UK SBS BLOJEU-CR16038 - UK Data Service Mid-term Review

The UKDS aims to provide users with seamless and flexible access to a wide range of data resources to facilitate high quality social and economic research and education.

The ESRC has funded the UKDS in various guises since 1967. The UKDS forms a critical part of the UK data infrastructure, collecting, ingesting, preserving and providing access and user support to a wide variety of key national data resources which facilitate UK social and economic research.

The Economic and Social Data Service (ESDS, the forerunner to UKDS) was evaluated during 2010. The overall assessment was that the ESDS provided a highly valued service and had a high international reputation in terms of the number and range of data collections held, service provided and some of the innovative policies and licensing arrangements that it has pursued.

On this basis the ESRC Methods and Infrastructure Committee agreed to re-commission the Service and to incorporate other elements of the ESRC data portfolio under one brand (elements of the Census Programme, Secure Data Service and Survey Question Bank). A specification was developed and an open competition held. One bid was received, and the UKDS was subsequently funded.

Additionally, an Economic Impact Evaluation of ESDS was undertaken and reported in 2012. The study found that the ESDS offered excellent returns on investment and offered an extensive set of benefits to a range of users.

The main review outcome will be a report that seeks to address the key areas set out in section 4 above. The report should include an options analysis which will be used to inform the funding specification for the next period of UKDS. Review recommendations will include advice on the key aims and objectives for UKDS for the next funding period.

The UKDS will be given the opportunity to formally respond to the review report.

The review report will be shared with key stakeholders and discussed with relevant ESRC Committees.

PLEASE NOTE THIS TENDER CLOSES ON 27TH APRIL 2016

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