Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Scottish Funding Council
Apex 2, 97 Haymarket Terrace
Edinburgh
EH12 5HD
Contact
Stephen Connor
Telephone
+44 1313136500
Fax
+44 1313136501
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
Internet address(es)
Main address
Buyer's address
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00381
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Education
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
SFC Research and Evaluation Services Framework
Reference number
SFC 25-26 002 Q1
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73110000 - Research services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
We are seeking to establish a framework of suppliers with the experience, skills, and capacity to deliver evaluation services (including both quantitative and qualitative analysis), and effectively report on findings and recommendations.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: Yes
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,200,000
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Large Scale Research and Evaluation Projects
Lot No
1
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73110000 - Research services
- 79311400 - Economic research services
- 79315000 - Social research services
- 79419000 - Evaluation consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Large Research and Evaluation Projects. Including but not limited to, designing and implementing multi-year evaluations, developing an evaluation framework for large, long-term programmes.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Operation & Management of the Framework Agreement / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Responsible Procurement / Weighting: 5
Quality criterion - Name: Service Delivery / Weighting: 40
Price - Weighting: 40
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Medium Scale Research and Evalution Projects
Lot No
2
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73110000 - Research services
- 79311400 - Economic research services
- 79315000 - Social research services
- 79419000 - Evaluation consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Projects may include but are not limited to, Mixed methods evaluations of SFC investments including document analysis, surveys, focus groups and interviews, lasting 6-12 months. Value for money or cost benefit analysis projects. Targeted stakeholder surveys
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Operation & Management of the Framework Agreement / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Responsible Procurement / Weighting: 5
Quality criterion - Name: Service Delivery / Weighting: 40
Price - Weighting: 40
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
two.2) Description
two.2.1) Title
Small Scale Research and Evaluation Projects
Lot No
3
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73110000 - Research services
- 79311400 - Economic research services
- 79315000 - Social research services
- 79419000 - Evaluation consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKM - Scotland
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Typical projects include but are not limited to, Desk-based work such as conducting literature reviews, synthesising and analysing evidence. Conducting focus groups and analysing and reporting on findings. Conducting one to one interviews and analysing and reporting on findings.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Operation & Management of the Framework Agreement / Weighting: 15
Quality criterion - Name: Responsible Procurement / Weighting: 5
Quality criterion - Name: Service Delivery / Weighting: 40
Price - Weighting: 40
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 four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Open procedure
four.1.3) Information about a framework agreement or a dynamic purchasing system
The procurement involves the establishment of a framework agreement
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-038062
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
1
Title
Large Scale Research and Evaluation Projects
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27 October 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 21
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 20
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 21
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
The Lines Between Ltd.
3 Piershill Place
Edinburgh
EH8 7EH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Ekos Ltd
St Georges Studios 93-97 St Georges Road
Glasgow
G3 6JA
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Pye Tait Ltd (trading as Pye Tait Consulting)
5 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park
Leicester
LE19 1RJ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKF21 - Leicester
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Rocket Science UK Ltd
22 Stafford Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7BD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
IFF Research Ltd.
5th Floor St Magnus House, 3 Lower Thames Street
London
EC3R 6HD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI31 - Camden and City of London
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Additional Research
4 Wellshot Drive, Cambuslang
Glasgow
G72 8BS
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM95 - South Lanarkshire
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £400,000
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
2
Title
Medium Scale Research and Evalution Projects
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27 October 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 36
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 35
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 35
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
The Lines Between Ltd.
3 Piershill Place
Edinburgh
EH8 7EH
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Ekos Ltd
St Georges Studios 93-97 St Georges Road
Glasgow
G3 6JA
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Pye Tait Ltd (trading as Pye Tait Consulting)
5 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park
Leicester
LE19 1RJ
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKF21 - Leicester
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Rocket Science UK Ltd
22 Stafford Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7BD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
CIVIC
12 South Charlotte Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4AX
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM75 - Edinburgh, City of
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
R Denny Consulting Limited
24 Sawyers Close
Winchester
SO22 5JX
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ36 - Central Hampshire
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £400,000
Section five. Award of contract
Lot No
3
Title
Small Scale Research and Evaluation Projects
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
27 October 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 34
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 33
Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 0
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 34
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Rocket Science UK Ltd
22 Stafford Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7BD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
IFF Research Ltd.
5th Floor St Magnus House, 3 Lower Thames Street
London
EC3R 6HD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKI31 - Camden and City of London
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
R Denny Consulting Limited
24 Sawyers Close
Winchester
SO22 5JX
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ36 - Central Hampshire
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
ANT Consulting
20A Ferryhill Place
Aberdeen
AB11 7SE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKM50 - Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Trueman Change Management
The Innovation Centre, Evolution Park
Blackburn
BB1 2FD
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKD41 - Blackburn with Darwen
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Alba Partners Limited
Alba Partners Limited, 86-90 Paul Street
London
EC2A 4NE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £400,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
(SC Ref:818466)
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Edinburgh Sheriff Court
Sherrif Court House, 27 Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1LB
Country
United Kingdom