Pricey Revamp for UK Public Sector Research Marketplace

The UK government is to upgrade its 'Research Marketplace', a 'Dynamic Purchasing System' for public sector buyers to find and commission research agencies. The new c.£300m contract will start in February 2022 and run for four years.

The government says its 'approach to market' for the Research Marketplace 2 tender will be on October 1st next year, with the service live the following February.

The new marketplace will replace one introduced in February 2018, which currently lists 317 appointed suppliers. Agencies can register with the government's Crown Commercial Service (CCS) to provide their market, social and economic research services to government departments and the wider public sector - and join the list any time once they have completed and satisfied selection requirements.

In addition to central government, potential users of the Marketplace include local authorities, health, police, fire and rescue, education and devolved administrations and charities; and recommended uses also include policy analysis, development and advice, service insight, design, delivery and organisational reform. One aim is to give buyers 'greater access to specialist and small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) research agencies'. Users can build potential supplier lists, and filter and refine their search to develop a list of providers based on audience, methodology, territory and topic.

More information about the tender (reference number: RM6216) is here [www.government-online.net/research-marketplace-2-dynamic-purchasing-system-for-uk-public-sector ]. The CCS says it 'would like to conduct market engagement with suppliers who operate in the research services and insights market to gain a greater understanding of the marketplace' - see www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a69dd1b8-328d-42e6-979d-9fb52143e146 and email marcommsandresearch@crowncommercial.gov.uk .