IT Solution to enable the collection of longitudinal output, outcome and impact data from HRB’s investments

The Health Research Board

The HRB is a State Agency under auspices of the Department of Health, the remit of the agency is to support and fund health and social care research and provide evidence to inform policy and practice. , we are motivated and inspired by our vision – better health through excellent research, data, and evidence. The HRB’s mission is to support research that improves people’s health, promotes evidence-informed care and creates solutions to societal challenges. An overview of the HRB’s objectives and activities may be found in HRB Strategy 2021-2025: Health research – making an impact (https://www.hrb.ie/strategy-2025/). The HRB now wish to procure an IT solution which will encompass an “off-the-shelf” platform for tracking the outputs, outcomes and impacts of funded research projects, with the flexibility to add in data fields specific to the type of research projects funded by the HRB. The IT solution will also encompass a service by the selected vendor to support HRB staff in roll out of the system, training, onboarding of the research community, data analysis, and reporting. The solution being sought will have 3 main components, all of which are expanded in detail later in this section- 1. Technical Functionality: Access to a platform to facilitate collection of output, outcome, and impact data 2. Standardised reporting and Evaluation expertise: Access to raw data, standardised real-time summary reports, detailed annual reports and bespoke, non-standard reports generated based on needs of the RSF Directorate. 3. On-going service support: Implementation support, roll out support, communication management and on-going training delivered by the service provider The HRB wish to enter into a medium term solution for this product. The initial contract will be for four years and then the HRB and the successful tenderer have the option to enter into a further two year agreement at the end of years 4, 6 and 8. There will be a break clause to allow the contract to be ended at each of these breaks. Solution Principles The key principles required from suitable solution are: 1. Interoperability – interoperable with Microsoft Outlook and other Email systems. 2. Scalability – to current and future volume, requirement, and remit 3. Functionality – for full process and for all relevant stakeholders 4. Security – secure to GDPR standards with suitable accessibility for each user type 5. Responsive- to user feedback and requirements for additional support In the context of the challenges faced with the current evaluation tools and International Best Practices identified from an independent consultants review, the HRB are seeking to purchase an off the shelf, IT solution that will enable the RSF to collect longitudinal outcome and impact data whilst minimising the burden on the research community and HRB staff. This new solution must provide HRB’s research community with access to a platform in order to o Provide comparable data o Enable trend analysis o Enable the collection of data that is shareable and searchable o Automate Survey Responses

The time limit for receipt of tenders was 2023-08-17. The procurement was published on 2023-07-19.

• • The Health Research Board

• • Programming services of application software › Industry specific software development services
• • Software-related services › Software consultancy services
• • Software-related services › Software implementation services
• • Software-related services › Software supply services

• • Eastern and Midland › Dublin