Qualitative Review of the UK's Interdisciplinary Research (IDR)

This document invites tenders to undertake an examination of the drivers for success and failure in interdisciplinary research (IDR). Researchers are asked to apply a range of methods including indepth interviews and quantitative surveying of stakeholders. The sample of stakeholders must be broadly representative of higher education institutions, researchers, disciplines and funders across the UK. The primary output will be a written report to the funders containing a clear assessment of the current IDR landscape in the UK which will be published. We will work closely with the project team throughout and will require regular updates on progress and findings.

For the purpose of this tender documentation IDR will be used to refer to all types of research involving more than one discipline (‘multidisciplinary’, ‘interdisciplinary,’ ‘cross-disciplinary’ and ‘transdisciplinary’ research.)

The purpose of this research is to address the following key question

• What barriers and incentives to IDR are present in the UK HE research and funding culture?

It is expected that the work will consider activity taking place in the last 1-3 years as new and activity greater than three years but with a definable legacy as the medium to long term.

The focus of this work is an examination of the barriers and incentives in interdisciplinary research (IDR) across the UK and their role in driving or inhibiting the development of a successful interdisciplinary research culture. It is not expected that the successful bidder will undertake further specific work regarding international comparators however they should be able to reflect on the international landscape where relevant.

Additional information: UK Shared Business Services eSourcing

As part of the strategic alliance between UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) and Crown Commercial Service (CCS), UK SBS can use the CCS eSourcing Suite for future procurements.

If you have not yet registered on the eSourcing Suite, this can be done online at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by following the link ‘Register for CCS eSourcing’. Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so.

Once you have registered on the eSourcing Suite, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement. This is done by emailing Expressionofinterest@crowncommercial.gov.uk

Your email must clearly state: the name and reference for the procurement you wish to register for; the name of the registered Bidder; and the name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email.

Crown Commercial Service will process the email and then enable the Bidder to access the procurement online via the e-Sourcing Suite. The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done.

The Sourcing documents can then be accessed on the eSourcing Suite at: https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk using the instructions detailed in the Specification documents within Contracts Finder.

As a user of the e-Sourcing Suite you will have access to Emptoris email messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific RFX event. Please note it is your responsibility to access these emails on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information.

For technical assistance on use of the e-Sourcing Suite please contact Crown Commercial Service Helpdesk : Telephone: 0345 010 3503

Training documents to support Bidders utilise Emptoris CCS eSourcing are available in the Contracts Finder Tender documents section.