Scottish Government

ISBN 0 7559 2682 X (Web only publication)

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INTRODUCTION

Improving and joining up the rural evidence base, in order to support the development and evaluation of rural policy and initiatives, is the key aim of the Rural Social Research Team and analytical colleagues in the Rural Economics Team. To this end, the Teams carry out in-house research, work with analytical colleagues across the Scottish Executive on their research, as well as commissioning external research.

Currently, there are two key areas of research interest - those of rural services and the evaluation of existing Scottish Executive rural initiatives and programmes. These themes are described in more detail below, and an outline of ongoing and future work is included. Guidance for potential contractors for future work to be commissioned is also provided.

For more information on Scottish Executive rural policy, please see the rural policy web pages. ( www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/rural/rural-policy/16780/6486)

THEME 1: RURAL SERVICES

Reflecting the Scottish Executive's commitment to ensuring the provision of accessible, good quality services - across the public, private and voluntary sectors - in rural areas, the services theme is central to the Rural Social Research agenda.

Ongoing work includes:

An externally-commissioned piece of social research (conducted by Accent Marketing and Research) on 'Service priority, accessibility and quality in rural Scotland'. This is a qualitative study exploring rural communities' own views on local service provision in Scotland's Rural Service Priority Areas ( RSPAs). The aim of the research, by drawing on the existing local government evidence base and focus group work, is to establish which services communities themselves think are important, and which are their priority for improvement in terms of accessibility and quality. The research findings will help to inform the development of local 'Closing the Opportunity Gap' service delivery targets.

Background information on the Scottish Executive's 'Closing the Opportunity Gap' initiative and the rural target is available at: www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/people/social-inclusion/17415/opportunity and www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/people/social-inclusion/17415/targeth/targeth#top

The research is due to be completed by the end of September 2005.

For more information please contact Donna Easterlow (email: Donna.Easterlow@scotland.gsi.gov.uk ; tel: 0131 244 4186).

The in-house development of a 'Toolkit of best practice in rural service delivery'. This will draw on, and pull together, the existing research evidence to provide practical guidance to service providers on a range of issues including the range of delivery possibilities and funding available for trialing new methods of delivery. The work is due to be completed by the end of 2005.

For more information please contact Fionagh Thomson (email: Fionagh.Thomson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk ; tel: 0131 244 4183).

An externally-commissioned piece of research on 'Costs and benefits of co-locating services in rural Scotland' (conducted by Scottish Agricultural College). This is a costs-benefits analysis of co-location in order to examine the widely-held assumption that co-location of services (in rural areas) leads to both cost savings and improved access as a result of joint provision. The research is due to be completed by the end of 2005.

For more information please contact Kathy Johnston (email: Kathy.Johnston@scotland.gsi.gov.uk ; tel: 0131 244 6146).

An externally-commissioned piece of social research (conducted by Hilton Associates) which explores ' the role of the post office within rural communities in Scotland'. The main objective of the work is to produce baseline qualitative information on why rural residents use their local post office. A Participatory Action Research ( PAR) project using a Participatory Appraisal approach is being undertaken. The research is due to be completed by the end of August 2005.

For more information please contact Fionagh Thomson (email: Fionagh.Thomson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk ; tel: 0131 244 4183).

Possible future work includes:

Externally-commissioned survey research to measure 'Public attitudes to key services in rural Scotland'. This will provide an opportunity to explore, in more detail and on a larger scale than has hitherto been the case, public views on the accessibility and quality of key rural services in Scotland.

For more information please contact Donna Easterlow (email: Donna.Easterlow@scotland.gsi.gov.uk ; tel: 0131 244 4186).

THEME 2: EVALUATION OF EXISTING SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES AND PROGRAMMES

The Environment and Rural Affairs Department funds (and sometimes manages) a number of initiatives to support the development of rural communities in Scotland. These include the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund, the pilot Rural Voices Action Research Competition ( RV: ARC), and the Rural Community Gateway website. In order to measure the impact and effectiveness, and therefore to inform any future development of these initiatives, evaluative research is required.

