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Preferred Supplier List Refresh 2026/27

Transport Focus

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Oct 2026 at 15:32

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Transport Focus plans to refresh its Preferred Supplier List framework for customer satisfaction research and reporting. The work will support its role representing passengers and road users through evidence-based research. Two areas are envisaged: qualitative research, including focus groups, in-depth interviews, deliberative techniques and ethnography; and quantitative research, including face-to-face, telephone, self-completion, mystery-shopping and online surveys. The buyer is Transport Focus, a public body sponsored by the Department for Transport. The services will support its work across its portfolio in Britain, including rail passengers, bus and tram passengers outside London, domestic coach passengers in England and users of England’s Strategic Roads Network. The procurement is for research services (CPV 73110000).

This process is at the planning stage: Transport Focus has announced its intention to procure, but has not issued an invitation to tender. It expects to run a framework agreement and appoint several suppliers across two lots, for qualitative and quantitative research respectively. The planned procurement is expected in early 2027, with a further notice anticipated on 6 January 2027. The stated contract period is 7 April 2027 to 1 April 2029, with a possible extension to 1 April 2031. The estimated value is £4 million excluding VAT (£4.8 million including VAT). Preliminary market engagement is under way; interested suppliers may register interest and provide optional feedback by 4 December 2026 at 17:00. This engagement is voluntary and is not an application for appointment or a prerequisite for later participation.

The planned framework is relevant to research agencies and consultancies with established customer satisfaction and reporting capabilities. Suppliers focused on qualitative work should be able to demonstrate experience across focus groups, depth interviews, deliberative methods and ethnography. Those focused on quantitative work should be equipped to deliver surveys through face-to-face, telephone, self-completion and online channels, as well as mystery shopping. Transport Focus says it intends to appoint suppliers able to deliver these services across its portfolio, so bidders should be prepared to show relevant research expertise and the capacity to work across varied passenger and road-user groups. Suppliers may use the current market engagement to indicate interest and offer feedback on the proposed requirements; taking part is voluntary and does not determine eligibility for the later procurement.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Preferred Supplier List Refresh 2026/27

Notice Description

Transport Focus is an independent public body and is the operating name of the Passengers' Council, formerly known as the Rail Passengers' Council. It was set up by Parliament to protect the interests of Britain's rail passengers, England's bus and tram passengers outside London and coach passengers on scheduled domestic services in England. In addition to representing passengers, Transport Focus now represents users of the Strategic Roads Network (SRN) in England. We also work closely with Welsh and Scottish Governments. We are an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Transport. Our mission is to get the best deal for passengers and road users. With a strong emphasis on evidence-based campaigning and research, we ensure that we know what is happening on the ground. The purpose of this upcoming procurement exercise is to invite suitably qualified and experienced Suppliers to be listed on the Transport Focus Preferred Supplier List Framework Agreement for Customer Satisfaction and Reporting Services. Planned for early 2027, Transport Focus expects to appoint a number of Suppliers across two (2) Lots to deliver Customer Satisfaction Surveys and Reporting Services across its portfolio. Lot 1 covers qualitative research services; suppliers will need proven expertise in a range of qualitative research techniques including focus groups, depth interviews, deliberative techniques and ethnography. Lot 2 covers quantitative research services; suppliers will need proven expertise in a range of quantitative research techniques, including face-to-face, telephone, self-completion, mystery shopping and online surveys. For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Research-services./ZR8677N683 To respond to this opportunity, please click here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/ZR8677N683

Planning Information

Transport Focus and its procurement partner, eXceeding, are undertaking preliminary market engagement to assess supplier interest in a proposed 'Preferred Supplier List'. Interested suppliers should review the information provided and register their interest by 4 Dec at 17:00 using the following process: - Select Respond in this notice. - Log in to Delta, or register for a free supplier account, and accept the opportunity to register your interest. If the response link does not work, check that it includes the 10-character alphanumeric access code, then enter this code in the Access Code box within Response Manager to access and accept the opportunity. No separate expression of interest form, questionnaire or commercial offer is required at this stage. Suppliers are welcome to submit optional feedback on the proposed requirements or raise questions through the Delta messaging facility by the deadline above. Transport Focus and eXceeding will review the registered interest and any feedback received to inform procurement planning and may seek further clarification where helpful. This notice relates to preliminary market engagement only. Registering interest does not constitute an application for appointment to the Preferred Supplier List. Participation is voluntary and is not a prerequisite for participation in any subsequent procurement.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0792b0
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/102209-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Framework
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

73110000 - Research services

73210000 - Research consultancy services

79300000 - Market and economic research; polling and statistics

79310000 - Market research services

79315000 - Social research services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£4,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Oct 20265 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
6 Jan 20273 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
7 Apr 2027 - 1 Apr 2029 1-2 years
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
Transport Focus
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
E14 4QZ
Postcode Area
East London
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI4 Inner London - East
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI42 Tower Hamlets
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Tower Hamlets
Electoral Ward
Canary Wharf
Westminster Constituency
Poplar and Limehouse

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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