---
title: "Identity assurance technology review & exclusionary risks of online age assurance"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-a9440ed0-0696-47c3-b07a-e5f67555b903"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-a9440ed0-0696-47c3-b07a-e5f67555b903"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a9440ed0-0696-47c3-b07a-e5f67555b903.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a9440ed0-0696-47c3-b07a-e5f67555b903.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "OFCOM"
published: "2022-12-12"
---

# Identity assurance technology review & exclusionary risks of online age assurance

Buyer: OFCOM  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-a9440ed0-0696-47c3-b07a-e5f67555b903

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## Summary

The award was given to QINETIQ LIMITED via a selective procurement method, calling off from a framework agreement, for the contract titled "Identity assurance technology review & exclusionary risks of online age assurance" with Ofcom as the buyer. The procurement process falls under the research and development services and related consultancy services category. The contract is valued at £100,000 GBP and the tender period ended on 10th October 2022. The contract period runs from 19th October 2022 to 28th February 2023, with the project location in London, England.

This tender presents opportunities for businesses involved in research and development services and consultancy, particularly those with expertise in identity assurance technology and age verification systems. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are well-suited to compete for this contract, given the emphasis on innovation and technological best practices in identity verification to protect minors using video-sharing platform services, as mandated by Ofcom.

## Notice

In November 2020, Ofcom started regulating video-sharing platform services (VSPs). Ofcom is required to ensure that VSPs within the UK's jurisdiction take 'appropriate measures' to protect minors from content which may impair their physical, mental or moral development. The guidance lists ten measures which VSPs might adopt, as appropriate, one of which is 'age verification (assurance) systems to protect minors.' There are two problem areas for this project: * Problem Area 1 - inform our understanding of technical measures currently in use, as well as future solutions that will emerge with new technologies. In addition, we are keen to explore the role of safety by design, as it intersects with identity assurance and verification. Our ultimate goal is to establish the technological art of the possible as well as today's best practice when it comes to identity assurance and verification. * Problem Area 2 - Ofcom are looking to conduct a review of recent evidence and data relevant to the risk that certain groups of adults and/or children may be less able to prove their age online (having regard to the variety of different age assurance methods available and the nature of their use on different kinds of online service).

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/37b927dc-739f-4edb-910b-b6f5c0407db3 |
| 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, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 12 Dec 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Oct 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 18 Oct 2022 |
| Contract period | 18 Oct 2022 - 28 Feb 2023 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £100,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £100,000 |
| 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 | OFCOM |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South East London |
| Postcode | SE1 9HA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI44 Lewisham and Southwark |
| Local authority | Southwark |
| Electoral ward | Borough & Bankside |
| Westminster constituency | Bermondsey and Old Southwark |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | QINETIQ |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 12 Dec 2022 at 11:46 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/37b927dc-739f-4edb-910b-b6f5c0407db3

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/37b927dc-739f-4edb-910b-b6f5c0407db3
  12th December 2022 - 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-a9440ed0-0696-47c3-b07a-e5f67555b903. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-a9440ed0-0696-47c3-b07a-e5f67555b903.json.