant profiles will vary by project. They may include members of the public, business users and sole traders; users and non-users of government digital services; people at different life stages; people with low digital confidence or limited digital access; people who speak English as a second language; younger or older people; and specialist, vulnerable or harder-to-reach groups. Some briefs will require participants with accessibility needs or who use assistive technology. The supplier must maintain an up-to-date record of participants recruited for GDS research. Participants who have taken part in research within the previous six months, or in the same or similar research, may need to be excluded. Exact eligibility, screening and exclusions will be confirmed in each research brief or screener. Research schedule and participants: There will not be a fixed number of research rounds. Demand will vary and several recruitment exercises may run concurrently. A typical qualitative round may require approximately 6 to 8 participants, with reserves where required. Quantitative studies may require larger samples. Research may occasionally take place during weekday evenings or weekends. Participant location: Research may take place remotely or in person across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Locations may include GDS offices in London, Bristol and Manchester, research studios, libraries, community or charity premises, neutral venues or participants' homes. Each research brief will confirm the required location and environment. Access restrictions at location: GDS will aim to use suitable, safe and accessible venues. Government offices may require advance visitor information, identification or security access. The supplier must identify accessibility or support needs during recruitment and raise any access issues promptly. Where GDS offices are not being used, the supplier may be required to identify and book an appropriate accessible venue. Preliminary market engagement: DSIT completed early market engagement in October 2026. Four suppliers responded. Feedback indicated that the service is deliverable and requested greater clarity around participant profiles, harder-to-reach groups, locations, demand, lead times, incentives and participant support. The requirement has been refined following this feedback. Working arrangements: GDS will issue an individual research brief for each requirement. The supplier will confirm feasibility, approach, timetable and cost before recruitment begins. The supplier must provide progress updates and raise risks promptly. The supplier will suggest appropriate and proportionate participant incentives. Travel costs will not normally be payable. Other participant support costs, such as carer costs, will be considered individually depending on the research requirement and must be agreed with GDS in advance.