---
title: "Consumers in Vulnerable Circumstances Research"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000763816"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000763816"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000763816.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000763816.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "CONSUMER SCOTLAND"
published: "2024-04-15"
---

# Consumers in Vulnerable Circumstances Research

Buyer: CONSUMER SCOTLAND  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000763816

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[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000763816.json)

## Summary

The procurement process being planned by Consumer Scotland involves the commissioning of a single supplier to deliver social research projects focusing on consumers living in vulnerable circumstances. Consumer Scotland, a public body based in Edinburgh, UK, is seeking support for engagement activities with specific communities of vulnerable consumers. The planned tender, titled "Consumers in Vulnerable Circumstances Research," falls under the services category with a contract value of £400,000 GBP. The main objective is to work collaboratively with stakeholders and consumers to understand and identify appropriate policy interventions for vulnerable consumers in Scotland. The procurement stage is currently at the planning phase, with a future notice date set for 27th May 2024.

This tender from Consumer Scotland presents an opportunity for businesses specializing in social research, community engagement, and participatory action research. Companies with experience in designing and delivering research projects focusing on vulnerable consumer groups would be well-suited to compete for this contract. The ability to collaborate effectively with key stakeholders and consumers with lived experience, especially in vulnerable circumstances, will be crucial for successful engagement. Businesses interested in contributing to policy development and enhancing understanding of consumer needs in vulnerable circumstances should consider engaging with Consumer Scotland's procurement process for the "Consumers in Vulnerable Circumstances Research" project.

## Notice

Consumer Scotland wishes to commission a single supplier to deliver a number of social research projects where the focus of the research is the experience of consumers living in vulnerable circumstances. The contract may also be used to seek support with Consumer Scotland's other engagement activities with specific communities of vulnerable consumers such as organising an Expert by Experience workshop or input to a specific group or activity.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Consumer Scotland wishes to commission a single supplier to deliver two to four social research projects per year relating to the experiences of consumers a range of different vulnerable circumstances in Scotland. The contract may also be used to provide support with Consumer Scotland's other engagement activities with consumers in vulnerable circumstances such as organising and facilitating lived experience input to a specific activity such as a workshop. Lived experience is central to all these requirements and ensuring that consumers from a range of different experiences can participate effectively in any research or other activities will be essential. The contractor must work collaboratively with Consumer Scotland, stakeholders and consumers with lived experience to ensure this and have experience of participatory action research. The objectives of the contract are to: a. Work collaboratively with Consumer Scotland, stakeholders and consumers with lived experience to design, deliver, analyse and report on specific research projects focused on the experiences of consumers living in vulnerable circumstances in Scotland b. Ensure that the research is designed and delivered taking account of the lived experience of consumers in a range of vulnerable circumstances. c. Increase understanding of current experiences of consumers living in vulnerable circumstances in Scotland d. Help identify appropriate policy interventions and responses to any issues identified by the research. While the specific projects are still being scoped and developed the projects set out below provide an indicative guide to the research projects that we may want to commission as part of this contract in 2024/2025: - Qualitative research focusing on the experiences of disabled consumers and consumers living with health conditions living in rural and island communities in Scotland across a range of markets. - Qualitative research identifying how consumers with no fixed address access postal services and the impact this has and exploring how this issue could be addressed - Qualitative research examining the impact of the costs of energy on consumers in vulnerable circumstances who are at greater risk of harm. In 2023/2024 we completed some initial work on the impact of energy costs on disabled consumers and consumers with health conditions. As well as building on this work, we are currently exploring whether to extend this work to other consumer groups in vulnerable circumstances where they may be similar issues such as Prepayment Meter customers or other low income groups.. The initial contract will be for a period of one year with further option to extend by a further two x one year periods, to a maximum of three years.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR503092 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 15 Apr 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 27 May 2024 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £400,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | CONSUMER SCOTLAND |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH8 7AU |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | Craigentinny/Duddingston |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh East and Musselburgh |
| Delivery location | TLM Scotland |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79315000 - Social research services

## Release History

- 15 Apr 2024 at 00:00 - Planning - OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR503092

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=APR503092
  Consumers in Vulnerable Circumstances Research - Consumer Scotland wishes to commission a single supplier to deliver a number of social research projects where the focus of the research is the experience of consumers living in vulnerable circumstances. The contract may also be used to seek support with Consumer Scotland's other engagement activities with specific communities of vulnerable consumers such as organising an Expert by Experience workshop or input to a specific group or activity.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=763816
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000763816
- https://consumer.scot/

## 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-r6ebe6-0000763816. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000763816.json.