Published date: 30 March 2023

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 3 March 2023, 11:59pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research and development consultancy services - 73200000

Location of contract

BS1 5AH

Value of contract

£18,693

Procurement reference

CF-0057400D8d000003VQwdEAG

Published date

30 March 2023

Closing date

3 March 2023

Closing time

11:59pm

Contract start date

6 March 2023

Contract end date

31 March 2023

Contract type

Not applicable

Procedure type

Call-off from a framework agreement

A mini-competition or direct purchase from a pre-established framework agreement.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

Background

The problem: We do not currently have the data (or mechanism) needed to measure (or estimate) the true scale of waste crime. The currently available waste crime data, which is largely based on reports of known waste crime, does not give an accurate picture of the actual incidence of waste crime.

Our current Corporate Measure for waste crime, against which Government measure our performance in tackling the problem, is based on reducing the number of known, active illegal waste
sites. It does not reflect the true nature and scale of waste crime and provides a narrow view of only one waste crime type.

The gaps in our understanding in the scale of the problem have been the subject of recent scrutiny including reports by the National Audit Office and the Parliamentary Accounts Committee.
Government actions to combat waste crime - Reports, special reports and government responses -
Committees - UK Parliament

Research Request

This request relates to applying that approach for waste crime. It is anticipated that this work will be
done in two phases. Phase 1 being a feasibility study into the applicability of the 'fraud and error approach' to different waste crime types. Phase 2 would then take the most promising areas of waste crime for further in-depth analysis and ultimately look to estimate the level of fraud and error.

This request is in relation to Phase 1 only. We would like to commission the start of the feasibility study. Specific objectives of this initial piece of work are:

1. Assess the practicality of using fraud and error to measure different types of waste crime, including a preliminary analysis of evidence. Identify specific waste activities, waste types or
waste regimes that should be prioritised for any subsequent research or where there are gaps in available data. Activities to initially consider are listed in the table below.

2. An analysis of the DWP approach to fraud and error in the benefits system and which elements of their methodology are likely most applicable to waste crime. Consider any other
similar approaches on the 'marketplace'.

3. Advice / recommendations on how to conduct future phases of work and data collection.

Award information

Awarded date

8 March 2023

Contract start date

6 March 2023

Contract end date

31 March 2023

Total value of contract

£18,693

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

Ricardo-AEA Ltd

Address

The Gemini Building, Harwell, Oxfordshire OX11 0QR

Reference

None

About the buyer

Contact name

Felicity Jowett

Address

Horizon House Deanery Road
Bristol
BS1 5AH
United Kingdom

Telephone

07917084225

Email

felicity.jowett@environment-agency.gov.uk