Financial Conduct Authority: CON-23-161 Market Research Framework

UK-London: Market research services.
Section I: Contracting Authority
      I.1) Name and addresses
             Financial Conduct Authority, 01920623
             12 Endeavour Square, London, E20 1JN, United Kingdom
             Tel. +44 2070661000, Email: FCAProcurement@fca.org.uk
             Main Address: www.fca.org.uk, Address of the buyer profile: https://fca.delta-esourcing.com
             NUTS Code: UK
      I.2) Joint procurement
      The contract involves joint procurement: No.
      In the case of joint procurement involving different countries, state applicable national procurement law: Not provided       
      The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body: No.
      I.3) Communication
      The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/respondToList.html?accessCode=TK846ZJ7D2
      Additional information can be obtained from: the abovementioned address
      Tenders or requests to participate must be sent electronically via https://fca.delta-esourcing.com to the abovementioned address       
      Electronic communication requires the use of tools and devices that are not generally available. Unrestricted and full direct access to these tools and devices is possible, free of charge, at: Not provided
      I.4) Type of the contracting authority
            Body governed by public law
      I.5) Main activity
            Economic and financial affairs

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
      II.1.1) Title: CON-23-161 Market Research Framework       
      Reference Number: CON-23-161
      II.1.2) Main CPV Code:
      79310000 - Market research services.

      II.1.3) Type of contract: SERVICES
      II.1.4) Short description: The Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) is seeking to establish a framework agreement for the provision of market research services. The framework will run for a period of four years, from May 2024.       
      II.1.5) Estimated total value:
      Value excluding VAT: 6,400,000       
      Currency: GBP
      II.1.6) Information about lots:
      This contract is divided into lots: Yes       
      Tenders may be submitted for: All lots
      Maximum number of lots that may be awarded to one tenderer: Not provided
      The contracting authority reserves the right to award contracts combining the following lots or groups of lots: Not provided

II.2) Description
II.2) Description Lot No. 1
      
      II.2.1) Title: Lot A Quantitative Surveys       
      Lot No: 1       
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      73110000 - Research services.
      
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UK UNITED KINGDOM
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: Lot A covers quantitative surveys, commissioned in response to a specific policy or regulatory development for the FCA or other Authorities (as set out in the Invitation to Tender). It is split into four specialisms:

Specialism 1 - Bespoke - Large-scale quantitative surveys

Specialism 2 - CATI Omnibus surveys

Specialism 3 - CAPI Omnibus surveys

Specialism 4 - CAWI (online omnibus) and Panel samples

Tenderers can bid for one or multiple specialisms.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Criteria below
            Quality criterion - Name: Technical Ability / Weighting: 65
            Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 5
                        
            Cost criterion - Name: Commercial Competitiveness / Weighting: 30
                              
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 1,500,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 48       
      This contract is subject to renewal: No       
      Description of renewals: Not provided
      
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: Not provided       
II.2) Description Lot No. 2
      
      II.2.1) Title: Lot B Qualitative Research       
      Lot No: 2       
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      73110000 - Research services.
      
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UK UNITED KINGDOM
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: The Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) is seeking Tenderers to provide market research services involving the use of qualitative or user experience research. This Lot is reserved specifically for Tenderers that offer these type of research services, either of consumers or businesses (regulated firms or business entities). This Lot is split into two specialisms:

Specialism 1 - Bespoke qualitative studies;

Specialism 2 – Bespoke qualitative studies of online user experiences.

Tenderers can bid for one or multiple specialisms.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Criteria below
            Quality criterion - Name: Technical Ability / Weighting: 65
            Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 5
                        
            Cost criterion - Name: Commercial Competitiveness / Weighting: 30
                              
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 2,500,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 48       
      This contract is subject to renewal: No       
      Description of renewals: Not provided
      
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: Not provided       
II.2) Description Lot No. 3
      
      II.2.1) Title: Lot C Mystery Shopping Services       
      Lot No: 3       
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      73110000 - Research services.
      
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UK UNITED KINGDOM
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: The Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) is seeking suppliers to provide market research services carried out through the mystery shopping of financial services providers.
Mystery shopping is employed by the FCA to allow it to ‘observe’ and assess whether regulated financial services firms, largely retail, are abiding by the regulatory requirements laid down in the FCA’s rules and regulations in their conduct with consumers. This forms part of our supervisory conduct management activity.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Criteria below
            Quality criterion - Name: Technical Ability / Weighting: 65
            Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 5
                        
            Cost criterion - Name: Commercial Competitiveness / Weighting: 5
                              
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 450,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 48       
      This contract is subject to renewal: No       
      Description of renewals: Not provided
      
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: Not provided       
II.2) Description Lot No. 4
      
      II.2.1) Title: Lot D Syndicated Market Research Services       
      Lot No: 4       
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      73110000 - Research services.
      
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UK UNITED KINGDOM
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: The Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA) is seeking suppliers to provide market research services involving syndicated subscription-based financial services market research and insight reporting.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Criteria below
            Quality criterion - Name: Technical Ability / Weighting: 95
            Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 5
                        
            Cost criterion - Name: Commercials / Weighting: 0
                              
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 1,250,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 48       
      This contract is subject to renewal: No       
      Description of renewals: Not provided
      
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: Not provided       
II.2) Description Lot No. 5
      
      II.2.1) Title: Lot E – Market Research, Project, and Programme Management Specialists       
      Lot No: 5       
      II.2.2) Additional CPV codes:
      73110000 - Research services.
      
