Research and development services and related consultancy services

Tender description

UK Shared Business Services Ltd as the Contracting Authority is putting in place a contract for the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The STFC Newton Agri-Tech Fund is a 5-year programme with a budget of £13.5M. This initiative uses the UK's expertise in remote sensing and modelling in the area of agricultural technology (agri-tech) to work with and aid the Chinese farming community. The Agri-Tech programme will use the breakthroughs in satellite imaging, remote sensing and modelling to which they are helping to provide facilities and technologies that are supporting research driven, decision making tools for farmers and policy makers. STFC are seeking to secure Impact and Technical Team advice and support with the aim of ensuring the impact of the research in the area of agricultural technology to China. The Impact and Technical team will plan and be responsible for the delivery of a strategic programme of work to support and improve agricultural technology in China. The over-arching strategic direction for the design of a coherent programme of activities designed to achieve three key deliverables: — Establish and/or enhance a strong international profile for the research generated through the programme and projects. — Build a reputation for the programme as centres of agricultural technology research and excellence in international development. — Ensure findings from the programme's research are effectively cohered, disseminated and utilised by policy makers and users, particularly in China. The successful bidder will be responsible for the successful delivery of this strategically-directed programme of activities. They will take the lead role in ensuring delivery of programme-level communications and the production, dissemination and delivery of appropriate knowledge products and activities. It will also build upon relevant activities being undertaken at individual grant level by maintaining oversight, facilitating, supporting and building capacity in relation to these. Excluded: Impact and Technical Team will not play any part in decisions of academic substance in relation to the programme/projects or their intellectual leadership and future direction, or play any part in the awarding of research funding, other than providing strategic advice on ensuring policymaker and user demand is appropriately integrated.