Foreign economic-aid-related services

Description

This is a prior information notice (PIN) only: publication and a call for competition will be conducted once the scope of work is fully defined and approved. DFID’s research and evidence division (RED) is considering changing the way that we commission research through competition. We are developing a business case to create a more rapid, responsive commissioning mechanism for DFID’s ‘mission driven’ research. This includes scoping a new, external Commissioning Centre (CC — working title only) to run research grant competitions. This mechanism could succeed DFID’s research contract procurement that currently accounts for between 20-30 % of DFID’s annual research budget. It could include research in any thematic area in development research (DFID’s existing research teams are governance, conflict, inclusion and humanitarian, health, agriculture, growth, education, climate, energy and water). The new mechanism would not affect other research partnerships such as live research contracts and the multi-donor funded global mechanisms that we are part of. The CC model would award research grants. This will aim to make DFID’s calls faster, more efficient and more responsive to DFID’s development priorities. It will align DFID with the treasury-approved norms underpinning UK public funded research. We are considering additional functions for the CC such as a communication platform for DFID research, supporting thought leadership and getting new research into use. In designing the CC, we are interested in engaging with organisations and groups of organisations that have proven experience in designing and managing research grant competitions in ODA funded research and at scale, with leading academic experts to help shape research calls and oversee thematic research programmes. This includes Universities and groups of Universities and both private and not-for-profit organisations. We will consider working with existing mechanisms. DFID is hosting a pre-business case early market engagement (EME) event to gather feedback on options to deliver this approach. The aims of this consultation are to inform the development of new business case; to understand actors, current activity and interests in the research grant competition field and discuss and get feedback on options for an operating model change for commissioning DFID funded research. The feedback from this event will support the development of business case. UK and overseas institutions are equally welcome to join this event. We will take steps to encourage participation of South-based organisations and to mitigate the tendency to engage more with those are able to attend in person. DFID have not yet decided the route to implementation, therefore this early market engagement will help DFID to take a decision as part of BC development. This is a prior information notice (PIN) only: publication and a call for competition will be conducted once the scope of work is fully defined and approved. Please register on the DFID Supplier Portal for this opportunity (PROJ10098) to receive all communication and updates: https://dfid.proactisportal.com/Account/Login There will be an early market engagement event held on Thursday 20th February. For all information regarding times and venues please ensure to access these details within the additional information provided for PROJ10098 on the DFID Supplier Portal. Note, there are 2 elements to registration which must not be confused with each other: 1) Suppliers must register their interest to PROJ10098 on the DFID Supplier Portal to ensure they receive all communications and updates (this is not registration to attend the event); 2) Within the profile of PROJ10098 on the portal, there are attachments containing additional documents which contain the survey monkey link to register for the EME event. The survey monkey link contained within these documents must be followed and the survey completed, to ensure registration for attendance.