      II.2.3) Place of performance:
      UK UNITED KINGDOM
      
      II.2.4) Description of procurement: Lot E covers specialist market research specialisms, which would be contracted in response to a specific policy or regulatory development. It is split into 6 specialisms:

Specialism 1 – Report Writers

Specialism 2 – Statistical advice and sampling methodologists

Specialism 3 – Research Designer

Specialism 4 – Research Data analysis

Specialism 5 – Project managers

Specialism 6 – Programme Manager

Tenderers can bid for one or multiple specialisms.
      II.2.5) Award criteria:
            Criteria below
            Quality criterion - Name: Technical Ability / Weighting: 65
            Quality criterion - Name: Social Value / Weighting: 5
                        
            Cost criterion - Name: Commercial Competitiveness / Weighting: 30
                              
      II.2.6) Estimated value:
      Value excluding VAT: 700,000       
      Currency: GBP       
      II.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system:
      Duration in months: 48       
      This contract is subject to renewal: No       
      Description of renewals: Not provided
      
      II.2.10) Information about variants:
      Variants will be accepted: No
      II.2.11) Information about options:
      Options:       No             
      Description of options: Not provided
      II.2.12) Information about electronic catalogues:
      Tenders must be presented in the form of electronic catalogues or include an electronic catalogue: No
      II.2.13) Information about European Union funds:
      The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No       
      Identification of the project: Not provided             
      II.2.14) Additional information: Not provided       


Section III: Legal, Economic, Financial And Technical Information
   III.1) Conditions for participation
      III.1.1) Suitability to pursue the professional activity, including requirements relating to enrolment on professional or trade registers
      List and brief description of conditions:          
      Not Provided       
      III.1.2) Economic and financial standing          
      Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents       
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided    
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :       
      Not Provided    
      III.1.3) Technical and professional ability    
      Selection criteria as stated in the procurement documents
      List and brief description of selection criteria:       
      Not Provided      
      Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required (if applicable) :          
      Not Provided   
      III.1.5) Information about reserved contracts (if applicable)   
      The contract is reserved to sheltered workshops and economic operators aiming at the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons: No       
      The execution of the contract is restricted to the framework of sheltered employment programmes: No    
      
   III.2) Conditions related to the contract
      III.2.1) Information about a particular profession    
      Reference to the relevant law, regulation or administrative provision:          
      Not Provided    
      III.2.2) Contract performance conditions          
      Not Provided          
      III.2.3) Information about staff responsible for the performance of the contract
      Obligation to indicate the names and professional qualifications of the staff assigned to performing the contract: No

Section IV: Procedure
   IV.1) Description OPEN
      IV.1.1) Type of procedure: Open   
   
   IV.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system    
         The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement    
         Framework agreement with several operators       
         Envisaged maximum number of participants to the framework agreement:
Not Provided           
         In the case of framework agreements justification for any duration exceeding 4 years: Not Provided    
   
   
   IV.1.6) Information about electronic auction:
      An electronic auction will be used: No
      Additional information about electronic auction: Not provided
   IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
      The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No       
   IV.2) Administrative information
      IV.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure:
         Notice number in the OJ S: Not provided       
      IV.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
       Date: 19/10/2023 Time: 12:00
            
      IV.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: English,       
      IV.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender: Not Provided      
      IV.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders:
         Date: 19/10/2023
         Time: 12:00
      

Section VI: Complementary Information
   VI.1) Information about recurrence
   This is a recurrent procurement: Yes    
   Estimated timing for further notices to be published: Not provided
   VI.2) Information about electronic workflows
   Electronic ordering will be used No       
   Electronic invoicing will be accepted Yes       
   Electronic payment will be used No       
   VI.3) Additional Information: The contracting authority considers that this contract may be suitable for economic operators that are small or medium enterprises (SMEs). However, any selection of tenderers will be based solely on the criteria set out for the procurement.
In addition to the FCA, the following Contracting Authorities (as defined by the Public Contracts Regulations 2015) will be Authorised Users of the FCA’s Market Research Framework and may choose to use it:
•The Payments Systems Regulator (PSR)
•The Bank of England (BoE)
•The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)
•Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)
•Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
•Money & Pensions Service (MaPS)
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
https://fca.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-London:-Market-research-services./TK846ZJ7D2

To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://fca.delta-esourcing.com/respond/TK846ZJ7D2
   VI.4) Procedures for review
   VI.4.1) Review body:
             Financial Conduct Authority
       12 Endeavour Square, London, E20 1JN, United Kingdom
       Tel. +44 2070661000, Email: FCAProcurement@fca.org.uk
       Internet address: www.fca.org.uk
   VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures:
Not provided
   VI.4.3) Review procedure
   Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:    
    Not Provided    
   VI.4.4) Service from which information about the lodging of appeals may be obtained:
Not provided
   VI.5) Date Of Dispatch Of This Notice: 07/09/2023

Annex A