Research services

Tender description

DFID is seeking a service provider to provide a programme management unit (PMU) to manage the delivery of an applied research programme on High Volume Transport (HVT) along national and regional transport corridors and within cities in low income countries in Africa and South Asia (LIC). High volume transport, in this programme, covers strategic road and rail networks from both a passenger and freight perspective. The expected main beneficiaries of the project are governments and peoples of DFID priority countries, particularly low income countries in Africa and South Asia (see: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development/about). To benefit those countries, the project will need to undertake research and draw on relevant case studies, other research, and lessons from other countries including (but not exclusively) those that have made the transition from Low to Middle Income Country status. The PMU is required to provide a range of project management expertise for procurement of research services, research contract management, legal advisory services, capacity building and knowledge management and financial management for the Applied Research Programme in High Volume Transport. The PMU will not undertake research. However, the PMU will need technical and research management skills in order to fulfil its envisaged functions. The research programme will be split into 2 parts. Part 1, lasting 1 year, will review the literature and evidence available under the 4 identified research areas below and will deliver a series of state of knowledge papers, that will be used to identify and prioritise what future primary research might be undertaken in Part 2 and its scope. The PMU shall be responsible for procurement and supervising implementation of the research, capacity building, knowledge management and uptake programmes, reporting to DFID. The PMU will also organize and fund meetings of the programme's governance and quality assurance structures. The research programme will cover 4 complementary research areas: 1) Long Distance Strategic Road and Rail Transport; 2) Urban Transport; 3) Low Carbon Transport; 4) Gender — Vulnerable Groups and Inclusion in High Volume Transport. The contract will be let for 60 months, structured in 2 parts with a breakpoint at the end of part 1. The 1st phase will be approximately 12 months and the 2nd phase will be for a period of 48 months. DFID will reserve the right to extend the contract beyond this by a further 24 months subject to approval.