Telematching Services

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is undertaking preliminary market engagement in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, to inform its approach to a forthcoming requirement for Telematching and SMS messaging services in support of the 2027 Census Test.

ONS is conducting this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice to inform the development of its planned procurements. ONS is supported by its commercial delivery partner, 4C Associates, in undertaking market engagement activities, including supplier communications and market analysis. ONS remains solely responsible for all procurement governance, approvals and contractual decisions.

Single Statement of User Need (SSUN):

ONS is the UK's national statistical institute and largest producer of official statistics, providing data on key economic, social and demographic topics.

ONS is a central part of the Government Statistical Service (GSS), which is the cross government community responsible for producing official statistics across the UK. ONS operates as the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, an independent body at arm's length from government which oversees and protects the production and publication of official statistics that 'serve the public good'.

ONS' Mission is: "To deliver trustworthy, independent, high-quality statistics that underpin the UK's most critical economic and societal decisions and inform the public."

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) requires a Telematching and SMS reminder service to support the delivery and evaluation of the 2027 Census Test. The service will enable ONS to assess whether SMS reminders improve Census response rates and provide evidence to inform future Census design decisions.

To support the delivery of the 2027 Census Test, the Supplier shall provide and manage the Telematching, SMS delivery, management information and associated data handling services required by the Customer, as more particularly described in this Notice. Full details will be set out in the Specification issued as part of any subsequent procurement process.

For the 2027 Census Test, the Supplier shall:

Provide a Telematching service to identify and match mobile telephone numbers to residential addresses supplied by ONS (circa ~120,000 addresses);

Receive address files from ONS and return flagged files confirming which addresses have a matched mobile number meeting ONS's minimum quality criteria (for example, confirmed as belonging to an adult resident and validated as current), without returning the underlying telephone numbers to ONS. Full quality criteria will be set out in the Specification issued as part of any subsequent procurement process;

Complete an initial Telematching exercise and a subsequent refresh of matched records prior to Census 2027 Test operations;

Send SMS reminders on ONS's behalf, using ONS-approved message content and in accordance with the operational timetable and campaign requirements defined by ONS;

Manage SMS delivery outcomes, including delivery reporting and opt-out management;

Provide management information, reporting and operational performance data to support evaluation of the Census Test;

Ensure all collected data is processed, stored, transferred and deleted in accordance with contractual security, privacy and legal requirements;

Participate in testing, onboarding, assurance and readiness activities required by ONS; and

Provide confirmation of data deletion and service decommissioning following completion of the service.

The Supplier shall work in partnership with ONS to deliver a secure, compliant, and high-performing Telematching and SMS Reminder Service that supports the successful delivery of the 2027 Census Test and contributes to achieving programme objectives.

As a trusted public body, ONS places the utmost importance on maintaining public confidence in the Census. Accordingly, the Supplier must evidence exemplary ethical standards and robust governance arrangements in the sourcing, management, safeguarding, and use of mobile number data, including address allocation activities. Through transparent, lawful, and responsible practices, the Supplier shall support ONS in maintaining public trust and confidence, ensuring that the Census continues to be recognised as a trusted, credible, and nationally important statistical undertaking.

Indicative dates:

Trial sample test (100 addresses) - October 2026

Main address file provided to supplier - November 2026

Telematched file returned - End of November 2026

Data refresh exercise - March 2027

SMS reminders sent (Census Day) - 14 March 2027

SMS follow-up reminder sent - 23 March 2027

Indicative Minimum Requirements:

Given the nature of the personal data involved, any supplier (and relevant sub-contractors) will be expected to hold, or be able to evidence progress towards, prior to contract award, the following:

ISO 27001 certification (or equivalent Information Security Management System);

Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification;

UK-based data storage and processing only;

Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) vetting for relevant staff; and

Compliance with UK GDPR and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.