---
title: "Provision of Methodological Research Services"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-0d8a64f7-a97e-4450-9796-54b75dbdf71f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-0d8a64f7-a97e-4450-9796-54b75dbdf71f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-0d8a64f7-a97e-4450-9796-54b75dbdf71f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-0d8a64f7-a97e-4450-9796-54b75dbdf71f.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Office for National Statistics"
published: "2026-09-04"
---

# Provision of Methodological Research Services

Buyer: Office for National Statistics  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-0d8a64f7-a97e-4450-9796-54b75dbdf71f

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## Summary

The Office for National Statistics commissioned methodological research services to strengthen its capability in official statistics and improve the integrity of statistical outputs and staff skills. The requirement covers expert advice and training on statistical methods and analysis; participation in joint methodological research, reviews and quality assessments; addressing gaps in statistical knowledge and experience; knowledge transfer; and commissioned statistical work. The supplier is also expected to produce agreed written technical reports and code. This is a research and professional advisory service, classified under CPV 73110000 (research services), delivered for the Office for National Statistics in Newport, Wales. The opportunity is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, and concerns services rather than goods or works.

The procurement has been completed and the contract was awarded to Economic Research Services Ltd trading as Fortia Insight on 13 August 2026. The awarded value is £2,000,000. The contract period runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2028. It was conducted as a selective call-off from a framework agreement, with a tender submission deadline of 23 July 2026 at 12:00. The award is active and the overall procurement status is complete. The published information identifies the requirement as a single research services procurement for the Office for National Statistics; the award was made to one supplier for the full stated requirement. The contracting authority’s stated purpose and service specification formed the basis for the selection.

This requirement indicates demand for suppliers able to combine advanced statistical methodology with practical support for a national official statistics organisation. A credible competitor would need experienced statisticians who can advise and train staff, contribute to methodological research, conduct reviews and quality assessments, and improve the reliability and integrity of statistical outputs. It would also need to transfer knowledge effectively, fill capability gaps, undertake commissioned analytical work, and deliver clear technical reports and usable code. The successful supplier demonstrates that the market includes established firms able to provide both consultancy and hands-on research capacity at substantial scale. Organisations preparing for a future requirement should develop evidence of comparable official-statistics or applied-statistics work, strong communication and training capability, robust quality assurance, and the capacity to work collaboratively with the ONS.

## Notice

The key objective of this Contract is to strengthen the capacity of the Contracting Authority by exploiting the best statistical methods for official statistics and to improve the integrity of statistical outputs and the skills of its staff. The Supplier must be able to: Provide high-quality advice and training on statistical methods and analysis. Take part in joint methodological research projects, reviews and quality assessments. Fill the gaps in statistical knowledge and experience within the Contracting Authority and to promote the transfer of knowledge. Undertake commissioned statistical work and provide written technical reports and code as agreed.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/015612ce-7c22-4c06-9bba-7e548be56008 |
| 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 | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 4 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 13 Aug 2026 |
| Contract period | 1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,000,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £2,000,000 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Not specified |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Office for National Statistics |
| Locality | NEWPORT |
| Postcode area | Newport |
| Postcode | NP10 8XG |
| Country | Wales |
| ITL 1 | TLL Wales |
| ITL 2 | TLL5 South East Wales |
| ITL 3 | TLL54 Monmouthshire and Newport |
| Local authority | Newport |
| Electoral ward | Tredegar Park and Marshfield |
| Westminster constituency | Newport West and Islwyn |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | Economic Research Services Limited |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services

## Release History

- 4 Sep 2026 at 15:32 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/015612ce-7c22-4c06-9bba-7e548be56008

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/015612ce-7c22-4c06-9bba-7e548be56008
  4th September 2026 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder

## Notice URLs

- http://www.ons.gov.uk

## Provenance

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