--- title: "Fake reviews: Understanding Prevalence and Consumer Harm" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-1bd19f4c-9392-445c-84c6-4af99a83a3b8" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1bd19f4c-9392-445c-84c6-4af99a83a3b8" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1bd19f4c-9392-445c-84c6-4af99a83a3b8.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1bd19f4c-9392-445c-84c6-4af99a83a3b8.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "BUSINESS ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY" published: "2022-05-18" --- # Fake reviews: Understanding Prevalence and Consumer Harm Buyer: BUSINESS ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-1bd19f4c-9392-445c-84c6-4af99a83a3b8 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1bd19f4c-9392-445c-84c6-4af99a83a3b8) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1bd19f4c-9392-445c-84c6-4af99a83a3b8.json) ## Summary The Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is in the planning stage of a tender titled "Fake reviews: Understanding Prevalence and Consumer Harm." This procurement process is focused on research and experimental development services and will take place in London, United Kingdom. A key milestone is the engagement end date on 26th May 2022. The initiative is aimed at understanding the impact of fake online reviews and requires potential suppliers to read an attached supporting document that outlines the department's proposed research approach prior to a Supplier Day scheduled for the same date. This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in research and development consultancy services, particularly those with expertise in consumer behaviour analysis and market research. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are encouraged to participate, as BEIS is keen to collaborate with organisations capable of delivering insightful findings that can inform policy decisions on consumer protection. The engagement process and subsequent research work are intended to support legislative clarity, thereby allowing businesses to reinforce consumer confidence online. ## Notice Fake reviews are reviews that do not reflect an actual consumer's genuine experience of a good or service. In 2021, BEIS launched the Reforming Consumer and Competition Policy (RCCP) consultation, which sought views on ways for government to address the issue of fake online reviews and proposed adding practices related to this to the list of automatically unfair commercial practices in Schedule 1 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations (CPUTRs) 2008. The department also sought views on ways to address the issue of commissioning and/or incentivising a person to write or submit a fake review. The department published its response to the consultation in April 2022, noting that the majority of respondents agreed that fake reviews were a concern and not helpful to consumers. Government remains committed to ensuring that consumers can shop online with confidence where their decisions are based on reviews and will consult in due course on adding fake reviews to the list of banned practices in the CPUTRs. This will give greater clarity to businesses and, where fake reviews are posted, allow enforcers to take effective action quickly. Government is also keen to work with businesses and consumer groups to ensure any further requirements in legislation are clear and proportionate, supporting businesses in their recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside this engagement, BEIS is looking for a partner to conduct research into the issue of online fake reviews. The results of this analysis will be used to inform policy development and ensure policy decisions are evidence based and informed by the testing of potential solutions. The supplier will be responsible for ensuring the project fulfils the research aims and objectives outlined by BEIS. The aim of this work is to understand: i. The prevalence of online fake reviews for a pre-determined basket of goods on the most popular third-party UK e-commerce websites ii. How online fake reviews influence consumer choice when making online purchases iii. The consumer detriment that occurs as a result of fake reviews and how this varies by demographic groups iv. The effectiveness of potential non-regulatory interventions in nullifying the impact of fake reviews on consumer decisions The department sets out a proposed research approach in the attached supporting document, which the department advises all suppliers to read through ahead of the Supplier Day. This will help to inform any discussions during the Supplier Day and provide greater insight into the research project. When released, the Invitation to Tender (ITT) will provide more details about the expected responsibilities of the supplier in delivering the required research outputs. Additional information: In order to provide prospective suppliers with the opportunity to gain more detail on the project and identify potential partners, BEIS are holding a Supplier Day via MS Teams on 26th May 2022 from 9:30am till 11:30am. Interested organisations please contact Rory Thompson (rory.thompson@beis.gov.uk) to reserve your place. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2b41a2dc-7a0a-4b1a-a338-e28d31e202c9 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 18 May 2022 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 26 May 2022 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | BUSINESS ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1H 0ET | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | TLI London | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 73100000 - Research and experimental development services - 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services - 73300000 - Design and execution of research and development ## Release History - 18 May 2022 at 13:11 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2b41a2dc-7a0a-4b1a-a338-e28d31e202c9 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/2b41a2dc-7a0a-4b1a-a338-e28d31e202c9 18th May 2022 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1bd19f4c-9392-445c-84c6-4af99a83a3b8. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1bd19f4c-9392-445c-84c6-4af99a83a3b8.json.