Research Questionnaires allow you create early market engagement Using our Formbuilder functionality, you can create Research Questionnaires that are linked to a Requirement that can then be filled in by any/select users. 


Research Questionnaires can be used as:

  • Research Stage - e.g. Market research to help define specifications.
  • Define Stage - e.g. Internal research to find expected spend and requirements.
  • Award Stage - e.g. Performance monitoring.


Step 1 : Create a Research Questionnaire

First we need to create our Research Questionnaire using the Form Builder.


Step 2 : Link Research Questionnaire to the Requirement

Now we have created the Research Questionnaire, we need to link it to our Requirement in order to make it accessible to the relevant users.

  • Head back into the relevant Requirement, and click Add Research from the RFX tab.
  • Select the relevant form and click New version.
  • You will be asked to confirm the:
    • Version name (defaults to name of the Requirement)
    • Version reference
    • Open date (when users can go in and Register Interest/ respond to the Questionnaire)
    • Close date (the date and time for last submission to Questionnaire)
    • Review opening date (when Reviewers can go in and review submissions)
    • Review deadline date/ Days (to flag to reviewers when they should have reviewed the submission by)
    • Upload files relevant for the Research Questionnaire
  • We can then choose the accessibility of the Research Questionnaire (who can participate):
    • Public  - Open to all users (that have access to the Supplier Interface)
      • Once the Research Questionnaire has been published, users can then: Head to the Register Interest screen > Click Participate > Fill in the questionnaire from My Questionnaires page.
    • Screened - Users will have to request permission to participate in the Questionnaire.
    • Invitation - Only selected users will have access to the Questionnaire (and will not need to Register Interest)
  • Click Create to save a draft 
  • You can go into the 'Formbuilder' tab to edit your Research Questionnaire as needed. 
  • Select your Reviewers for the Research Questionnaire by heading to the 'Reviewers' tab
    • The list of users is taken from named people in the Requirement (Procurement, Contract Managers and Stakeholders)
  • When ready, click Publish.
    • Once the Questionnaire has been published it cannot be edited. If you need to amend/remove the Questionnaire you can press Withdraw.


Step 3 : Research Notice

Now we can have created and published the Research Questionnaire, you can then create a Notice to be published on Contracts Finder / Find a Tender (depending on your requirements). 

Please see here our detailed support page on creating a Notice. 

Step 4: Supplier Responds to the Research Questionnaire

  • Supplier heads to Participate > Research Questionnaires. 

  • Locate the questionnaire under the Research (Early Engagement) tab and click the Participate button.

  • Head to the My Questionnaires page, ensure you are under the Research (Early Engagement) tab, and press Respond to fill in the answers. 

Step 5 : Review submissions
User's are able to view responses to Research Questionnaire's in much the same way as tender questionnaire's. This is done through the 'Evaluate and Review' screen under Supplier Management.

There are two tabs within the page, one for Research and one for Tender. Head to the 'Research' tab.

  • Head to the relevant response and click Review. 
  • Add any relevant comments and click Submit Review.
  • Click Reviewed to see the submission and your comments


N.B. A high-level user, e.g. Procurement or Contract Manager on a requirement, that has the ability to Qualify Tender responses, will also be able to view all comments made by reviewers. Reviewers that are your typical evaluators will only be able to see their own comments.


High-level users only (Procurement & Contract Managers)

Research Report:

You can download a spreadsheet containing all responses to any Research Questionnaire. This report will ultimately appear when there is at least one response to the Research Questionnaire. 

  • Click on the research request in the RFX tab of the requirement
  • At the bottom left of the page, click "Download Report" (a report can also be found by clicking on the file icon next to the questionnaire)

This report lists all responses and includes (for each) the company name, the date/time submitted and all answers provided by the participant.


Research Findings:

You can also view Research Findings by clicking on the Stats icon (appears as a graph icon) next to the Research Questionnaire (also found in the RFX tab). This will display graphically the stats for a variety of questions and answers.   


You will be able to view vertical/horizontal bar graphs presenting findings for check box, radio button and drop-down list questions. These bar graphs are able to be downloaded and viewed.