Production of Health Research Summaries (Signals)

The University of Southampton is seeking a supplier to produce approximately 175 Signals per year. Each Signal is a concise, easy to read summary of a single, recent piece of research, typically 800-1,000 words in length. Audiences vary depending on the topic, but may include clinical staff, managers, public health and social care professionals, patients and carers. Signals are written in a plain English, journalistic style that is both engaging and scientifically accurate. In addition to summarising the research objectives, methods and results, the Signal sets the findings in context and discusses the implications for practice. Each Signal is accompanied by a comment from a relevant expert, practitioner or patient, discussing the relevance of the research to their work.

PLEASE NOTE: The award of this contract is contingent upon the University of Southampton completing a successful tender for the overall National Institute for Health Research Dissemination Centre contract. It is expected that this contract will be awarded on or before 1 April 2019, with a start date of 1 April 2020. It may also be necessary to adjust this contract in line with the requirements of the main contract - for instance, if the target number of Signals required is more or less than specified, the price of this subcontract would need to be adjusted accordingly.

This procurement process is being conducted as a Restricted procedure; consisting of both Selection and Invitation to Tender stages.

The University is utilising an electronic tendering tool, In-Tend (https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofsouthampton) to manage this procurement and to communicate with potential suppliers and/or tenderers (as appropriate).

All documentation in relation to this tender can be downloaded from In-Tend.

Potential suppliers/tenderers are advised that there will be no hard copy documents issued and all communications with the University, including the submission of Selection Stage and/or Invitation to Tender responses will be conducted via In-Tend.

Regular monitoring of the portal is the responsibility of the potential supplier/tenderer.

If you are not already registered as a supplier with the University of Southampton, you will need to register in In-Tend in order to access the procurement documentation.

Once you have logged in as a supplier: click on 'Tenders'; locate the relevant project; and click 'View Details'. Once you are in the project screen, you will be able to register your organisation against the project and access all documentation by clicking 'Express Interest'.

Potential suppliers/tenderers are advised that formal expressions of interest in the project must be by way of completion and return of the relevant documents via system will only permit your organisation to make one return.

Please note, to preserve the integrity of the procurement, all communications with the University must be made via the correspondence function within In-Tend.