Planning

Communications Research Call off Contract

DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

30 Aug 2024 at 15:20

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) Group Communications is seeking to initiate a call-off contract for communications research services. The procurement process, currently in the planning stage, aims to commission suppliers to support the delivery of research and evaluation activities for a broad range of communications strategies across various Defra policy areas. The contract will be split into three lots: Qualitative Research (£550,000), Quantitative Research (£800,000), and Public Polling (£150,000), with a maximum budget of £1.5 million over an initial two-year period starting April 2025, with the possibility of a one-year extension. Key dates include the publication of the Prior Information Notice on 30th August 2024, a supplier engagement event in October 2024, and the initiation of the contract on 1st April 2025.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses specialising in market research services, particularly those capable of conducting both qualitative and quantitative research or public polling. Companies with expertise in understanding target audiences, testing communications strategies, and evaluating policy impacts will find this tender an excellent opportunity to grow their business. Ideal candidates include firms experienced in working with UK-based and international audiences across diverse sectors, such as agriculture, veterinary services, local authorities, and NGOs. This procurement offers a robust platform for market research companies to showcase their capabilities and secure substantial contracts in a competitive environment.

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Notice Title

Communications Research Call off Contract

Notice Description

We commission and undertake research to inform the development of communications activities and evaluate their impact. Research is vital in understanding our audiences and providing insight to increase the effectiveness of our communications, as well as to measure impact.<br/>Our aim is to create a call-off contract through which we will commission suppliers to work as research partners and support us in the delivery of insight activity to inform and evaluate our communications - including low/no cost activity as well as paid-for marketing campaigns. This will span the following:<br/>1. Generate a greater understanding of our target audiences, including most appropriate channels, language and tone when communicating with them on a wide range of Defra policies and announcements.<br/>2. Understand awareness, understanding and perceptions of policies, announcements and activities amongst our target audiences.<br/>3. Identify barriers and levers to behaviour change among relevant audiences.<br/>4. Test messaging and visual assets with audiences to inform and improve communications strategies and targeting.<br/>5. Evaluate the impact of communications strategies a wide range of policy areas.<br/>We work with a wide range of audiences in the UK and internationally. We will require research suppliers who can conduct research with specific local and sector audiences in addition to the general public (for example, our key audiences include but are not limited to farmers and landowners, pet owners, veterinarians, local authorities and NGOs).

Lot Information

Public Polling

We commission and undertake research to inform the development of communications activities and evaluate their impact. Research is vital in understanding our audiences and providing insight to increase the effectiveness of our communications, as well as to measure impact.
Our aim is to create a call-off contract through which we will commission suppliers to work as research partners and support us in the delivery of insight activity to inform and evaluate our communications - including low/no cost activity as well as paid-for marketing campaigns. This will span the following:
1. Generate a greater understanding of our target audiences, including most appropriate channels, language and tone when communicating with them on a wide range of Defra policies and announcements.
2. Understand awareness, understanding and perceptions of policies, announcements and activities amongst our target audiences.
3. Identify barriers and levers to behaviour change among relevant audiences.
4. Test messaging and visual assets with audiences to inform and improve communications strategies and targeting.
5. Evaluate the impact of communications strategies a wide range of policy areas.
We work with a wide range of audiences in the UK and internationally. We will require research suppliers who can conduct research with specific local and sector audiences in addition to the general public (for example, our key audiences include but are not limited to farmers and landowners, pet owners, veterinarians, local authorities and NGOs).

Qualitative Research

We commission and undertake research to inform the development of communications activities and evaluate their impact. Research is vital in understanding our audiences and providing insight to increase the effectiveness of our communications, as well as to measure impact.
Our aim is to create a call-off contract through which we will commission suppliers to work as research partners and support us in the delivery of insight activity to inform and evaluate our communications - including low/no cost activity as well as paid-for marketing campaigns. This will span the following:
1. Generate a greater understanding of our target audiences, including most appropriate channels, language and tone when communicating with them on a wide range of Defra policies and announcements.
2. Understand awareness, understanding and perceptions of policies, announcements and activities amongst our target audiences.
3. Identify barriers and levers to behaviour change among relevant audiences.
4. Test messaging and visual assets with audiences to inform and improve communications strategies and targeting.
5. Evaluate the impact of communications strategies a wide range of policy areas.
We work with a wide range of audiences in the UK and internationally. We will require research suppliers who can conduct research with specific local and sector audiences in addition to the general public (for example, our key audiences include but are not limited to farmers and landowners, pet owners, veterinarians, local authorities and NGOs).

Quantitative Research

We commission and undertake research to inform the development of communications activities and evaluate their impact. Research is vital in understanding our audiences and providing insight to increase the effectiveness of our communications, as well as to measure impact.
Our aim is to create a call-off contract through which we will commission suppliers to work as research partners and support us in the delivery of insight activity to inform and evaluate our communications - including low/no cost activity as well as paid-for marketing campaigns. This will span the following:
1. Generate a greater understanding of our target audiences, including most appropriate channels, language and tone when communicating with them on a wide range of Defra policies and announcements.
2. Understand awareness, understanding and perceptions of policies, announcements and activities amongst our target audiences.
3. Identify barriers and levers to behaviour change among relevant audiences.
4. Test messaging and visual assets with audiences to inform and improve communications strategies and targeting.
5. Evaluate the impact of communications strategies a wide range of policy areas.
We work with a wide range of audiences in the UK and internationally. We will require research suppliers who can conduct research with specific local and sector audiences in addition to the general public (for example, our key audiences include but are not limited to farmers and landowners, pet owners, veterinarians, local authorities and NGOs).

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0496ee
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/027812-2024
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

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
£1,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
30 Aug 20241 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
29 Aug 2024Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL
Contact Name
katie thompson
Contact Email
katie.thompson@defra.gov.uk
Contact Phone
+44 00000000000

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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    "description": "Overview of the Authority<br/><br/>Defra Group Communications is a team of over 200 communications professionals spread across 35 locations around the country working together to help build a green and healthy future. We are the only communications team across Whitehall that offers a genuine group-wide shared service, delivering communications on behalf of Defra and five Arm's Length Bodies: Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Environment Agency, Natural England, Forestry Commission, and Rural Payments Agency.<br/>We provide communications across a wide range of policy areas, for example including (but not limited to): <br/>* Water, including demonstrating government is taking tough action on water companies and cleaning up rivers, lakes and seas.<br/>* Farming and food security, including increasing engagement with farming schemes and grants.<br/>* Waste, including supporting industry and consumers to reduce waste as part of creating a roadmap to a zero-waste economy.<br/>* Nature recovery, including demonstrating government commitment and action on creating and enhancing habitat.<br/>* Flooding, including promoting action to protect communities from flooding and raise awareness of flood prevention measures amongst the public. <br/>* Biosecurity, including increasing awareness and adherence to good biosecurity practice to reduce the risk of disease impacts.<br/><br/>Background to the Requirement<br/><br/>We commission and undertake research to inform the development of communications activities and evaluate their impact. 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