NHS Scotland Assure Research Service Commissioning Partner

The NHS Scotland Assure Research, Development & Innovation Service seeks to award a contract for a lead agency to support the assessment, management and administration of a portfolio of research projects. The successful bidder will be expected to support the assessment of calls alongside NHS Scotland Assure and facilitate and manage associated research projects, in alignment to specific research needs and priorities as defined by NHS Scotland Assure. The successful bidder will ensure the implementation of appropriate oversight and governance structures and processes for research commissioning and management; inclusive of overall responsibility for the administration and management of agreed third party funds.

The NHS Scotland Assure Research, Development and Innovation service is a service whose remit is to achieve a coordinated research portfolio, supporting the development of evidence-based guidance and research, to deliver safe healthcare environments that are free from avoidable risk. Further to the above, the service will seek to ensure that the most up to date and robust research is translated into practice as new and emerging evidence become available.

The service will share best practice and changes in standards/models for the built environment (as detailed in the scope below) across the world to inform and learn from guidance and capital projects. Alongside identification, prioritisation and coordination of research areas and activities the service will cultivate and sustain international connections with built environment and IP&C subject matter experts, healthcare providers, academia and research institutions.

The service will commission, tender and disseminate research worldwide whilst working alongside other NHS Scotland Assure services (e.g. Assurance and Guidance) to identify priority research needs and ensure they are aware of, and respond to, findings of published research as it becomes available. This will not only support NHS Scotland Health Boards to increase their knowledge to manage built environment risks, but will also ensure Scotland is recognised internationally as an expert in the field.

The scope of research areas includes, but is not limited to;

• Design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of water systems including drainage-
• Design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of Ventilation systems
• Pathogens, the microbiome, AMR, transmission risks and burden of disease in the hospital environment
• Hospital design including size and single room provision; e.g. hand wash basin provision / waterless / surface design to reduce transmission
• The built environment post-pandemic and lessons learned from COVID-19
• Human factors/Ergonomics and Infection Prevention and Control in hospital design and the built environment and how it is used
• Climate change requirements and the unintended consequences on built environment risks
• The role of safety and harms in relation to medical gases, electrical systems and fire safety, and their impact on patient and staff safety in the hospital environment