--- title: "PS22407 - Research Collaboration Network Framework" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-038c5c" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-038c5c" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038c5c.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038c5c.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY & INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY" published: "2023-03-22" --- # PS22407 - Research Collaboration Network Framework Buyer: DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY & INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-038c5c [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-038c5c) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-038c5c.json) ## Summary The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), through UK Shared Business Services (UK SBS), is initiating a tender for Research Collaboration Network Services. The procurement is in the services category and focuses on research and development consultancy services. This framework agreement has a maximum value of £4,000,000.00 excluding VAT and will run for four years. The specific lots include Risk, Chemicals and Materials, Analytical, and Technology Hardware and Software. The contract period starts on 3rd July 2023 and ends on 4th June 2027. This tender for Research Collaboration Network Services presents an opportunity for businesses, especially those experienced in risk, chemicals, analytical studies, and technology. Suppliers with expertise in research and development consultancy services are well-suited to compete. The procurement method is an open procedure, with a final tender submission deadline by 28th April 2023. The tender aims to support the Office for Product Safety & Standards Strategic Research Programme by strengthening the evidence base for policy development and enforcement activities. ## Notice UK Shared Business Services (UK SBS), on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) wishes to establish a Framework Agreement for the provision of Research Collaboration Network Services. The Framework has a maximum value of PS4,000,000.00 excluding VAT and the Framework term is four years. The Framework will run on a 1+1+1+1-year basis. This means the effectiveness of the Framework will be reviewed, and future budget availability considered, towards the end of each financial year (31 March). This OPSS Research Collaboration Network is being commissioned to support the delivery of the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) Strategic Research Programme (SRP). OPSS was established by BEIS in January 2018 in order to enhance protections for consumers and drive forward increased productivity, growth and business confidence. The OPSS SRP provides high quality, strategic, science-based research to strengthen the evidence base for OPSS policy development, delivery and enforcement. ### Lot Information Risk (communications, management, measurement, prioritisation and tolerance) ** Please note this is not a call for competition. This is a PIN notice for a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) requirement** This OPSS Research Collaboration Network is being commissioned to support the delivery of the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) Strategic Research Programme (SRP). OPSS was established by BEIS in January 2018 in order to enhance protections for consumers and drive forward increased productivity, growth and business confidence. The OPSS SRP provides high quality, strategic, science-based research to strengthen the evidence base for OPSS policy development, delivery and enforcement activities. As an evidence-led organisation, OPSS places great importance on research which gathers insights on a number of evidence bases and challenges the product safety system faces. We intend that by setting up a Research Collaboration Network OPSS will bring together suppliers and create a community of researchers dedicated to the OPSS objectives of keeping people safe and driving forward increased productivity, growth and business confidence. We propose that a joined-up approach for research commissioning will attract more suppliers and will create lists of subject matter experts we can call upon for peer review and technical advice. The aim of the OPSS Research Framework is to identify and utilise contractors with skill and expertise in the following areas to support the aims of our Strategic Research Programme (SRP): * Lot 1: Risk (communications, management, measurement, prioritisation and tolerance); * Lot 2: Chemicals and Materials (Identification, measurement, characterisation techniques and exposure studies and toxicological limits); * Lot 3: Economic (Impact analysis, market analysis and consumer/business behaviours and attitudes); * Lot 4: Technology hardware and software. (Literature reviews, SWOT analysis and research testing, focusing on batteries, mechanical and software engineering challenges). The purpose of the Research Collaboration Network is to make it easier and faster for both contractors and OPSS to apply for and commission research, with contractors only required to make one large bid at the beginning of the framework start which will onboard them into a 'lot' relevant to their expertise. Research requests from OPSS will be ad hoc and throughout the year but will relate to these four lots. The research requests will then be distributed to suppliers through much shorter 'mini competitions' which require less paperwork (usual turn-around time is approx. one week). We hope this Research Collaboration Network will also attract smaller research businesses and academic institutions, who may struggle with the demands of bidding of individual research from contracts finder or other government