---
title: "Research to inform period products scheme guidance for schools and institutions delivering 16-19 education"
ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-ccbab016-53ca-48da-a60a-3c1b7accc216"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-ccbab016-53ca-48da-a60a-3c1b7accc216"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ccbab016-53ca-48da-a60a-3c1b7accc216.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ccbab016-53ca-48da-a60a-3c1b7accc216.json"
source: "Contracts Finder"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION"
published: "2020-02-28"
---

# Research to inform period products scheme guidance for schools and institutions delivering 16-19 education

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-b5fd17-ccbab016-53ca-48da-a60a-3c1b7accc216

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-ccbab016-53ca-48da-a60a-3c1b7accc216)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ccbab016-53ca-48da-a60a-3c1b7accc216.json)

## Summary

The Department for Education is issuing a tender titled "Research to inform period products scheme guidance for schools and institutions delivering 16-19 education". This initiative falls under the category of research and development services, and the tender aims to support the provision of free period products across educational settings in England, extending coverage to primary schools. The procurement is currently in the award stage, having been published on 29 July 2019, with the tender period closing on 10 August 2019. The successful bidder will be required to deliver insights gathered from a diverse group of learners before the contract begins on 9 September 2019, running until 1 November 2019.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses specialising in educational consultancy and research, particularly those with expertise in engaging young people from varied backgrounds. Companies that focus on ethical research practices and possess the capacity to conduct fieldwork with vulnerable populations, including children and young learners, will be particularly well-suited to compete for this contract. Businesses that can demonstrate an ability to produce insightful reports that inform educational policy and practice may find this tender aligns well with their capabilities, contributing to the growth of their presence in the public procurement market.

## Notice

*UPDATED 31/07/19* Expressions of interest (EOIs) are sought for research to engage with prospective period products scheme users to ensure the guidance is evidence informed and fit for purpose. In April 2019 the DfE (the department) announced that the free period products scheme, introduced by the Chancellor in March 2019, for secondary schools and colleges would be extended to also cover primary schools. The department will shortly award a national contract to provide free period products to schools and institutions delivering 16-19 education across England. This research will ensure that the perspectives of prospective users are considered when issuing initial guidance in December 2019 to educational settings on how they can deliver the scheme in a way that recognises the needs of their learners. The research should engage learners to: 1) Understand learners' expectations of the period products scheme, 2) Identify any risks and barriers posed by different approaches that institutions may take to make free period products available to their learners, and 3) Understand how the period products scheme design and delivery can support efforts to tackle stigma surrounding periods. We have not specified a method for this research and welcome innovative proposals from contractors that would meet the above research aim and objectives, capturing insight from a diverse group of learners (approximately 50 learners) which represent a range of characteristics such as: * Age, * Gender identity, * Ethnicity, * Special educational needs and disability, * Socio-economic status, * Institution type, * Geography, and * Learners in educational settings with and without existing free period product schemes. Prospective bidders submitting an EOI must: * Have access to a sample of learners (approximately 50 learners) and be able to recruit participants who represent a range of learner and institution characteristics within the tight timescale specified in this EOI, * Have appropriate ethical approvals (where required) and safeguards in place to sensitively conduct research with vulnerable people (i.e. children aged under 16) and learners aged 16+ on this topic, * Be able to agree sampling and research methods (including questionnaires, topic and/ or interview guides if applicable) with the department by 0900 BST on Wednesday 18th September 2019, * Be able to complete fieldwork and provide interim reporting (e.g. a slide pack of no more than 20 slides outlining findings broken down by sample characteristics and identifying initial recommendations for scheme guidance) to the department by 0900 BST on Wednesday 9th October 2019, and * Be able to agree the final report (approximately 20 pages including an executive summary, outline of sampling strategy and methods, results, recommendations for scheme guidance and conclusions, excluding appendices) with the department by 0900 GMT on Friday 1st November 2019. **Please note EOI deadline: 09:00 09/08/19 Additional information: *** Updated Expression of Interest 31/07/19 *** Clarification that value for money is not part of the EOI evaluation For information - some questions from a supplier and answers below. 1) We understand that the current national contract will be for 16-19 education, however, can I clarify that you wish the research to be conducted amongst students from age 9+ to inform guidance to ultimately be issued to both primary and secondary/FE settings? The scheme will provide free period products to schools (e.g. primary and secondary schools) and institutions delivering 16-19 education. Please see the sample characteristics section of the EOI for a detailed list of the institutions that are covered by the scheme. We will be issuing guidance to all educational settings delivering the free period products scheme (including primary and secondary schools, and institutions delivering 16-19 education). We would like the research to broadly cover children across this range of settings, suggesting ages from 9+, as research has indicated that some children have their first period before leaving primary school, and those who are from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and some ethnic minority groups are more likely to experience puberty before age 11. 2) Are we just focusing on learners? Do you require any SMT/Teacher input on recommended mechanisms to ensure that they are practical/manageable from the schools'/setting perspective? The focus of this research is prospective scheme users. Separately, we are engaging teachers and senior management teams. However, if it is possible to include the perspectives of teachers and SMT within budget and without compromising on the core aim and objective outlined in this EOI, then we would be interested in this. 3) We have noted the requirement to ensure representation from the perspective of gender identity. We are aware that some newer schools are being built with gender fluid toilet provisions, with this in mind, should we include the opinions of boys in a co-ed setting? We're aware of the priority to breakdown any stigma associated with talking about periods etc in co-ed settings For the purpose of this research we are interested primarily in the perspectives of prospective scheme users. In terms of gender identity, we would be interested to hear from learners who do not identify as female but who menstruate. If it is possible to include the perspectives of learners who do not menstruate (e.g. boys), while also delivering on the core aim and objectives outlined in the EOI, we would be interested in this. **Further Question 08/08/19** Q) Is the research is expected to be completed before the interim report? Or may it continue during the time period between the interim and final reports? A: We require the primary research (data collection/ fieldwork) to be complete by 09/10/19 to inform the interim reporting provided on this date. Furth

