Social Research and Analysis Framework

The Framework Agreement shall cover the provision of Social Research and Analysis across the Core Scottish Government departments. It shall comprise a multi lot/multi supplier agreement with 3 lots: Lot 1 Consultation Analysis, Lot 2 Evaluations, and Lot 3 Research.

The Scottish Government runs a large volume of consultations throughout the year - on average, we publish 100 consultations per year. We, thus, have an ongoing requirement for consultation analysis.

We wish, therefore, to establish a framework of external suppliers with the experience, skills, and capacity to deliver both quantitative and qualitative analysis of responses to a wide range of government consultations. Work that is required under this lot: Includes: Understanding policy background of consultation, receiving, securely storing and classifying consultation responses.

Analysis of responses to consultation questions, setting out key issues and nature and level of support for consultation proposals in full report. Does not include: conducting public consultations or surveys or evaluation of consultation proposals.

The Scottish Government commissions a wide range of evaluation research to support delivering better outcomes for the people of Scotland by understanding which policies and / or programmes work best and why, and how to learn and improve from the implementation and delivery of policies and programmes. Robust monitoring and evaluation ensures that policies benefit the people who they are designed to help.

It also provides evidence for the public to better understand the decisions and activities of the Scottish Government, their impact and their value for money. Work that is required under this lot: Includes: Process evaluations.

Small-scale evaluations (project value limit 65K GBP) including evaluability and impact assessments, logic modelling and theory of change. Economic evaluations.

Statutory monitoring work, performance monitoring and reviews of legislative requirements. Does not include: Experimental / quasi-experimental impact evaluation, horizon scanning, meta-analysis, feasibility studies

Work that is required under this lot: Includes: Primary research (collecting data from people): quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods data collection/fieldwork online; by telephone; face to face. Representative surveys and focus groups.

Questions in Omnibus surveys if offered by suppliers. In depth, observational interviews.

Public engagement and public panels. Case studies, co-creation, ethnography, narrative analysis, focus groups, lived experience research, deliberative methods.

Secondary research (analysis of pre-existing data) qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods data analysis and literature reviews, evidence reviews, systematic reviews, rapid evidence reviews. Data linkage. Does not include: impact assessment, evaluation, consultation analysis, econometric or financial analysis, modelling.