Paper Questionnaire Return Service

The Office for National Statistics (the "Authority") is seeking to engage with interested supplier organisations in order to identify possible options for the procurement of a Paper Questionnaire Return Service that will help deliver the 2019 Rehearsal and 2021 Census for all households and communal establishments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Any supplier organisation that may be interested in participating in the early market engagement must email the Contracting Authority at: census2021.transformation.programme@ons.gov.uk.

Background - The Authority is the UK's largest independent producer of official statistics, responsible for collecting and publishing statistics related to the economy, population and society at national, regional and local levels. This includes a census every 10 years in England and Wales and supporting Northern Ireland.

They are currently considering the options for the procurement of a Paper Questionnaire Return Service (the "Service") to collect and receipt up to 16 million individually completed paper questionnaires and deliver to UK data capture facilities from anywhere in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Service will support the 2021 Census (and scaled down proportionally for the 2019 Rehearsal).

Additional information: The Service will provide the Authority with a solution to ensure that all completed paper questionnaires are returned to the UK data capture facilities. This shall include coverage throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland and shall be accessible and convenient for all respondents. The Service shall include collection, sorting, receipting and delivery of all completed paper questionnaires to the UK data capture facilities; and provide management information to the Authority as necessary, to assist with the delivery of the 2019 Rehearsal and 2021 Census.

Market engagement opportunity (Supplier Meetings) - The Authority is keen to meet with suppliers that will be interested in tendering for and / or delivering a nationwide (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) solution that minimises barriers for respondents to return their completed paper questionnaires.

The Authority wishes to understand the depth of knowledge, expertise, proposed infrastructure and practical experience which suppliers may have of the management and delivery of these services. If you are interested in being part of the Supplier Meetings, please view the attached document for details on how to register.

This exercise aims to give the supplier market advanced warning of a future procurement and a market engagement opportunity. It is not intended to be a call for competition or reduce the procurement timescales.