Future work includes:

An externally commissioned 'Evaluation of the Rural Voices Action Research Competition ( RV: ARC)'. Rural Voices was a two year pilot capacity building programme aimed at enabling rural communities to consult on aspects of local services of concern to them. Communities received financial and professional support from the Scottish Executive in order to identify their own needs and become skilled at running their own consultations. More information on the Rural Voices pilot can be found at: www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/rural/rural-policy/16780/15322

The evaluation will examine how and to what extent the pilot met its original objectives and provide an analysis of the associated costs and benefits. The research is planned to be commissioned by Autumn 2005.

For more information please contact Fionagh Thomson (email: Fionagh.Thomson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk ; tel: 0131 244 4183).

An externally commissioned 'Evaluation of the Rural Community Gateway Website'. The website acts as a 'one stop shop' to provide information to, and share amongst, individuals, groups and organizations with an interest in rural issues. The website is funded by the Scottish Executive, but is editorially independent of it. It has been developed jointly by Sift Ltd, a leading provider of community websites, and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations ( SCVO), who develop and manage the site content. Further information on the rural community gateway website can be found at: www.ruralgateway.org.uk and www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/rural/rural-policy/16780/6550

The evaluation will examine how and to what extent the website has met its original objectives, but will also explore future possibilities for its development. The research is planned to be commissioned by Autumn 2005.

For more information please contact Gita Anand (email: Gita.Anand@scotland.gsi.gov.uk ; tel: 0131 244 46500).

GUIDANCE FOR POTENTIAL CONTRACTORS

External research is commissioned by way of selective competitive tender. This occurs through the issue of invitations, to a selected number of contractors, to bid for a contract in response to a specification setting out the requirements of the work. Contractors are invited to tender on the basis of expertise, capability and track record.

Contractors who may wish to be considered for inclusion on tender lists for any of the future projects outlined above are invited to express interest via email to the relevant member of the Rural Affairs Research Team.

Expressions of interest will be considered in the process of drawing up a short list, usually of between 5 and 8 contractors. As the number of expressions of interest may exceed the number of contractors who will be invited to tender, an expression of interest should not be taken as a guarantee of inclusion in the list.

INVITATION TO TENDER

An invitation to tender will be accompanied by a specification of the proposed research. The specification will usually set out the background to the requirement, the aims, what contractors are expected to provide in the tender and a date for receipt of tenders. The standard conditions governing the contract are also provided.

ASSESSMENT OF TENDERS

Tenders will be assessed by research managers and customers. Overall assessment will be concerned with value for money taking account of the quality and cost of contractors' proposals. In particular assessment will usually focus on:

• the contractor's understanding of the requirements of the research brief;
• experience, knowledge and skills in this and related fields;
• capability in all necessary technical aspects of the work;
• the appropriateness of the proposed methodology, output and timetable;
• arrangements for managing the research including quality control mechanisms;
• the proposed costs and distribution of resources.

AWARDING OF CONTRACTS

The assessment of tenders normally results in the selection of a preferred tender, although the Department is not bound to accept any tender. On occasion, some researchers are invited to make a presentation on their proposals to assist in the assessment. The successful tenderer then finalises a formal contract with the Department. All tenderers are informed of the outcome in writing.

TIMETABLE

New projects listed are planned for commissioning during the financial year 2005-2006 but the exact content and timing will depend on the requirements of the policy customer.

PUBLICATION

While final decisions on publication remain with the Department, there is a presumption that research commissioned by the Environment and Rural Affairs Department will be published.

ENQUIRIES

General enquiries about the Rural Affairs Research Programme, aspects of commissioning, contract conditions and publications should be addressed to:

Tel: 0131 244 4186

Email: Donna.Easterlow@scotland.gsi.gov.uk