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Contracts Finder |
| Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d2676fb7-6c15-4cb2-913e-2d2447e39d0f |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Goods |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure (below threshold) |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 28 Feb 2020 |
| Submission deadline | 10 Aug 2019 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 29 Sep 2019 |
| Contract period | 1 Oct 2019 - 31 Mar 2020 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £25,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £21,177 |
| 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 EDUCATION |
| Locality | SHEFFIELD |
| Post town | Sheffield |
| Postcode | S1 2FJ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLE Yorkshire and The Humber |
| ITL 2 | TLE3 South Yorkshire |
| ITL 3 | TLE32 Sheffield |
| Local authority | Sheffield |
| Electoral ward | City |
| Westminster constituency | Sheffield Central |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | HOPSCOTCH CONSULTING |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 28 Feb 2020 at 11:18 - AwardUpdate - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d2676fb7-6c15-4cb2-913e-2d2447e39d0f
- 26 Feb 2020 at 11:26 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d2676fb7-6c15-4cb2-913e-2d2447e39d0f
- 26 Feb 2020 at 11:21 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/81b69848-2c58-4f1a-a124-31e930b1306a
- 8 Aug 2019 at 08:30 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/81b69848-2c58-4f1a-a124-31e930b1306a
- 2 Aug 2019 at 10:19 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/81b69848-2c58-4f1a-a124-31e930b1306a
- 31 Jul 2019 at 10:41 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/81b69848-2c58-4f1a-a124-31e930b1306a
- 30 Jul 2019 at 15:30 - TenderAmendment - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/81b69848-2c58-4f1a-a124-31e930b1306a
- 29 Jul 2019 at 11:15 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/81b69848-2c58-4f1a-a124-31e930b1306a

## Documents

- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d2676fb7-6c15-4cb2-913e-2d2447e39d0f
  28th February 2020 - Awarded contract notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/81b69848-2c58-4f1a-a124-31e930b1306a
  26th February 2020 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/65c787a0-c24f-4556-a902-6ff2e0f0376b
  EOI Advert
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/7572e3ae-6d9d-4bde-beb4-14c4b89ee1ad
  EOI Reply form
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/53feba77-1b10-40f7-9208-f72805ce1a6e
  Terms & Conditions
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/5b20d4db-3018-41f2-b4b6-ed7fbb638e8f
  EOI Advert 2019/016 UPDATED
- https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/4f6a0dd0-6173-446d-9129-b481c3627edf
  Contract

## 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-ccbab016-53ca-48da-a60a-3c1b7accc216. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-ccbab016-53ca-48da-a60a-3c1b7accc216.json.