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PS26168 - Audit of internet services

UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

28 Jul 2026 at 10:49

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

UK Shared Business Services Limited procured specialist research and consultancy services to audit internet services that host pornography. The work was intended to test whether auditing and reporting could help government address the online/offline parity gap. It covers gathering robust evidence about the availability of specified types of pornographic content across different internet services and the compliance challenges observed; assessing how audits could operate in practice, including technical considerations; identifying reliable information, risks and constraints; testing whether the approach could work consistently across a diverse, high-volume online market; and supporting ministerial decisions about possible auditing functions. The service was delivered in London and falls within research, development and market research services.

This procurement has been awarded and is complete. The contract was awarded to the British Board of Film Classification on 10 July 2026 for £200,000. The contract period runs from 20 July 2026 to 14 October 2026. The procurement used a selective procedure through a call-off from a dynamic purchasing system, specifically CCS Research & Insights DPS RM6126. The tender submission deadline was 1 July 2026 at 11:00. UK Shared Business Services Limited acted as the buying organisation. The requirement was classified primarily as research and development and related consultancy services, with market research as an additional classification. It was identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

For suppliers that did not win this award, the requirement demonstrates demand for independent evidence and practical testing in the regulation of online pornography services. A credible future competitor would need capability in structured auditing and reporting across varied internet services, including the technical ability to gather and validate evidence about content availability and apparent compliance. It would also need to assess audit risks and limitations, test methods at scale in a diverse, high-volume market, and turn findings into clear policy advice. Relevant strengths include market research, research and development, internet-service analysis, compliance assessment and concise reporting that can support ministerial or senior government decisions. Small and medium-sized businesses were considered suitable for this type of work.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

PS26168 - Audit of internet services

Notice Description

Description ***** THIS IS AN AWARD NOTICE, NOT A CALL FOR COMPETITION ***** This contract has been awarded on CCS Research & Insights DPS RM6126. Brief Description To test the feasibility, effectiveness and scalability of auditing and reporting functions for an auditor of internet services that host pornography in order to inform the government's options to close the online/offline parity gap. * Generate evidence: Produce robust findings on the availability of certain types of pornographic content on a variety of internet services and the apparent compliance challenges to inform policy decisions. * Assess feasibility: Evaluate how auditing of internet services could operate in practice, including technical considerations. * Test capability and limitations: Identify what information can be reliably gathered through audits, including any risks and constraints. * Explore scalability: Assess whether the auditing approach can be applied consistently across a diverse and high-volume online market. * Inform parity options: Provide insight to support ministerial decisions on how the government should most effectively close the online/offline parity gap and whether to pursue an auditing function as part of the response.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-00143044-482e-4240-9eab-8a987207307e
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/10b5f798-ad2e-4d53-a56d-5833e02b7b7a
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Dynamic
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a dynamic purchasing system
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

79310000 - Market research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£200,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
10 Jul 20262 months ago
Contract Period
20 Jul 2026 - 14 Oct 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
UK SHARED BUSINESS SERVICES LIMITED
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
SWINDON
Postcode
SN2 1FF
Postcode Area
Swindon
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK7 Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK71 Swindon
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Swindon
Electoral Ward
Rodbourne Cheney
Westminster Constituency
Swindon North

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

British Board of Film Classification

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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