Research services

Tender description

This is a prior information notice only: publication and call for competition will be conducted once scope of work is fully defined and approved. The call for Competition will be research exempt, therefore we are advertising via OJEU voluntarily. Strengthening health systems, building resilience, and improving service delivery in challenging contexts. DFID anticipates launching a competition for proposals during 2017 for research programmes focused on building stronger and more resilient health systems in low and middle income countries, and delivering health services to hardest to reach areas (subject to Ministerial approval). It is anticipated 2 — 4 contracts will be awarded, each with a value of 6 000 000 GBP — 8 000 000 GBP. The research programmes will take an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to help DFID and the development community better understand what works to build resilient and accountable health systems that deliver for poor people. It is expected that collectively the research programmes will provide critical new knowledge on: —Strengthening the key building blocks of health systems and ensuring the system as a whole works more effectively; —Improving health systems resilience to crises; —Delivering essential health services in challenging contexts (e.g. fragile and conflict affected states, slum/urban contexts, etc.) DFID will be seeking multi-disciplinary research (bringing experience such as health systems research, financing, governance, essential services, political theory, social science and economics), that will build upon the existing evidence base and provide new knowledge with practical relevance to decision makers in the field in low and middle income countries. DFID has historically been a leading funder of health systems research. DFID is looking to maintain its cutting edge research in this area, whilst expanding its focus on improving health systems resilience to crises, and delivering essential health services in challenging contexts. The research should ideally also address a number of core themes, including value for money, coverage of vulnerable groups and building evidence on interventions in a range of contexts including (but not limited to) fragile and conflict affected states. Proposals should take account of DFID's approach to public health, outlined in the Health Position Paper which stresses that the health system goes beyond the health sector and beyond the public sector. DFID currently uses the Research Programme Consortia (RPC) model for funding this type of research. As with all communications regarding this opportunity, the Health Position Paper and further information on the RPC funding modality can be found under the additional documentation section once you register your interest on the DFID Supplier portal. This opportunity will be open to organisations worldwide (not only within the UK). Early Market Engagement (EME) Event / Feedback Survey DFID will host an early market engagement event on Tuesday 15th November 2016, between 3pm and 5pm EST at the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (http://healthsystemsglobal.org/globalsymposia/) at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Canada. Please note that you have to register via the Global Symposium website to attend this event. All information shared at the EME event, will be shared on the DFID Supplier Portal, to ensure that those not attending the event are not disadvantaged. There is also an opportunity to engage in the EME exercise, whether or not you can attend the event, via the completion of a survey: to respond to some specific questions from DFID as part of this market consultation; or submit your own questions/comments in advance of the event — https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CZCDJQM Next Steps To express interest in this contract opportunity, access supporting documents, and ensure you receive any updates etc. you must register on the DFID portal https://supplierportal.dfid.gov.uk/selfservice/ Please ensure to register under Contract ID 7750. If your organisation does not have an existing account on the DFID Supplier Portal you will need to create one. If you plan to attend the EME event, please register separately via the Global Symposium website. Please note that DFID portal registration does not register you for the EME event. All communications regarding this opportunity will be communicated via the DFID Supplier Portal -and interested suppliers should check the DFID supplier portal for updates on this.