Awarded contract

Population Polls for COVID-19 Response and Recovery

  • The Executive Office

F15: Voluntary ex ante transparency notice

Notice reference: 2021/S 000-010625

Published 14 May 2021, 9:16am



Section one: Contracting authority/entity

one.1) Name and addresses

The Executive Office

Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate

Belfast

BT4 3SR

Contact

Donna Williams

Email

Donna.Williams@finance-ni.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 2890816414

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code

UKN - Northern Ireland

Internet address(es)

Main address

https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk

one.4) Type of the contracting authority

Body governed by public law

one.5) Main activity

General public services


Section two: Object

two.1) Scope of the procurement

two.1.1) Title

Population Polls for COVID-19 Response and Recovery

Reference number

DAC 74/21

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 79320000 - Public-opinion polling services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

The contract is required to meet unforeseen urgent need for reliable, robust polling services to provide data and analysis to support Northern Ireland in delivering a robust, comprehensive and targeted Covid response and recovery strategy. There is immediate need and urgency to understand public behaviours and attitudes propelled by the relaxation of the legislative and enforcement powers through the Pathway out of Restrictions and there is compelling public interest to begin population polling twice a month on transmission-behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs.

two.1.6) Information about lots

This contract is divided into lots: No

two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)

Lowest offer: £102,700 / Highest offer: £201,400 taken into consideration

two.2) Description

two.2.3) Place of performance

NUTS codes
  • UKN - Northern Ireland
Main site or place of performance

Northern Ireland

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

The service is for reliable, robust polling services to provide data and analysis to support Northern Ireland in delivering a robust, comprehensive and targeted Covid response and recovery strategy. It will include commencement of population polling twice a month on transmission-behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs.

two.2.5) Award criteria

Price

two.2.11) Information about options

Options: Yes

Description of options

The initial period of contract is for three months , with an option to extend the contract for a further period of three months if required.

two.2.14) Additional information

This contract is being awarded under the derogation of Regulation 32(2)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) as this is a case of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseen or attributable to the contracting authority, where the time limits for the open, restricted or competitive procedures with negotiation cannot be compiled with. This work must commence at the beginning of June in light of unforeseen emerging risks ie new variants in NI. The information is essential to track patterns of behaviour in order to understand trends, to predict future issues with compliance, and also to understand reasons for the lack of compliance. The urgency is further propelled by the relaxation of the legislative and enforcement powers through the Pathway out of Restrictions and it is in the public interest to begin population polling twice a month on transmission-behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs.


Section four. Procedure

four.1) Description

four.1.1) Type of procedure

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below

  • The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations

Explanation:

This short term contract is being awarded under the derogation of Regulation 32(2)(c) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (as amended) as this is a case of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseen or attributable to the contracting authority, where the time limits for the open, restricted or competitive procedures with negotiation cannot be compiled with. This work must commence at the beginning of June 2021 in light of unforeseen emerging risks ie new variants in Northern Ireland (NI). This service contract is essential for the NI Executive to track patterns of behaviour in order to understand trends, to predict future issues with compliance, and also to understand reasons for the lack of compliance. The urgency is further propelled by the relaxation of the legislative and enforcement powers through the Pathway out of Restrictions and it is in the public interest to begin population polling twice a month on transmission-behaviours, attitudes, and beliefs.

four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes


Section five. Award of contract/concession

Contract No

DAC 74/21

Title

Population Polls for COVID-19 Response and Recovery

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract/concession

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

14 May 2021

five.2.2) Information about tenders

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire

Ipsos MORI

Belfast

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKN - Northern Ireland
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £100,700

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £201,400


Section six. Complementary information

six.3) Additional information

This VEAT is to give notice of the award decision and to commence a standstill period prior to award of contract. The contract award will not be entered into until after 24th May 2021.

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

There is no formal review body in Northern Ireland. Please contact CPD with any queries/issues via Donna.Williams@finance-ni.gov.uk

Belfast

Country

United Kingdom