Scotland 's Environmental and Rural Services: Customer Perspectives and Experiences 2010
Introduction
The Scottish Government wishes to commission further research to investigate the needs and experiences of land managers who interact with the SEARS initiative, as well as areas for its potential development.
Background
'Scotland's Environmental and Rural Services', or SEARS, is a partnership of nine public bodies aiming to provide its 'customers' - around 24,000 rural land managers in Scotland - with more efficient, effective and co-ordinated services. Phase 1 of its operation was launched in June 2008 and Phase 2 in June 2009.
Central to the phased implementation of SEARS are actions by the nine bodies that are intended to provide a more streamlined, responsive and customer-focused approach which should reduce the administrative burdens on rural land managers. These actions are:
- co-ordinating when they need to contact, visit and inspect customers;
- providing customers with easy access to improved information and advice;
- providing a consistent and responsive service;
- better data-sharing between organisations and fewer requests for information from the bodies to customers;
- harmonisation and enhancement of biosecurity measures.
More information about SEARS can be found on the dedicated website: http://www.sears.scotland.gov.uk/Default.aspx
Previous research
Since the inception of SEARS, the Scottish Government has commissioned survey and focus group-based research to gather baseline information about rural land managers and early experiences of interacting with SEARS partners. Initial studies showed that, although awareness of SEARS was low, satisfaction with service integration increased and land managers were open to the idea of the SEARS organisations sharing their data. The research indicated that greater effort might be required to ensure that land managers not only experienced the benefits of service simplification and integration, but also that they were aware of SEARS being the source and provider of such benefits. The main complaints from land managers regarded having to provide what they perceived as duplicated and/or overlapping information.
A full report and summary of findings from these works can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/by-topic/Agri-Fisheries-Rural/social-research/publications.
Current research requirements
It is important that reliable data are collected to help assess whether the service is meeting its objectives in relation to delivering benefits to customers, and to inform the service's ongoing development. This research will build on the previous studies as well as exploring areas of new interest. The work is being commissioned by the Rural Social Research Team on behalf of the Scottish Government Rural Directorate in partnership with the SEARS organisations.
Key components of the project are expected to be:
- a large-scale survey of rural land managers, including farmers, foresters, crofters, sporting estates and not-for-profit land managers, which will update, follow up and build on the baselines generated by previous research projects;
- qualitative research with rural land managers, which could be in the form of focus groups, workshops, in-depth interviews, or a combination of methods.
Research budget & timescales
A budget of £25-30k (inclusive of all overheads and exclusive of VAT) is available for this project. Expressions of interest must be returned by 10am on Tuesday 17th November 2009. It is anticipated a contract will be awarded in early-mid December and the research must be completed and agreed publishable report produced by April 2010.
Expressing an interest in the project
Interested contractors should submit an Expression of Interest form which demonstrates fields of expertise and experience relevant to this research. It should also identify the key personnel who would be involved in delivering the work. The expression of interest should not include proposals for conducting the research.
The form will be assessed, and contractors short-listed to receive a formal invitation to tender, on the basis of relevant skills, experience and demonstrated expertise in the following areas:
- qualitative and quantitative research and analysis, including large-scale surveys;
- research with land managers;
- an indication of sufficient capacity to undertake the work (research, analysis, interpretation and delivery of a high quality report) in the timescale required;
- knowledge and experience of working with the Scottish Government, other government departments or comparable public sector bodies.
A limited number of contractors will be invited to tender for the project and the submission of an expression of interest should not be taken as a guarantee of inclusion on the shortlist. All those expressing an interest will be informed of whether they have been short-listed approximately one week after the deadline indicated below.
Those wishing to express interest in this research project should complete the EOI form - the link to the form can be found at the bottom of this page. Guidance can be found at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/About/Social-Research/Guidance-for-Contractors/Completing-EOI-Form
Please return the form to Alastair.Bowden@scotland.gsi.gov.uk no later than 10am on Tuesday 17th November 2009.
Please note that:
- Your Expression of Interest should not include a formulation of the research proposal at this stage.
- We welcome joint expressions of interest - the relevant knowledge, skills and experiences of each party should be set out in the EoI form