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Independent Policy Impact Assessment of Research Influence

York St John University

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Jul 2026 at 11:52

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

York St John University is preparing to commission independent policy impact assessment and research evaluation services in York. The work will assess how university research has influenced domestic and international policy, and the resulting social, health, educational and economic effects. The anticipated scope includes reviewing policy documents and research outputs, developing and applying an assessment methodology, evaluating downstream impacts, producing an independent evidence-based report, and engaging stakeholders where needed to substantiate impact claims. The procurement is for specialist research consultancy, economic impact assessment and evaluation consultancy services. The University is seeking approaches suitable for the higher education sector, including methods that can measure and evidence research influence on policy development and implementation.

This process is at the planning stage and is pre-market engagement, not a call for competition or an invitation to tender. York St John University expects to use market feedback to refine the specification, delivery model and future procurement approach. The engagement is scheduled to seek responses by 14 August 2026, with possible written responses, market sessions, one-to-one discussions and demonstrations. A future contract is currently planned for 1 October to 31 December 2026, with an estimated value of £10,000 excluding VAT (£12,000 including VAT). There is one planned lot. The University is seeking feedback on methodologies, evidence sources, delivery timescales, risks, team expertise, indicative pricing and best practice; participation is voluntary and will not affect any future evaluation.

This engagement is suited to research consultancies, policy evaluation specialists, economists and independent analysts with demonstrable experience assessing policy impact and the influence of university research. Relevant suppliers should be able to design robust methodologies, analyse policy documents and research outputs, assess social, health, educational and economic outcomes, and produce clear evidence suitable for institutional reporting, impact evaluation and future research assessment exercises. The University is particularly interested in experience from the UK and European policy environments, UK higher education, REF impact, UK Government policy, EU policy and public policy evaluation. Teams should be ready to describe up to three comparable projects delivered in the last five years, relevant personnel and qualifications, evidence sources, delivery dependencies and alternative pricing models.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Independent Policy Impact Assessment of Research Influence

Notice Description

York St John University (YSJ) is preparing to procure specialist support to deliver an Independent Policy Impact Assessment of Research Influence. The University wishes to commission an independent assessment of the impact of research undertaken at York St John University which has subsequently been cited within domestic and international policy frameworks. The purpose of the assessment is to evaluate the influence of this research and provide an evidence-based review of the resulting social, health, educational and economic impacts arising from policy adoption and implementation. This pre-market engagement exercise is intended to inform the development of a future procurement and ensure that any Invitation to Tender (ITT) reflects current best practice, innovation and market capability. Indicative scope of requirement While requirements continue to be refined, the University anticipates that the appointed partner will support: - Review and assessment of identified policy documents and associated research outputs. - Development and application of an appropriate methodology to assess policy influence and downstream impacts. - Evaluation of social, health, educational and economic effects arising from research-informed policy outcomes. - Production of an independent report detailing findings, methodology, evidence sources and conclusions. - Stakeholder engagement, where appropriate, to substantiate impact claims and evidence pathways to impact. The University is particularly interested in hearing from organisations and consultants with demonstrable experience of policy impact assessment within the UK and European policy environments and experience of evaluating the impact of university-led research. Purpose of this engagement This pre-market engagement exercise is designed to: - Test the University's current assumptions about delivery approach and scope. - Understand what represents standard practice in policy impact assessment and evaluation. - Identify innovative approaches, tools and methodologies emerging in the market. - Explore delivery models appropriate to the UK Higher Education context. - Understand indicative pricing models and likely costs associated with delivery. - Ensure any eventual ITT reflects practical, implementable and market-aligned requirements. The University is particularly interested in understanding available methodologies, supplier capability, indicative delivery timescales and expected costs associated with conducting an independent assessment of research impact on public policy. Insights gathered will directly inform the final specification and procurement approach. Engagement activities During the engagement period, the University may: *Invite suppliers to submit written responses or position statements *Hold market engagement sessions or one-to-one discussions *Request demonstrations of relevant methodologies, frameworks or tools Participation is entirely voluntary and will not influence any future procurement evaluation. How to participate As part of this pre-market engagement exercise, suppliers are invited to provide responses to the following: 1. Relevant Experience Please provide brief details of up to three comparable projects delivered within the last five years involving: - Policy impact assessment. - Evaluation of research influence on policy development. - Assessment of social, economic, health or educational impacts arising from research. 2. Proposed Methodology How would you approach the assessment of university research cited within domestic and international policy? - What methodologies, frameworks or evaluation models would you typically apply? - What evidence sources would you expect to utilise? 3. Delivery Approach - What information and support would you require from the University? - What are the key risks and dependencies associated with this type of project? - What would you consider to be a realistic delivery timescale? 4. Expertise - Please outline the relevant experience and qualifications of the personnel/team who would be involved in delivering the work. - Please highlight any specific expertise relating to UK Higher Education, REF impact, UK Government policy, EU policy or public policy evaluation. 5. Indicative Pricing - Please provide an indicative fee range for delivering the scope described within this notice. Please state the assumptions that underpin this estimate. - If applicable, please identify alternative pricing models that may be available. 6. Market Feedback - Are there any aspects of the proposed scope that you believe should be refined, expanded or reduced? - What would you consider to represent industry best practice for this type of assessment? Suppliers wishing to participate should submit their responses by email to procurement@yorksj.ac.uk with the subject line: "PME Response - Policy Impact Assessment" Further details regarding timelines and engagement activities will be shared with registered participants when available. Important notice This notice is issued solely for the purpose of pre-market engagement. It: *Does not constitute a call for competition *Does not form part of any procurement process *Does not commit the University to undertake any future procurement The intention is to ensure that any future procurement is well-informed, proportionate and aligned to market capability.

Planning Information

Engagement process description The University's objective is to establish an effective and proportionate approach for assessing the impact of university research that has informed policy development within the UK and internationally. This includes strengthening the University's ability to: - Measure and evidence the influence of research on policy development and implementation. - Assess the wider social, health, educational and economic outcomes linked to policy adoption. - Obtain robust independent analysis suitable for institutional reporting, impact evaluation and future research assessment exercises. The University is seeking market insight to inform how this requirement can best be delivered, including approaches, methodologies and innovations that are aligned to the Higher Education sector.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06d51b
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/071149-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement 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

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

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

CPV Codes

73210000 - Research consultancy services

79311410 - Economic impact assessment

79419000 - Evaluation consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£10,000 Under £100K
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Jul 20262 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Dec 2026 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
York St John University
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
YORK
Postcode
YO31 7EX
Postcode Area
York
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLE Yorkshire and The Humber
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLE2 North Yorkshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLE21 York
Delivery Location
TLE21 York
Local Authority
York
Electoral Ward
Guildhall
Westminster Constituency
York Central

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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