Research to inform period products scheme guidance for schools and institutions delivering 16-19 education

*UPDATED 31/07/19* Expressions of interest (EOIs) are sought for research to engage with prospective period products scheme users to ensure the guidance is evidence informed and fit for purpose. In April 2019 the DfE (the department) announced that the free period products scheme, introduced by the Chancellor in March 2019, for secondary schools and colleges would be extended to also cover primary schools. The department will shortly award a national contract to provide free period products to schools and institutions delivering 16-19 education across England. This research will ensure that the perspectives of prospective users are considered when issuing initial guidance in December 2019 to educational settings on how they can deliver the scheme in a way that recognises the needs of their learners. The research should engage learners to: 1) Understand learners' expectations of the period products scheme, 2) Identify any risks and barriers posed by different approaches that institutions may take to make free period products available to their learners, and 3) Understand how the period products scheme design and delivery can support efforts to tackle stigma surrounding periods. We have not specified a method for this research and welcome innovative proposals from contractors that would meet the above research aim and objectives, capturing insight from a diverse group of learners (approximately 50 learners) which represent a range of characteristics such as: • Age, • Gender identity, • Ethnicity, • Special educational needs and disability, • Socio-economic status, • Institution type, • Geography, and • Learners in educational settings with and without existing free period product schemes. Prospective bidders submitting an EOI must: • Have access to a sample of learners (approximately 50 learners) and be able to recruit participants who represent a range of learner and institution characteristics within the tight timescale specified in this EOI, • Have appropriate ethical approvals (where required) and safeguards in place to sensitively conduct research with vulnerable people (i.e. children aged under 16) and learners aged 16+ on this topic, • Be able to agree sampling and research methods (including questionnaires, topic and/ or interview guides if applicable) with the department by 0900 BST on Wednesday 18th September 2019, • Be able to complete fieldwork and provide interim reporting (e.g. a slide pack of no more than 20 slides outlining findings broken down by sample characteristics and identifying initial recommendations for scheme guidance) to the department by 0900 BST on Wednesday 9th October 2019, and • Be able to agree the final report (approximately 20 pages including an executive summary, outline of sampling strategy and methods, results, recommendations for scheme guidance and conclusions, excluding appendices) with the department by 0900 GMT on Friday 1st November 2019. **Please note EOI deadline: 09:00 09/08/19