Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Government
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM - Scotland
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA10482
one.2) Information about joint procurement
The contract is awarded by a central purchasing body
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
www.publictendersscotland.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
DECON-Labour Market Statistics and Financial Data Feasibility Project
Reference number
795891
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 79310000 - Market research services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Scottish Government’s Labour Market Statistics team seeks to commission a feasibility study to assess the potential of using anonymised financial data to enhance national and sub-national labour market statistics. The feasibility study will establish if and how we can extract and assess labour market trends such as employment, unemployment and economic inactivity from financial data such as bank transactions, payroll records, or other administrative financial data. The ultimate aim of this study is to establish whether or not this type of data and methodology could add valuable insights to our existing statistics on an ongoing basis (subject to future procurement activities).
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £148,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73110000 - Research services
- 79311400 - Economic research services
- 71241000 - Feasibility study, advisory service, analysis
- 79314000 - Feasibility study
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Scottish Government’s Labour Market Statistics team seeks to commission a feasibility study to assess the potential of using anonymised financial data to enhance national and sub-national labour market statistics. The feasibility study will establish if and how we can extract and assess labour market trends such as employment, unemployment and economic inactivity from financial data such as bank transactions, payroll records, or other administrative financial data. The ultimate aim of this study is to establish whether or not this type of data and methodology could add valuable insights to our existing statistics on an ongoing basis (subject to future procurement activities).
Objectives
- Evaluate the feasibility of using financial data to enhance Scottish labour market statistics on employment, unemployment and economic inactivity.
- Develop a Scotland-specific dataset using anonymised financial data for feasibility analysis
- Validate Scotland-specific dataset against official statistics (e.g., Census 2022).
- Develop inference methodology and provide strategic recommendations for future data use in Scotland and the rest of the UK based on this.
Scope of Requirement
The requirement is for services. Specifically, we ask that suppliers provide the following, however, bidders are invited to suggest alternative approaches that could also meet the needs of the specification:
- Segmentation and categorisation of suppliers financial datasets to meet Scotland and sub-Scotland level breakdowns and categorisations of data, with a focus on demonstrating high quality data and robust sample sizes.
- Validation of dataset and research outputs against official national statistics, including the Scottish Census and other reference datasets, to evidence representativeness of the data based on criteria to be agreed, and accuracy of outputs.
- Methodology development to establish economic trends from suppliers financial data, specifically employment, unemployment and economic inactivity (see glossary).
- Data analysis services using anonymised financial data that the suppliers have access to, analyse outputs for trends in employment, unemployment and economic inactivity, alongside other economic variables, for Scotland and sub-Scotland geographies and different population groups.
- Geodemographic analysis to identify labour market trends across sex, age, and Local Authority as a minimum, although breakdowns by other protected equality characteristics would be beneficial.
- Strategic reporting to summarise methodologies and findings and potential uses of financial data in economic trends, recommend data provision formats and frequencies for ongoing delivery of data, and identify gaps in current labour market data provision.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 80
Price - Weighting: 20
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
8
This contract is subject to renewal
Yes
Description of renewals
May be extended by one period of up to two months at the discretion of Scottish Ministers.
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section three. Legal, economic, financial and technical information
three.1) Conditions for participation
three.1.2) Economic and financial standing
List and brief description of selection criteria
Minimum Insurance Levels
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Minimum Insurance Levels:
Public Liability - 5,000,000 (GBP)
Professional Risk Indemnity - 2,000,000 (GBP)
Employer’s (Compulsory) Liability - 10,000,000 (GBP)
three.1.3) Technical and professional ability
List and brief description of selection criteria
Supply Chain Management/Tracking Systems Used.
Proportion (%) to be Sub-Contracted.
Minimum level(s) of standards possibly required
Supply Chain Management/Tracking Systems Used: If bidders intend to use a supply chain to deliver the requirements detailed in the Contract Notice, they should confirm they have (or have access to) the relevant supply chain management and tracking systems to ensure a resilient and sustainable supply chain. This will include confirmation that they have the systems in place to pay subcontractors through the supply chain promptly and effectively, and provide evidence when requested of:
a) their standard payment terms
b) ≥95% of all supply chain invoices being paid on time (in accordance with the terms of contract) in the last financial year.
If the bidder is unable to confirm (b) they must provide an improvement plan, signed by their Director, which improves the payment performance.
Proportion (%) to be Sub-Contracted: Bidders will be required to confirm whether they intend to subcontract and, if so, for what proportion of the contract.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
8 October 2025
Local time
12:00pm
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
8 October 2025
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.2) Information about electronic workflows
Electronic ordering will be used
Electronic invoicing will be accepted
Electronic payment will be used
six.3) Additional information
The buyer is using PCS-Tender to conduct this ITT exercise. The Project code is 30093. For more information see: http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/info/InfoCentre.aspx?ID=2343
(SC Ref:809565)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court
27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom