Scope
Reference
SU09(26)
Description
The Senedd election is scheduled to take place by May 7th, 2026. In order to study this election, the project academic leadership team of Prof Matthew Wall (Swansea University), Dr Bettina Petersohn (Swansea University), and Dr Anwen Elias (Aberystwyth University) are leading a survey-based research project seeking to capture and disseminate representative data on Welsh voters' attitudes, behaviours, and socio-demographic attributes (including an enhanced focus on the themes of 'place, power, and political engagement').
The wider project toward which this work will contribute is entitled 'The 2026 Welsh Election Study: Place, Power, and Political Engagement'
In this procurement process, Swansea University is seeking tender submissions from survey providers to undertake a series of representative sample survey waves of the Welsh electorate, encompassing one pre-campaign wave, one in-campaign wave, and one post-campaign wave.
The overarching aim of the WES 2026 Survey is to implement a high-quality data collection strategy to capture voters' attitudes and behaviours pre-election, during the campaign, and after the Senedd election in May 2026, resulting in a cutting-edge public opinion data resource that is, as far as possible, robust, representative, and generalisable for inference about the Welsh electorate.
The research team has identified push-to-web as the representative sampling methodology that they will deploy. A clear, granular account is required of how this approach will be rolled out to deliver 3 x representative samples across the project timetable (see section 9). A minimum n of 2,000 is stipulated for each survey wave, but the approach is one that prioritises data quality over quantity. As such, an emphasis is sought on the survey frame coverage, on the randomisation of selection, and on the protocols to secure a 20% plus response rate, as well as the generation of survey data weights. In addition and as stipulated above, an approach is also sought to the provision of anonymized respondent location data using the ONS Output Areas system.
The project is funded by UK Research and Innovation's (UKRI) Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). WES 2026 is part of a UK-wide set of national election studies, and its work supports the delivery of ESRC's data infrastructure strategy.
The total maximum budget for this work is £368,000.00 (inclusive of VAT, all Welsh language translation & all expenses)
This tender is being conducted electronically via etenderwales BravoSolution, where the tender documents can be found in project 31576 and itt 119846. A completed Tender Questions and Response Document (tender document 2) and a Price Schedule (tender document 5) are required to be uploaded onto the etenderwales BravoSolution website by the tender submission deadline of 12 noon on Friday 10th October 2025 in order to be considered, since the contract will run from November 2025 to November 2026.
Total value (estimated)
- £306,667 excluding VAT
- £368,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 14 November 2025 to 30 November 2026
- Possible extension to 9 May 2027
- 1 year, 5 months, 26 days
Description of possible extension:
We are not expecting to extend this contract as the current election timing stands, but this is a 6 month contingency just in case the election date is moved for whatever reason, since we have no control over the election timing or decisions made by the UK or Welsh Governments
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 72300000 - Data services
- 79300000 - Market and economic research; polling and statistics
Contract locations
- UKL18 - Swansea
Participation
Technical ability conditions of participation
Details provided within the Tender Specification available on etenderwales BravoSolution
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
29 September 2025, 12:00pm
Tender submission deadline
10 October 2025, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
This tender is being conducted electronically via etenderwales BravoSolution
https://etenderwales.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.shtml
under Project 31576 and ITT 119846
Please note that only tenders submitted via etenderwales BravoSolution can be accepted by the tender deadline - posted or emailed bids cannot be accepted. You will be required to register on the etenderwales portal
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
- Welsh
- English
Award decision date (estimated)
11 November 2025
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proposed Sampling, Fieldwork, Processing and Data Finalisation Approach | proposed approach to implementing the survey as per the specified requirements and timeline outlined above in this Tender Specification. detailed, plausible, and clearly costed plan to work with the... |
Quality | 40.00% |
| Track Record & its Application to this Project | track record of delivering high quality survey-based social research datasets with a particular emphasis on social research data used to study electoral behaviour to understand Electoral Politics. |
Quality | 30.00% |
| Price Schedule Costs | full breakdown of costs in line with the milestone payment percentages shown in the Tender Specification. Costs should reflect rates which are competitive within the public opinion data provision... |
Cost | 20.00% |
| Project Management Plan | proposed staff titles and roles who will work with the research team and their relevant expertise; along with their proposed approach to project governance between themselves and the research teams,... |
Quality | 10.00% |
Other information
Payment terms
The Tender Specification details a list of payment milestones, so the accompanying percentage will be paid upon satisfactory completion of each milestone. Payment will be made in line with Swansea University's 30 days payment terms
Description of risks to contract performance
Since the election dates and decisions by both the UK and Welsh Governments are outside our control, there is an outside potential risk that the date of the Welsh election could change, which could impact the timescales and delivery dates of this contract
Applicable trade agreements
- Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Contracting authority
Swansea University
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PTNV-7472-GRTW
Procurement, Finance Dept.
Swansea
SA2 8PP
United Kingdom
Contact name: Sue Davies
Telephone: +44 1792 295890
Email: sue.davies@swansea.ac.uk
Website: https://www.swansea.ac.uk
Region: UKL18 - Swansea
Organisation type: Public undertaking (commercial organisation subject to public authority oversight)
Devolved regulations that apply: Wales