PCD 1293 MOPAC Research Services Contract Variation – 2023-24

PCD 1293 MOPAC Research Services Contract Variation – 2023-24 

The MOPAC Research Services contract includes provision of public voice surveys. These surveys enable MOPAC to monitor progress around core areas of the Police and Crime Plan (PCP) and oversight of the MPS.  The current contract will expire at the end of FY 22-23. Due to a variety of resourcing issues it is not possible to recruit a new provider in time for an April 23 start. 

The DMPC is therefore asked to approve a contract variation to extend delivery of services by the current supplier - Opinion Research Services (ORS) - for an additional 12-months. The variation is associated with annual costs (FY 23/24) of £1,098,785.  

The Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime is recommended to:   

1. Approve a contract variation to the existing MOPAC Research Services contract to continue delivery of services by ORS for an additional 12-months (Apr 23-Mar 24).  

1. Approve associated costs of £1,098,785.  

PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE TO THE DMPC 

1. Introduction and background  

1. The current MOPAC Research Services contract will expire at the end of FY 22-23. E&I were approved to initiate procurement activity for the setup of a new contract in July 22 (PCD 1237). However, due to a variety of resourcing issues (see Part 2) it is not possible to recruit a new provider in time for 1st Apr 23 start.  

2. It is therefore necessary to invoke a contract variation to extend the delivery of services by the current supplier - Opinion Research Services (ORS) - by an additional 12-months.  This variation is required to enable continued provision of the corporate surveys, thus ensuring key PCP metrics are not disrupted. 

3. PCGOB approved this proposed variation on 23rd Sept 22.   

2. Issues for consideration  

2.1 The public surveys delivered via the MOPAC Research Services Contract are critical for overseeing the delivery of the Police and Crime Plan (PCP). Many survey measures are included in the PCP outcomes/performance framework. Without this variation MOPAC will be unable to collate survey data from 1st Apr 23 and therefore unable to monitor progress around core areas of the PCP.  

2.2 A variation of 12-months is proposed for consistency of data collection and trends across a complete FY. This will also give sufficient time to award a new contract given the resourcing issues (see Part 2).  The proposed contract variation will provide continuity of service whilst the new contract is set up. A full procurement exercise is underway for FY24-25 onwards. 

3. Financial Comments  

1. Annual contract costs for FY 22/23 are £1,011,923. This contract variation would be associated with annual costs (FY 23/24) of £1,098,785. The increase between FY 22/23 and 23/24 will create a budget pressure in 23/24. The budget pressure will be managed within the overall budget for the Strategy Directorate for 2023/24 and will be reflected in the MOPAC budget submission from 2024/25 onwards. 

2. The original Research Services contract value (PCD491) was up to £3.186m over four-years.  

3. An uplift of £284,808 (CEOD 30-2021) in Jan 22 took the total contract value to £3.471m over four-years.  

4. Legal Comments  

1. Paragraph 4.13 of the MOPAC Scheme of Delegation and Consent provides that the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) has delegated authority to approve all unforeseen variations and extensions to contracts with an original value of £500,000 or above, when the variation or extension is greater than 10% of the original value and/or is for a period of more than 12 months. 

5. Commercial Issues 

1. E&I were approved to invoke the 12-month extension period in the original contract in Jan 22 (see CEOD 30-2021) which covers service delivery between Apr 22-Mar 23. 

2. The current contract expires on 31st March 23.  

3. E&I were approved to initiate procurement activity for the setup of a new contract in July 22 (PCD 1237).  Progress has been far slower than expected due to resourcing issues. This information is contained in the restricted section of the report.  

4. As an extension to an existing service this work does not change any aspects relating to responsible procurement. 

6. Public Health Approach 

1. A key strategic aim of London’s Violence Reduction Unit is to increase feelings of safety – recognising that London is one of the safest Cities in the world. The key method for measuring perceptions is through surveys, including the Public Attitude Survey. This proposal therefore directly supports the VRU’s aims and the public health approach adopted to support them. 

7. GDPR and Data Privacy  

1. MOPAC will adhere to the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and ensure that any organisations who are commissioned to do work with or on behalf of MOPAC are fully compliant with the policy and understand their GDPR responsibilities.   

8. Equality Comments  

1. MOPAC is required to comply with the public sector equality duty set out in section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010. This requires MOPAC to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations by reference to people with protected characteristics. The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 

2. Crime disproportionately impacts areas with high deprivation and in general these are non-White areas. The PAS enables an understanding of what is going on at borough level, through an increased sample size and victimisation questions. This allows us and partners to make better informed decisions and have a greater impact on crime levels affecting these communities. 

9. Background/supporting papers 

1. n/a