Funding competition Using data and digital technology to deliver better adult social care: SBRI competition

Organisations can apply for a share of £1.25 million, including VAT, to develop data and digital technology to deliver better adult social care.

This competition is now closed.

Register and apply online

Competition sections

Description

This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition with funding provided by the GovTech Catalyst for Torfaen County borough council. The aim of the competition is to develop data and digital technology to deliver better adult social care.

The overall programme will be delivered over 2 phases. This is phase 1 of a potential 2-phase competition. A decision to proceed with phase 2 will depend on the outcomes from phase 1. Only successful applicants from phase 1 will be able to apply to take part in phase 2.

Phase 1: research and development contracts, feasibility study

The first phase feasibility study involves research and development (R&D) contracts being awarded to demonstrate technical feasibility of the proposed solution. A total of up to £250,000, including VAT, is allocated to phase 1 of the competition.

It is anticipated the contracts will be in the region of up to £50,000, including VAT. This is for each project for up to 3 months. We expect to fund up to 5 projects. The assessors will consider fair value in making their evaluation.

We would welcome bids that bring together a consortium of sector specialists.

Phase 2: research and development contracts, prototype development and testing

The second phase involves up to 2 R&D contracts being awarded to businesses chosen from the successful phase 1 applicants. Up to £500,000, including VAT, will be allocated for each contract, in order to develop a prototype and undertake field testing for up to 12 months.

The competition closes at midday 12pm UK time on the deadline stated.

Funding type

Procurement

Project size

We expect projects to range in size up to total costs of £50,000, including VAT, for each organisation.

Who can apply

To lead a project, you can:

  • be an organisation of any size
  • work alone or with others from business, the research base or the third sector as subcontractors

Projects must start on 11 October 2019, end by 20 January 2020 and last up to 3 months. We expect to fund up to 5 projects.

Funding

A total of up to £250,000, including VAT, is allocated to phase 1. It is anticipated the feasibility study R&D contracts will be up to £50,000, including VAT, for each project for up to 3 months. We expect to fund up to 5 projects.

Applications must have at least 50% of the contract value attributed directly and exclusively for R&D services. R&D can cover solution exploration and design. It can also include prototyping and field-testing the product or service. R&D does not include:

  • commercial development activities such as quantity production
  • supply to establish commercial viability or to recover R&D costs
  • integration, customisation or incremental adaptations and improvements to existing products or processes

Your proposal

The aim of this competition is to make adult social care provision more effective and efficient. This includes solutions that will ultimately help prevent the need for social care services in some cases.

Adult social care plays a major part in keeping some of us well, independent, living in the community and out of hospital for longer. Demand is increasing however, resources are under pressure and we know that we need to become smarter in targeting support to those that need it most.

We would be particularly interested in proposals for technology that can track data in real-time and join up how we deploy and sensitively prioritise our resources to the best effect.

We recognise that this is a highly complex challenge and we do not expect proposals to fully address the whole scope. We expect to fund a portfolio of projects that address significant aspects of this ‘grand challenge’.

In phase 1 you must demonstrate technical feasibility of the proposed solution.

In phase 2 you must develop a prototype and undertake field testing for up to 12 months.

Specific themes

  1. How we can use technology to improve the point of entry into adult social care?
  2. How we can create more dynamic and flexible systems of care that are more responsive to the changing needs of the people we care for?
  3. How do we make better use of evidence to inform commissioning both now and in the future?

Project types

In phase 1 the supplier will work closely with the stakeholders to develop a solution. The outcome of this project will be a prototype of the solution.

Phase 1: technical feasibility

Projects should last up to 3 months and be completed by 20 January 2020. They can range in size up to a total cost of £50,000, including VAT. The total funding available is up to £250,000, including VAT.

Phase 2: prototype development and evaluation

Projects should last up to 12 months. They can range in size up to a total cost of £500,000, including VAT. The total funding available is up to £1 million, including VAT.

Projects we will not fund

We will not fund projects that cover:

  • residential aspects of care
  • new IT systems, although new interface will be in scope
  • parts of the system outside of the council’s direct control, such as NHS systems

10 June 2019
Competition opens
19 June 2019
Cwmbran briefing event
17 July 2019 12:00pm
Registration closes
24 July 2019 12:00pm
Competition closes
13 September 2019
Applicants notified
11 October 2019
Phase 1 contracts awarded
11 October 2019
Feedback provided

Before you start

To apply:

We will not accept late submissions. Your application is confidential.

A selected panel of experts will assess the quality your application. You must use Microsoft Word for the application form or your application will be ineligible.

Background and further information

About SBRI competitions

SBRI provides innovative solutions to challenges faced by the public sector. This can lead to better public services and improved efficiency and effectiveness.

SBRI supports economic growth and enables the development of innovative products and services. It does this through the public procurement of research and development (R&D).

SBRI generates new business opportunities for companies and provides a route to market for their ideas. It also bridges the seed funding gap experienced by many early-stage companies.

Further help and information

You can find information on how to enter this competition in the invitation to tender document, which is available for download on our secure site after registration.

Questions related to the particular requirements of this competition should be addressed directly to jim.wright@torfaen.gov.uk.

If you want help to find a project partner, contact the Knowledge Transfer Network.

If you need more information, call the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 or email us at support@innovateuk.ukri.org.

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