QUALITATIVE RESEARCH - BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE USERS ON RAIL

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  "date": "2025-12-23T15:45:04Z",
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    "description": "Specification / deliverables\nThe appointed supplier will work with Transport Focus and SISJ partners to design and deliver qualitative research addressing how BSL users want to receive passenger information across rail environments. If quantitative work is also considered to be feasible, then we would consider also including this. The areas to be covered are: \nAccess and preferences\n\u2022 How BSL users prefer to access information across station, onboard and digital channels.\n\u2022 What constitutes an acceptable and desirable minimum viable product (MVP) for BSL provision.\nContent and language considerations\n\u2022 Expectations around regional BSL dialects and whether a single \"universal\" version is acceptable.\n\u2022 Preferences regarding interpreter choice, including lived experience of deafness.\n\u2022 Views on consistency versus localisation of BSL content.\nPhysical and digital delivery\n\u2022 Expectations for placement, prominence and visibility of BSL information within station environments.\n\u2022 Integration with existing screens, boards or digital platforms.\nTechnology and innovation\n\u2022 Perceptions of AI-generated BSL (including avatar-based and hybrid approaches).\n\u2022 Acceptability of AI in different contexts, such as planned information versus disruption.\n\u2022 Expectations around subtitling alongside BSL.\nUser diversity\n\u2022 Based on demographics (age, gender, employment and income, presence of additional disabilities, region and nation, ethnic background), BSL fluency, hearing status, travel confidence, travel frequency and technology comfort.\nMethodological expectations\nA qualitative approach is essential. Proposals should demonstrate experience working with the d/Deaf community and may well include, some or all of:\n\u2022\tShort desk research to inform fieldwork design.\n\u2022\tEngagement with relevant stakeholders or expert organisations (such as BDA, RNID...).\n\u2022\tDepth interviews, accompanied journeys, focus groups or online platforms where appropriate.\n\u2022\tWe would be open to other methods being included including quantitative surveys. \nPlease note that it is essential that all recruitment and fieldwork is conducted using: \n\u2022\tBSL-fluent moderation and appropriate interpreting support.\n\u2022\tInclusive and accessible research environments and materials.\nDeliverables \nAs a minimum, we will require a debrief presentation and a report to our publication standards (probably PowerPoint). Other outputs may be",
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      {
        "description": "Outline of requirement: Qualitative research project with users of British Sign Language to understand requirements for information when using rail.",
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    "enquiryPeriod": {
      "endDate": "2026-01-08T23:59:59Z"
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              "description": "Supplier requirements\nWe welcome bids from a wide range of suppliers including academic teams, research suppliers, consortia, independent experts, or other suitably qualified organisations with the relevant expertise. Responses must demonstrate:\n\u2022 Strong experience delivering qualitative research with d/Deaf and BSL-using participants.\n\u2022 Expertise in accessibility, inclusive design or transport research (rail experience desirable), including identification of sample and recruitment of research participants \n\u2022 Capability to conduct research in BSL or with high-quality interpreting support.\n\u2022 Experience translating complex qualitative insight into clear, actionable conclusions and make recommendations."
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    "submissionMethodDetails": "Please email all tenders to: procurementadmin@transportfocus.org.uk\nQuestions may be submitted to: procurementadmin@transportfocus.org.uk",
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    "title": "QUALITATIVE RESEARCH - BRITISH SIGN LANGUAGE USERS ON RAIL",
    "value": {
      "amount": 60000,
      "amountGross": 72000,
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