A Better Start Evidence Review BIG001-0624

The Big Lottery Fund is seeking to appoint a service provider to undertake research which will assist grant holders on the Fund's A Better Start programme with their projects. Specifically, the service provider will review the available evidence base and evaluated best practice to understand which examples, models or methods are successful in contributing to better outcomes in pregnancy and early life for children, and in particular for the three developmental outcome areas of: • Communication and language; • Social and emotional development; and • Diet and nutrition. The research will need to drawn on experience and evidence from the UK and similar societies internationally. The service provider will report on the findings and provide guidance on best practice 3 and 9 months into the contract.

In October 2012 the Big Lottery Fund launched A Better Start (ABS), a £215m investment to improve the life chances of some of the most vulnerable babies and children in England. In June 2014 we funded five voluntary sector-led partnerships (which include local community, public and health services) between £36 - £49m over 8-10 years to design, develop and implement programmes of science and evidence-based services to improve outcomes in pregnancy and early life for children aged 0-3 (i.e. up to a child’s fourth birthday). More information and background on A Better Start can be found on our website at www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/betterstart All five partnerships are currently in the ‘set up’ and implementation phase of their ABS grants, planning and putting in place the resources and structures that will enable them to implement their local strategies. As part of these local strategies, each partnership has included models of volunteering, peer support and ‘community champions’ into their portfolio of projects. We want to support our grant holders to develop these models further, taking into account considerations including availability of suitable models and programmes, expectations regarding outcomes for children, system requirements, governance and safeguarding and collaboration with the professional workforce and statutory services.

The total value of the Contract to perform all services shall not exceed £60,000 inclusive of VAT and expenses. Bids in excess of this will be excluded. The term of the Contract is approximately 12 months.

Full details of the requirements can be found in the ITT, which can be downloaded at the bottom of this advert.

Additional information: Further detailed information about this opportunity is set out in the ITT attached. If you are interested in this opportunity please read all requirements and instructions in the ITT and submit your tender response before the tender deadline on 23 July 2015. All interested bidders must submit an electronic copy of your tender response in a zip folder to [email protected] quoting reference BIG001-0624 no later than 12.00 Noon on 23 July 2015.