Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
National Audit Office
157-197 Buckingham Palace Road
LONDON
SW1W9SP
Contact
ima orosei
Telephone
+44 2077985343
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI32 - Westminster
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
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
CPT_23_41 Ipsos MORI survey of MPs
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79310000 - Market research services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK's independent public spending watchdog. We support Parliament in holding government to account and we help improve public services through our high-quality audits work.
The NAO takes part in Ipsos Market Research Ltd's' omnibus survey which asks a core set of questions about all those organisations taking part and allows the NAO to include bespoke questions based on NAO measurement of performance.
The insight gained from this work helps the NAO measure our performance against key strategic objectives of improving accountability/scrutiny and increasing our influence.
The NAO also use the results from the survey to assess the extent to which Parliamentarians are familiar with and have an opinion of the NAO and support the work we do, as well as reporting the results in our Annual Report, Accounts and Transparency Reports.
This voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice is to indicate that the NAO is seeking to enter into a contract with Ipsos Market Research Ltd.
The NAO has taken part in the Ipsos omnibus survey since 2012 and the data and insights gained from the surveys since then were invaluable in 2020 in helping shape the current NAO strategy. This new contract will enable the NAO to continue to work with Ipsos in the development of bespoke survey questions used both to measure the performance of the NAO strategy 2020 to 2025 and identify strategic priorities for the next strategy 2025-30.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £151,250
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The contract with Ipsos Market Research Ltd will be expected to run for 3 years from September 2023.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
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:
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition as per PCR 2015 regulation 32 (2) (b)(iii) the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights.
The NAO requires access to the Ipsos' Intellectual Property Rights to enable the design of survey questions adapted specifically for MPs.
The design of the survey is specifically owned by Ipsos Market Research Ltd. and there are no known alternative providers that could replicate our specialist requirement. Were the NAO to appoint a new provider there would be a significant risk, indeed likelihood, that we would lose consistency of questions and thereby the data and insights derived from the MPs' responses, effectively introducing a new data set midway through the current Parliament at a time when we are planning both our new Office strategy and parliamentary engagement plan.
Ipsos has a tried and tested set of questions to help the NAO gain an all-round picture of our reputation in Parliament including measures on the impact of our work, perceptions of our impartiality, independence and impact on both parliamentary scrutiny and a change in achieving positive change in government.
A market leading market research company, Ipsos provides the NAO with a reliable insight into the opinions of Westminster MPs: a representative sample of frontbench (minister and shadow ministers), back bench MPs and political parties. This helps us measure our reputation amongst MPs of how effectively we support them in their role.
In addition, taking part in the Ipsos omnibus represents value for money because the multi-client survey means that set-up and running costs are shared between a number of both public and private sector clients.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
1 July 2023
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
3 Thomas More Square
London
E1W 1YW
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
Companies House
01640855
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £151,250
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £151,250
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
National Audit Office
157-197 Buckingham Palace Road
LONDON
SW1W9SP
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
The NAO will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period where non electronic, or fax methods are used) at the point that an award decision notice is communicated.
Such additional information should be requested from the addressee found in I.1.This period allows economic operators to seek further information from the NAO before the contract is entered into.
If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
The Court may order the setting aside of the award decision or may order the NAO to amend any document and may award damages. If an agreement has been entered into the Court may make a declaration of ineffectiveness or may order that the duration of any relevant specific contract be shortened and additionally may award damages.