Research Consultancy Support

Description

Prior Information Notice to provide advance notification of potential forthcoming contract opportunities to provide Research consultancy services to Zero Waste Scotland. Lot 1: One of the most immediate and urgent societal challenges is to achieve resource efficiency and improve circularity through the adoption of more sustainable practices whilst continuing to adapt to a changing climate. As Scotland’s circular economy and resource efficiency experts, Zero Waste Scotland’s goal is to help realise the economic, environmental and social benefits of making the best use of the world’s limited natural resources. This includes investigating new and innovative ways to conserve materials and to cycle materials and products efficiently back into supply chains and the economy. Working strategically with key partners, including the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA, the Enterprise Agencies, Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and others to deliver our programmes of work, we make direct interventions to affect change. These interventions are commonly in the form of finance, business support, technical advice, training and competency development, and communications support. Our Research and Analysis team has a critical role to play in supporting the work of those key partners. With the scoping and development of interventions, we use targeted research and analysis to ensure that relevant, high-quality evidence is available to inform future national and international policy development while also supporting the investment of resources to address the issues in an efficient and cost-effective manner. To support our strategic aspirations and objectives and provide the Research and Analysis team with access to a greater range of relevant skills and specialisms, we anticipate the need to procure research consultancy services in the following fields: - Quantitative and qualitative research methodology and methods, including (but not limited to) ethnography, interviews (narrative, life history, semi-structured, unstructured), focus groups, participatory action research, creative methods, and surveys - Research topic areas may include Co-Design, Behaviour Change, Circular Economy, Waste Systems, Construction and Demolition, Food Systems, Product Stewardship, Just Transition, Economics and Trade, Social Innovation, Social Policy, International Development, and Capacity Building. However, this is just a snapshot to illustrate potential areas of activity and should not be considered an indication of what is or will be planned at any time. Please visit https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/evidence-insights for further information on the type of evidence and insights we are responsible for developing. We have not yet established the most appropriate number, scope or structure of the agreements that will govern any future relationship with a supplier or suppliers for the provision of the identified research consultancy services, or for any other similar services that might be identified after the publication of this Prior Information Notice (PIN). To help identify the most effective contractual arrangements, we intend to host an online Supplier Engagement Event scheduled for 09:30 on Thursday 29 June 2023. This will provide interested parties with further information on: - the type of research activities we regularly conduct - how we use the evidence and information gathered to influence and inform the development of projects and programmes of work - the type of skills, knowledge and experience we are likely to be seeking, and - how we will use the procurement process to support this. The event will be hosted using Microsoft Teams and is anticipated will be about ninety (90) minutes in duration, including time for attendees to ask questions of the presenters. Please visit https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/54d6758b-4a73-42f6-b687-5320fa5e28c7@8eadbdcb-d923-4b75-bc60-13cc1a2a0557 to register your interest in attending the Supplier Engagement Event. Additional information: Future contract opportunities will be advertised via the Public Contracts Scotland web portal and the UKs “Find a Tender System” (FTS) where relevant.