Centres of Expertise (4 Lots)

Tender description

The Scottish Government has a requirement to place 4 separate contracts with external service providers for the following services: Lot 1: Centre of Expertise for Climate Change; Lot 2: Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks; Lot 3: Centre of Expertise on Water; Lot 4: Centre of Expertise for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation. Lot 2: Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division is recommissioning a Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks. RESAS supports a small number of Centres of Expertise in key areas which brigade the best available expertise from a consortium of partners into virtual centres; to simplify access by policy officials to expertise from across Scotland, to enhance synergy of effort and to stimulate innovative thinking in support of policy. The suppliers of the Centre will have the following aims: - To deliver high-quality research-based evidence and advice on the epidemiology of animal diseases that are important to Scotland to the Scottish Government. - To provide advice and analyses to the Scottish Government at short notice in the event of an outbreak of notifiable, zoonotic or newly emerging animal disease in the UK. - To stimulate innovative thinking in support of policy development and delivery. - To further enhance the coordination of research, analysis and interpretation across the subject area, leading to high quality, world leading interdisciplinary research and the production of policy-relevant outputs. - To develop a programme of knowledge exchange to ensure the effective underpinning of policy and the wider dissemination of best practice amongst stakeholders. Lot 3: Centre of Expertise on Water The Scottish Government and its partners have a key role to play in the development and delivery of legislation and policies designed to ensure the quality and sustainability of Scotland’s water resources. Relevant government policies include the EU Water Framework Directive, Flood Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) is re-commissioning the Centre of Expertise on Water. The objective is to brigade the best available expertise on the management of water from across Scotland into a virtual centre, to simplify access to scientific advice and evidence by policy colleagues and their delivery partners, and to enhance synergy of effort and stimulate innovative thinking in support of water policy. The Centre’s purpose is to: - Deliver timely and high quality advice and research-based evidence on the management of water to the Scottish Government and its delivery partners. - Stimulate innovative thinking in support of policy development and implementation in the research area. - Enhance the coordination of research, analysis and interpretation across the subject area, leading to high quality research and policy-relevant outputs. - Deliver an effective programme of knowledge exchange and communication with Scottish Government and its stakeholders. Lot 4: Centre of Expertise Knowledge Exchange and Innovation The CKEI, now often known as SEFARI Gateway, is RESAS's Centre of Expertise for Knowledge Exchange. It supports KE across our Main Research Providers, CoEs, including into policy, industry, NGOs. It carries out reports, training, supports fellowships, produces CASE studies and will support Horizon-Scanning across the Strategic Research Programme in Environment, Natural Resources and Rural Affairs. Lot 1: Centre of Expertise Climate Change This Centre of Expertise is essential in providing support for a wide range of economically important policies. It also supports many parts of the SG's programme for Government. It provides technical and scientific advice to policy on issues arising from Climate Change. This includes reducing greenhouse emissions, adapting to the consequences of climate change and the transition to a low carbon society.