---
title: "Project _3025 - Research into Potentially Harmful Online Architecture"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-1fc3795d-20db-4749-8f13-b9647cc4455c"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-1fc3795d-20db-4749-8f13-b9647cc4455c"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1fc3795d-20db-4749-8f13-b9647cc4455c.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1fc3795d-20db-4749-8f13-b9647cc4455c.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE"
published: "2024-01-17"
---

# Project _3025 - Research into Potentially Harmful Online Architecture

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-1fc3795d-20db-4749-8f13-b9647cc4455c

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## Summary

The Department for International Trade has awarded a contract for the project "Research into Potentially Harmful Online Architecture" to Alma Economics Ltd. This research services procurement tender had a total value of £50,000 GBP and a tender deadline of 1st December 2023. The contract period is from 15th January 2024 to 30th April 2024. The procurement method used was selective, involving a call-off from a dynamic purchasing system. The project is aimed at contributing to the evidence base regarding potential consumer harm in digital markets in the UK.

This tender opportunity provides a chance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the research services sector to compete for the contract awarded by the Department for International Trade. Businesses specialising in research, particularly in the field of digital markets, consumer behaviour, and competition, are well-suited to participate. The focus of this tender is on understanding the impact of defaults on e-retail websites on consumer choices and behaviours, offering a valuable opportunity to contribute towards consumer protection and market competition aspects highlighted in the DMCC Bill.

## Notice

Research into Potentially Harmful Online Architecture The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill is currently passing through the Houses of Parliament. The Bill aims to boost competition in digital markets and increase consumer choice whilst protecting consumers and businesses from unfair and illegal practices. To maximise the effectiveness of the Bill, the government is looking to extend the evidence base on the potential consumer harm that arises from certain practices used in digital markets in the UK. This Contract is an opportunity to contribute to this evidence base by undertaking a research project that will look to test the potential consumer harm arising from the use of 'default's on e-retail websites. Defaults cover any situation where an e-retailer pre-chooses an option to present to consumers. In general, defaults can range from the automatic settings that websites and apps use when consumers visit the website or app to the products, add-ons, brands or subscription renewal options that are pre-selected when presented to them whilst navigating the website or app . This Contract shall focus on the use of defaults that most directly relate to the quantity, quality and price of products and services that consumers may purchase on an website or app. It therefore shall focus on how products, product options, add-ons and brands are pre-selected and presented to consumers

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/33f6738d-c0c0-4c8d-b1cd-03b9cfbffcfd |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Dynamic |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Call-off from a dynamic purchasing system |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 17 Jan 2024 |
| Submission deadline | 1 Dec 2023 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 8 Jan 2024 |
| Contract period | 15 Jan 2024 - 30 Apr 2024 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £50,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £49,500 |
| 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 | DEPARTMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1A 2DY |
| 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | ALMA ECONOMICS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73110000 - Research services

## Release History

- 17 Jan 2024 at 11:32 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/33f6738d-c0c0-4c8d-b1cd-03b9cfbffcfd

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/33f6738d-c0c0-4c8d-b1cd-03b9cfbffcfd
  17th January 2024 - Awarded contract 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-b5fd17-1fc3795d-20db-4749-8f13-b9647cc4455c. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-1fc3795d-20db-4749-8f13-b9647cc4455c.json.