Working in partnership with the right supplier
 
Local authorities and their partners are increasingly exploring the benefits of Framework agreements with a limited pool of long-term suppliers. The challenge is to find suppliers who have the right mix of resources, expertise and financial stability to conduct and develop research and consultation over three or more years.

QA is now building partnerships with a growing number of councils through Frameworks and panel contracts, as our work in Essex demonstrates.
 
The Essex Partnership Research and Consultation Framework
 
QA is a key member of this procurement framework. We will supply research and consultation services to all 15 local authorities and a range of service delivery partners in the Essex area over a four-year period from 2006.
 
In the first year QA has undertaken the following contracts across the county area involving both capacity delivery and consultancy support: 

• Researching potential Police Service merges
• Creating and managing citizens’ panels in Harlow and Castle Point
• Conducting qualitative research with school Management Teams
• Evaluating the Essex-wide online business portal
• Piloting new approaches to community planning workshops
• Assessing the impact of Summer Drink Driving campaigns
• Delivering a workshop-based review of Corporate Plan Priorities
• Neighbourhood Management research in regeneration areas of South Essex
• Consultation with vulnerable and minority communities in Southend and rural Essex

The next three years
 
Our work has already given the Essex Partnership a range of valuable insights into the views of residents from across the county. As the Framework develops we will provide advice and practical support to help the partners coordinate their work. We will help the partners meet the requirements of new Local Area Agreements and to consult across existing administrative boundaries.
 
Work will also continue on the Essex-wide qualitative panel QA was recently asked to establish and manage.