procurement routes. It is worth nothing that this will not subsume other methods of procurement and in some cases other frameworks could be used for some research when appropriate. We are particularly interested in suppliers who have expertise in applying their research methods to non-medical and non-food consumer products. This Prior Information Notice is being issued in order to undertake a market consultation exercise with regards to the current view of requirements detailed above. The supplier engagement session is due to take place on Wednesday, 25th January 2023 10:00 - 12:00 via Microsoft Teams. The supplier engagement session will last approximately 2 hours, comprising of the following: * Overview of the requirements for each lot * Explanation of the bidding process * Open floor Q&A Note that the route to market will be via Find a Tender and Contracts Finder. Chemicals and Materials Chemical and Materials - Identification techniques, Characterisation techniques, exposure studies and toxicological limits. The chemicals and materials in products theme brings together all research concerned with chemicals and materials within consumer products. It includes a number of policy and enforcement areas ranging from coatings and content of specific chemicals within materials, to developing methods to efficiently identify and measure chemicals for enforcement purposes. The aims of this research area include: I. Review chemicals and materials and their extent of their usage in products II. Develop characterisation techniques and measurement methodologies for these chemicals to support the identification and quantification of chemicals III. Understand exposure and chemical limits for various chemicals to feed back into regulations IV. Development of chemical risk assessments Economic (Impact analysis, market analysis and consumer/business behaviours and attitudes) ** Please note this is not a call for competition. This is a PIN notice for a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) requirement** This OPSS Research Collaboration Network is being commissioned to support the delivery of the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) Strategic Research Programme (SRP). OPSS was established by BEIS in January 2018 in order to enhance protections for consumers and drive forward increased productivity, growth and business confidence. The OPSS SRP provides high quality, strategic, science-based research to strengthen the evidence base for OPSS policy development, delivery and enforcement activities. As an evidence-led organisation, OPSS places great importance on research which gathers insights on a number of evidence bases and challenges the product safety system faces. We intend that by setting up a Research Collaboration Network OPSS will bring together suppliers and create a community of researchers dedicated to the OPSS objectives of keeping people safe and driving forward increased productivity, growth and business confidence. We propose that a joined-up approach for research commissioning will attract more suppliers and will create lists of subject matter experts we can call upon for peer review and technical advice. The aim of the OPSS Research Framework is to identify and utilise contractors with skill and expertise in the following areas to support the aims of our Strategic Research Programme (SRP): * Lot 1: Risk (communications, management, measurement, prioritisation and tolerance); * Lot 2: Chemicals and Materials (Identification, measurement, characterisation techniques and exposure studies and toxicological limits); * Lot 3: Economic (Impact analysis, market analysis and consumer/business behaviours and attitudes); * Lot 4: Technology hardware and software. (Literature reviews, SWOT analysis and research testing, focusing on batteries, mechanical and software engineering challenges). The purpose of the Research Collaboration Network is to make it easier and faster for both contractors and OPSS to apply for and commission research, with contractors only required to make one large bid at the beginning of the framework start which will onboard them into a 'lot' relevant to their expertise. Research requests from OPSS will be ad hoc and throughout the year but will relate to these four lots. The research requests will then be distributed to suppliers through much shorter 'mini competitions' which require less paperwork (usual turn-around time is approx. one week). We hope this Research Collaboration Network will also attract smaller research businesses and academic institutions, who may struggle with the demands of bidding of individual research from contracts finder or other government procurement routes. It is worth nothing that this will not subsume other methods of procurement and in some cases other frameworks could be used for some research when appropriate. We are particularly interested in suppliers who have expertise in applying their research methods to non-medical and non-food consumer products. This Prior Information Notice is being issued in order to undertake a market consultation exercise with regards to the current view of requirements detailed above. The supplier engagement session is due to take place on Wednesday, 25th January 2023 10:00 - 12:00 via Microsoft Teams. The supplier engagement session will last approximately 2 hours, comprising of the following: * Overview of the requirements for each lot * Explanation of the bidding process * Open floor Q&A Note that the route to market will be via Find a Tender and Contracts Finder. Technology hardware and software. (Literature reviews, SWOT analysis and research testing, focusing on batteries, mechanical and software engineering challenges} ** Please note this is not a call for competition. This is a PIN notice for a Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) requirement** This OPSS Research Collaboration Network is being commissioned to support the delivery of the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) Strategic Research Programme (SRP). OPSS was established by BEIS in January 2018 in order to enhance protections for consumers and drive forward increased productivity, growth and business confidence. The OPSS SRP provides high quality, strategic, science-based research to strengthen the evidence base for OPSS policy development, delivery and enforcement activities. As an evidence-led organisation, OPSS places great importance on research which gathers insights on a number of evidence bases and challenges the product safety system faces. We intend that by setting up a Research Collaboration Network OPSS will bring together suppliers and create a community of researchers dedicated to the OPSS objectives of keeping people safe and driving forward increased productivity, growth and business confidence. We propose that a joined-up approach for research commissioning will attract more suppliers and will create lists of subject matter experts we can call upon for peer review and technical advice. The aim of the OPSS Research Framework is to identify and utilise contractors with skill and expertise in the following areas to support the aims of our Strategic Research Programme (SRP): * Lot 1: Risk (communications, management, measurement, prioritisation and tolerance); * Lot 2: Chemicals and Materials (Identification, measurement, characterisation techniques and exposure studies and toxicological limits); * Lot 3: Economic (Impact analysis, market analysis and consumer/business behaviours and attitudes); * Lot 4: Technology hardware and software. (Literature reviews, SWOT analysis and research testing, focusing on batteries, mechanical and software engineering challenges). The purpose of the Research Collaboration Network is to make it easier and faster for both contractors and OPSS to apply for and commission research, with contractors only required to make one large bid at the beginning of the framework start which will onboard them into a 'lot' relevant to their expertise. Research requests from OPSS will be ad hoc and throughout the year but will relate to these four lots. The research requests will then be distributed to suppliers through much shorter 'mini competitions' which require less paperwork (usual turn-around time is approx. one week). We hope this Research Collaboration Network will also attract smaller research businesses and academic institutions, who may struggle with the demands of bidding of individual research from contracts finder or other government procurement routes. It is worth nothing that this will not subsume other methods of procurement and in some cases other frameworks could be used for some research when appropriate. We are particularly interested in suppliers who have expertise in applying their research methods to non-medical and non-food consumer products. This Prior Information Notice is being issued in order to undertake a market consultation exercise with regards to the current view of requirements detailed above. The supplier engagement session is due to take place on Wednesday, 25th January 2023 10:00 - 12:00 via Microsoft Teams. The supplier engagement session will last approximately 2 hours, comprising of the following: * Overview of the requirements for each lot * Explanation of the bidding process * Open floor Q&A Note that the route to market will be via Find a Tender and Contracts Finder. Risk Risk - risk tolerance, risk communications and management, risk assessment and prioritisation The application of risk The application of risk is a theme bringing together research into how risk can be applied in OPSS' regulatory system. The main aims of this work include: I. Define, standardise and measure the risk of products to support policy and enforcement strategies. II. Review regulatory systems to understand when and where risk measurements should be incorporated. III. Incorporate risk prioritisation and management methodologies to prioritise regulatory actions. IV. Provide evidence to support communication campaigns. Analytical Analytical - Impact analysis, market analysis and consumer/business behaviours and attitudes. Technology Hardware and Software Technology, hardware and software - Literature reviews, SWOT analysis and research testing ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008405-2023 | | Notice type | Planning Notice | | Procurement type | Framework | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | Not specified | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning, Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 22 Mar 2023 | | Submission deadline | 28 Apr 2023 | | Future notice date | 6 Feb 2023 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 2 Jul 2023 - 4 Jun 2026 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £4,000,000 | | Lots value | £4,000,000 | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Active, Planned | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY & 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 - 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security ### Codes - 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services - 79300000 - Market and economic research; polling and statistics ## Release History - 22 Mar 2023 at 17:36 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008405-2023 - 9 Dec 2022 at 15:42 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/034971-2022 ## Notice URLs - http://www.uksbs.co.uk - https://beisgroup.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/ - https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. 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