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Provision of Focus Group Services

Office for National Statistics

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

21 Sep 2026 at 14:19

Award Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Office for National Statistics commissioned a single supplier to recruit participants and facilitate focus groups for its market research requirements. This is a market research service, covering focus group recruitment and facilitation rather than the supply of physical goods or construction works. Delivery is in the United Kingdom. The requirement is intended for a specialist research agency able to manage participant recruitment, organise suitable groups and provide professional facilitation for the buyer’s research activities. The procurement is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The selected supplier is based in Cornwall, while the Office for National Statistics is based in Newport, Wales. The work is categorised under CPV 79310000, market research services.

The procurement is complete and was awarded to Thinks Insight and Strategy (Britain Thinks) Limited on 27 August 2026. The award value is £37,610. The contract period runs from 7 September 2026 to 27 November 2026. The requirement was procured through a selective call-off from a framework agreement, with bids due by 17 August 2026 at 12:00. The award covers the full single-supplier requirement for focus group recruitment and facilitation. The award is active, and the recorded contract value and period are the same as those attached to the procurement. The Office for National Statistics is the buying organisation and the successful supplier is a small enterprise.

This award demonstrates demand from the Office for National Statistics for specialist qualitative research support, combining participant recruitment with end-to-end focus group facilitation. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need an established participant-recruitment capability, access to suitable and diverse research audiences, and the capacity to organise groups efficiently across the United Kingdom. It would also need experienced moderators who can facilitate structured discussions professionally and deliver reliable research support to a public-sector client. The successful supplier’s small-enterprise status shows that the requirement can be delivered by a focused specialist rather than only by a large research consultancy. Relevant experience in public-sector or complex market research would strengthen a future response.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Focus Group Services

Notice Description

Provision of a single supplier for the recruitment and facilitation of Focus Groups

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-686e4674-aded-4031-8edb-18935bfca7fb
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/b8b9c4f3-2448-4ee7-8eb2-e63001af76f0
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Call-off from a framework agreement
Tender Suitability
SME
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
£37,610 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£37,610 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
27 Aug 20261 months ago
Contract Period
7 Sep 2026 - 27 Nov 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
Office for National Statistics
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWPORT
Postcode
NP10 8XG
Postcode Area
Newport
Country
Wales
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLL Wales
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLL5 South East Wales
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLL54 Monmouthshire and Newport
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Newport
Electoral Ward
Tredegar Park and Marshfield
Westminster Constituency
Newport West and Islwyn

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Thinks Insight & Strategy

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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