Scope
Reference
LPC 2025/05
Description
The Low Pay Commission (LPC) invites tenders from researchers with ideas for new or innovative research in relation to the National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW).
The Low Pay Commission is a non-departmental public body that advises the Government about the NMW, including the NLW and the minimum wage rates for young workers and apprentices. We are responsible for evaluating the effects of the NMW and NLW and making recommendations on future rates. To carry out these functions, our work involves:
• carrying out extensive research and consultation with employers, workers and their representatives and taking written and oral evidence from a wide range of organisations;
• analysing relevant data to understand the state of the economy and labour market and the impact of the minimum wage;
• commissioning research projects into these questions.
This research will fill gaps in our current understanding of the impacts of the minimum wage, particularly the increases in the minimum wage rates since 2020. It will complement the LPC's own analysis of pay, the labour market and the broader economy and sit alongside other pieces of commissioned research.
We are aware that the pandemic and its aftermath have disrupted many of the usual data sources upon which we rely. However, there have also been recent developments in new data sources, and in data linking. We are therefore keen to consider tenders that can take advantage of these.
A list of suggested topics for research is provided in Section A2 of the Invitation to Tender document. However, we recognise that there may be areas of investigation worth pursuing that we have not yet identified, or which have not previously been considered in great depth. Researchers who believe that they have a worthwhile proposal that would fall into these categories are welcome to submit it for consideration. We would also encourage proposals from those who wish to extend current research on the impact of the minimum wage, whether that original research was funded by us or another organisation.
We will award up to three contracts under this Procurement. The maximum estimated value of any single contract is £45,000 (exclusive of VAT). However, we welcome proposals for smaller projects and anticipate bids will typically be in the range £25,000 to £40,000. Bids will be assessed on value for money and so should be priced appropriately for the scale of the proposed project and the resources required to complete it.
Total value (estimated)
- £45,000 excluding VAT
- £54,000 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 2 March 2026 to 31 December 2026
- 9 months, 30 days
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
Participation
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
12 January 2026, 2:00pm
Tender submission deadline
2 February 2026, 2:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
Tenders should be submitted to tim.butcher@lowpay.gov.uk, copying lpc@lowpay.gov.uk.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
No
Award criteria
Tenders shall be evaluated using the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) methodology. This is where the Authority assesses a Tender based on a combination of commercial, quality, and price elements. The Authority chooses to award the Contract, the Authority shall award the Contract to the Tenderer which submits the highest scoring Tender.
The MAT ratio for this Tender is as follows:
Commercial: Pass/Fail
Quality: 80%
Value for Money: 20%
Any non-weighted elements shall be evaluated as pass/fail and any Tenders which receive a 'Fail' will be excluded from further participation in the Procurement.
Quality will be assessed on three dimensions:
Understanding the requirements and context (A01): 25%
Methodology and approach (A02): 30%
Ability to deliver (A03): 25%
Value for money will be scored based on total contract price, the scale and quality of the proposed deliverables and the staffing resource required to complete the project.
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - open competition
Documents
Associated tender documents
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/low-pay-commission-call-for-research-for-2026-and-beyond
A detailed description of the project requirements is provided in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document published on the Low Pay Commission website.
The pricing schedule template can be found alongside the ITT document.
Note that there may be a short delay before the linked page goes live. If you are unable to access it initially, please try again on the next working day.
Contracting authority
Low Pay Commission
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PDDW-8983-PTPH
Ground Floor, 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf
London
E14 4PU
United Kingdom
Contact name: Tim Butcher
Email: lpc@lowpay.gov.uk
Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/low-pay-commission
Region: UKI42 - Tower Hamlets
Organisation type: Public authority - central government