Market Research Guide for Suppliers

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UK SBS Market Research: Supplier Guide 1 | P a g e

Market Research

Guide for Suppliers

Frequently Asked Questions

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Introduction

Suppliers (providers) are critical to the success of our procurement service - that’s why UK SBS works with our customers to select suppliers who can deliver high quality and best value products and services that our customers need and expect. With that aim, UK SBS looks to support suppliers to deliver excellence of service to our shared customers. We recognise that suppliers have differing support needs, this is why we provide a variety of support mechanisms to ensure that you, as a supplier, know how services should be delivered through the framework you are awarded to.

This Supplier Guide provides the key information that suppliers awarded to the Market Research framework will need to provide services to the Government and wider public sector.

Further information for suppliers can be found on our website.

If you have questions which aren’t covered within this guide, the category team are available to respond to your questions at [email protected]. This guide will be updated to ensure it continues to address the information needs and questions of suppliers.

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Management Information (MI)

As a supplier on a UK SBS framework agreement you will need to return monthly MI reports via the MISO system (this is a web-based MI tool).

Q1 How do I submit MI?

You can access the MISOsystem directly to submit your returns.

Q2 When do I need to submit MI data by?

We need to receive your monthly MI via MISO by the 7th of each calendar month. If the 7th falls on a weekend or bank holiday, you will need to submit your MI on the last working day prior to the 7th. You can submit earlier, if required. If you have no MI to submit, a nil return function on MISO must be completed as per the deadline stated above.

Q3 What if I have a problem using MISO?

Contact the MISO support team. Email:[email protected]

Telephone: 0151 672 2040

Supplying services through the framework

To purchase market research services using this framework, UK SBS customers have to follow a defined process to identify the framework supplier best able to deliver their requirements. This process is known as ‘call off’ or ‘mini competition’. This is a formal process where the buyer defines the project requirements, evaluation process and

timescales and invites all framework suppliers (within the selected lot and/or specialism) to submit a proposal to meet these requirements. Evaluation is undertaken to determine the supplier that will best meet the customer’s requirements for that specific piece of work, and therefore be awarded a contract. This is to ensure that a fair and transparent process is followed in supplier selection.

Q4 What do ‘call-off’ and ‘mini competition’ mean?

These are all terms that may be used to refer to the process the Contracting Body (UK SBS) or customer (e.g. Government department/Agency) follow to place an order with a supplier on a framework agreement. The customer may be said to ‘call-off’ a framework or be ‘calling-‘call-off’ against a framework.

‘Mini competition’ is when the Customer asks suppliers to submit quotes for a specific piece of work or service (i.e. in competition with each other). This is also, sometimes referred to as ‘further competition’.

Q5 What is a capability assessment?

A capability assessment can be used by customers as an additional step in the call off process to identify suppliers who are able to meet the customer requirements. This provides suppliers with the opportunity to confirm whether they have the capability/resource to meet the customer’s requirements, and decide if they want to submit a quote at the next stage.

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Q6 Who do customers have to invite to tender/ submit a quote?

To comply with UK procurement regulations, customers must invite all capable suppliers within a Lot (this can be further narrowed by specialism) to submit a quote at mini competition stage (unless suppliers have previously deselected themselves in the capability assessment).

Q7 What should I do if I am unable to take part in a ‘call-off’ or ‘mini competition’ when

invited?

You should inform both the customer and the Category Team at UK SBS. You can inform the customer either by deselecting yourself at capability assessment, or by contacting the customer in the method outlined in the Statement of Requirements. You can contact the Category Team via [email protected] .

Q8 How do I raise concerns with the ‘call off’ process?

If you have any concerns relating to the ‘call off ‘process you should follow the process outlined within the documentation. Contact the customer directly in the first instance. You may also wish to contact the Category Team at [email protected]

to discuss any concerns you have.

Q9 Who do I tell if I receive an capability assessment/ mini competition?

If you receive a capability assessment or mini competition you should inform the Category Team using the email [email protected].

Please enter [Market Research Framework Mini Competition Received]’ in the subject line and provide customer name and department, project name and value (if known) in the body of the email.

Q10 I will be using sub-contractors to deliver some aspects of a brief, what do I need to do?

If you plan to use a sub-contractor to deliver any aspects of a brief, you must inform both the customer and the Category Team at UK SBS. If the sub-contractor details have not been provided previously, you must supply these details to the UK SBS Category Team via [email protected]. Details of the sub-contractor/s will be added to the framework database.

Marketing

Q11 How do I promote my position on the framework?

UK SBS are developing amarketing toolkitto support you in promoting your organisation as a supplier to the Crown Commercial Service and UK SBS.

If you wish to release a news item/ press release relating to this framework, UK SBS or the Crown Commercial Service, you must submit final copy for approval, prior to release to the media or any online channel, to the UK SBS Press team at

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Contact details

UK SBS Procurement

If you need to contact the Market Research category team in relation to any part of the framework, please use the following contact details.

Email: [email protected]

Subject line: MR Framework - [insert a brief query type/descriptor here] Telephone: Procurement Service Desk 01793 867005

For general information about UK SBS, please visit our website. This is regularly updated with news and information for both customers and suppliers and where we promote our supplier opportunities. We also use Twitter to promote supplier opportunities, so why not follow us @uksbs.

UK SBS Communications

If you have press releases or articles which will be used in the public domain, and reference UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS), the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) or the pan-Government Market Research Framework, we will need to review the content, prior to distribution, to ensure that all parties are represented in accordance with their policies. The public domain refers to any online or media channels accessible by the public. Please send content to [email protected] for review. It is helpful if you state when you need a response by. Please allow a reasonable timescale for review and approval, at least 48 hours. If we have a problem in meeting your desired timescales, we will let you know.

MISO Support team

MISO portal

https://miso.ccs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk

MISO system support