CONTRACT NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

1.2

Address from which documentation may be obtained

1.3

Completed documents must be returned to:

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Strategic support and engagement for developing a new Social Care Research, Innovation & Improvement

2.2

Description of the goods or services required

What is required

We are looking for a supplier to help us with the development of a new Research, innovation and improvement strategy.

A large focus of the supplier’s work will be engaging with people across Wales, using co-production and design principles to involve people in the development of the strategy in creative and innovative ways.

We are looking for a supplier with the skills and experience to deliver the full scope of this tender. We would welcome collaborative bids or proposals from consortia that incorporate the full range of skills and experience we’re looking for, including:

- an understanding of how research is managed, including funding arrangements and delivery

- an understanding of innovation in public services (including digital innovation)

- an understanding of improvement in public services

- an understanding of capacity building and skills development

- an understanding of knowledge mobilisation

- an understanding of social care, including the devolved policy context in Wales

- experience in managing user-centred design approaches

- experience in qualitative data analysis and evidence synthesis

We envisage this project having five stages, as set out below. We invite potential suppliers to improve, build on or provide alternative suggestions in their response. We will agree the detailed approach during the inception stage of the project:

~ Stage 1 Discovery (Purpose: to understand the current landscape)

~ Stage 2 Engagement and co-design (Purpose: to identify potential strategic goals and actions to enable us to draft a strategy)

~ Stage 3 Drafting the strategy (Purpose: to prepare a draft strategy)

~ Stage 4 Consultation (Purpose: to gather feedback on the draft strategy. Once we have developed the draft, we would like the supplier to help us run a consultation exercise that is inclusive and supports people to be involved in the way that makes sense for them)

~ Stage 5 Finalising and launching the strategy (Purpose: to finalise and launch the strategy)

Deliverables

We’ll require the following deliverables in electronic format:

- A brief inception report (in English), setting out the methodological approach, timescales, reporting schedules, risk management and management arrangements. The inception report should be delivered shortly after the inception meeting.

- A report (in English) setting out recommendations for our new strategy, including:

~ a brief, high-level review of the impact of the first strategy

~ horizon scanning to identify initiatives that might be helpful e.g. Northern Ireland Research & Innovation Strategy

~ key themes, potential actions and theory of change for the next 5-year strategy emerging from the engagement and co-design

~ A report (in English) analysing and synthesising the consultation feedback for use by Social Care Wales in the preparation of the final strategy

To deliver these outputs, we will expect the supplier to:

- Attend an inception meeting to confirm the detail and arrangements for the work required

- Attend short fortnightly update meetings (30-60 minutes depending on the stage of the study) with Social Care Wales leads, with short email updates (in English) submitted 2-3 days before each meeting. The updates will include the progress of the project, emerging topics and themes, any issues identified and next steps.

~ Engage people in the co-design and consultation stages. It is critical that the supplier provides accessible and engaging approaches, to support a diverse range of participants to participate. We want to include:

- People who work in social care in Wales

- People who use care and support and their carers

- Social care researchers in Wales

- Employers across the health and social care sector including statutory, private and voluntary and across children’s and adult services

- Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru

- Regional Partnership Boards and Research, Innovation and Improvement Coordination Hubs

- Trade Unions

- Welsh Local Government Association

- Care Inspectorate Wales

- Welsh Government

- Innovation organisations such as the Life Sciences Hub, Health Technology Wales, the Intensive Learning Academies, Y Lab at Cardiff University and the Bevan Commission

Please see specification for more information

NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=126042.

The buyer has indicated that it will accept electronic responses to this notice via the Postbox facility. A user guide is available at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/sitehelp/help_guides.aspx.

Suppliers are advised to allow adequate time for uploading documents and to dispatch the electronic response well in advance of the closing time to avoid any last minute problems.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Total quantity or scope of tender

3 Conditions for Participation

3.1

Minimum standards and qualification required

4 Administrative Information

4.1

Type of Procedure

Single stage

4.2

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

N/a

4.3

Time Limits

4.5

Language or languages in which tenders or requests to participate can be drawn up

4.6

Tender Submission Postbox

5 Other Information

5.1

Additional Information

(WA Ref:126042)

The buyer considers that this contract is suitable for consortia bidding.

5.2

Additional Documentation

5.3

Publication date of this notice