Award

Search services prevalence research - sale of prohibited items

OFCOM

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

12 Apr 2023 at 09:45

Summary of the contracting process

OFCOM has awarded a contract for "Search services prevalence research - sale of prohibited items" to Public Group International Ltd. The contract falls under market research services with a value of £108,000. The procurement method used was 'Other - Under threshold - sub - OJEU competitive procurement'. The tender period ended on 20th February 2023, with the contract period running from 21st March 2023 to 30th July 2023. The project is located in London, United Kingdom, with a focus on preventing the sale of prohibited items via online search services.

This tender by OFCOM presents opportunities for businesses in the services sector, especially those involved in market research. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are well-suited to compete. By engaging in this tender, businesses can contribute to improving online safety measures related to the sale of prohibited items, as outlined in the Online Safety Bill. The contract allows for a significant research opportunity to assess the prevalence and accessibility of content offering prohibited items via search services in the UK.

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Notice Title

Search services prevalence research - sale of prohibited items

Notice Description

Ofcom has a requirement for research that will generate a robust evidence base regarding the existence, prevalence and ease of access to content that contains an apparent offer to sell or supply a range of prohibited items or articles, accessible via online search services. Specifically, we are interested in content that contains an apparent offer to sell or supply: - Prohibited knives/bladed weapons; - Prohibited offensive weapons (not bladed); - Controlled drugs; - Psychoactive substances; and/or - Articles used in the commission of fraud. The sale or supply of these items or articles may relate to a series of 'Priority Offences' contained within Schedule 7 of the Online Safety Bill. Under the Bill, search services have a duty to take or use proportionate measures relating to the design or operation of the service to: (a) prevent individuals from encountering priority illegal content by means of the service; and (b) effectively mitigate and manage the risk of the service being used for the commission or facilitation of a priority offence, as identified in the most recent illegal content risk assessment of the service. By understanding how accessible this content is to UK users via search services, Ofcom should be able to more accurately reflect the scale and type of risks relevant to these platforms in the upcoming Register of Risk, codes of practice and industry guidance, and to recommend suitable mitigations.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-3a8d1456-fd98-4acb-91c2-c611648b8135
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/65202f13-2bfc-4a37-8c56-bc3faa305672
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Other - Under threshold - sub - OJEU competitive procurement
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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


CPV Codes

79310000 - Market research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£108,000 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£108,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Apr 20232 years ago
Submission Deadline
20 Feb 2023Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
14 Mar 20232 years ago
Contract Period
21 Mar 2023 - 30 Jul 2023 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
OFCOM
Contact Name
Hayley Watson
Contact Email
hayley.watson@ofcom.org.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SE1 9HA
Post Town
South East London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark
Delivery Location
TLI London

Local Authority
Southwark
Electoral Ward
Borough & Bankside
Westminster Constituency
Bermondsey and Old Southwark

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PUBLIC GROUP INTERNATIONAL

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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