---
title: "102135 - Rapid Evidence Assessment of Loot Boxes and Microtransactions in Video Games"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-029167"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-029167"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029167.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029167.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT"
published: "2021-02-09"
---

# 102135 - Rapid Evidence Assessment of Loot Boxes and Microtransactions in Video Games

Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-029167

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-029167)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029167.json)

## Summary

The procurement process titled "Rapid Evidence Assessment of Loot Boxes and Microtransactions in Video Games" is conducted by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in the UK. This tender falls under the industry category of research and development services and related consultancy services. The process is at the Award stage and was completed with the contract awarded on 11 January 2021. The total value of this procurement was £40,000, with the procurement method specified as a limited procedure without prior publication of a call for competition.

This tender represents a significant opportunity for businesses, particularly those specialising in research, data analysis, and consultancy within the gaming industry. Firms with expertise in evaluating consumer impact, particularly regarding youth engagement and problem gambling associated with microtransactions, would be well-positioned to compete in future tenders of this nature. The emphasis on consumer protection and innovation aligns well with businesses that can contribute meaningful insights and methodologies to address regulatory concerns effectively.

## Notice

The call for evidence will examine a range of issues including the size and variation of the market, the design of mechanisms, the context in terms of other types of in-game spending, the impact on consumers and particularly young people including links to problem gambling, and the effectiveness of the current statutory and voluntary regulation. The rapid evidence assessment specified in this Invitation to Tender will produce a literature review to support the public call for evidence, making a vital contribution to our analysis of loot boxes and wider microtransactions, and help us develop an effective and proportionate response that represents the best outcome for DCMS's aims. These are: protecting consumers - particularly children - and promoting business growth and innovation.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The government takes concerns around harms in video games very seriously and in December 2019, committed to review online video games loot boxes alongside a wider review of the Gambling Act 2005. To support this review of the Gambling Act 2005 and our wider programme of research about video games, and to ensure government policy is based on a sound understanding of the issue and its place in the wider policy framework, the government will run a public call for evidence on loot boxes. This was announced on 8 June 2020 in the government's response to the DCMS Select Committee Immersive and Addictive Technologies Inquiry report. The call for evidence will be launched during the summer with emerging conclusions expected by the end of 2020. The call for evidence will examine a range of issues including the size and variation of the market, the design of mechanisms, the context in terms of other types of in-game spending, the impact on consumers and particularly young people including links to problem gambling, and the effectiveness of the current statutory and voluntary regulation. The rapid evidence assessment specified in this Invitation to Tender will produce a literature review to support the public call for evidence, making a vital contribution to our analysis of loot boxes and wider microtransactions, and help us develop an effective and proportionate response that represents the best outcome for DCMS's aims. These are: protecting consumers - particularly children - and promoting business growth and innovation.

### Procurement Information

The total value of this procurement was PS40,000. This contract was advertised on Contracts Finder in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002560-2021 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 9 Feb 2021 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 11 Jan 2021 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £40,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR DIGITAL, CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1A 2BQ |
| 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 | INGAME, ABERTAY UNIVERSITY |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 9 Feb 2021 at 09:32 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/002560-2021

## Notice URLs

- http://www.culture.gov.uk
- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=568448515

## 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-h6vhtk-029167. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-029167.json.