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Request for Tender for Capture – Recapture Study

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Background

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) was established in July 2000 to advise the Government in relation to the prevalence, prevention, treatment/rehabilitation and consequences of problem drug use in Ireland, based on the analysis of research findings and information. The Committee oversees the delivery of a work programme on the extent, nature, causes and effects of drug use in Ireland. The Committee comprises representatives nominated from relevant agencies and sectors, both statutory and non-statutory. The Committee operates under the aegis of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and reports to the Minister of State responsible for the National Drugs Strategy. Further information can be obtained from the NACD website www.nacd.ie.

Commission

The NACD wishes to commission a repeat of the 2001 Study of problem opiate use in Ireland using the Capture Recapture Methodology, designed to assist in the estimation of the prevalence of opiate drug use for the year 2005. It is expected that the contractor will follow the relevant guidelines published by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). The contractor should also be familiar with the previous Irish studies.

The NACD expects that the contractor appointed will:-

• use the following three data sources for the year 2005:
  1. the Central Treatment List (CTL)
  2. the Hospital Inpatient Enquiry (HIPE) database
  3. the Garda Síochána Illicit Drug Use and Related Criminal Activity
  
  
  
• conduct a thorough analysis of the data, including a discussion on the methodology, the relevant limitations and confidence intervals (CIs)
  
  
• provide analysis by age and gender at national level, by HSE regions and by Regional Drug Task Forces where possible
  
  
• carry out a comparison with the Dublin data for 1996, 2001 and 2005 to identify and describe trends
  
  
• must register with the Data Protection Commissioner so that services providing data are reassured that the study complies with the Data Protection Act 1988 and the European Regulations of 2001
  
  
• Carry out analysis of 2 source data (CTL and Garda) for Local Drug Task Force areas and compare with 2001 again by age and gender with CIs and describing the limitations.

The contractor will be expected to obtain the relevant ethical permission required for the full implementation of the study. This may require separate applications to the hospitals from whom HIPE data is being sought if the HSE does not have one hospital ethics committee.

The final report should address issues surrounding the assumptions on which the study is based, indicating whether or not they have been controlled for in the design and analysis. If not, the report should explain the direction of the bias introduced into the estimate. Data should be presented in an easy to read format with tables and graphs easily understood to the non-technical reader.

The successful contractor will liaise on an ongoing basis with a Research Advisory Group (RAG) to be established by the NACD to monitor and mentor the research. The RAG will assist the contractor in accessing the raw data.

Preliminary findings are expected eight months after the commencement of the study and a draft final report after 12 months.

Tender requirements

Written tenders should include the following:

• details of the methodology to be used
  
  
• timetable of work from project initiation to completion including the communication with the Data Protection Commissioner, the contact with Hospital Ethics Committees, obtaining the Garda and CTL data; analysis culminating in production of draft and final reports
  
  
• technical and administrative costs (to be defined), number of days and costs per day or part thereof
  
  
• number of personnel involved who will undertake the work, credentials, track record;
  
  
• project management and capacity to undertake the work to the proposed timetable
  
  
• Include example of past work
  
  
• Contact details for a reference

In addition, any potential problems that could lead to delays should be identified with proposals and suggestions as to how they may be avoided.

Evaluation of the submissions will be based on the following criteria:

Research methodology

• Understanding of the project
• Understanding of the work involved
• Feasibility of the approach suggested

Project management

• Ability to deliver key outputs on time
• Clarity in description of milestones
• Credibility of personnel and consultants involved
• Track record

Value for money

• Description of cost
• Justification for proposed costs
• Best use of resources.

The standard contract terms and conditions are available on the NACD website. However, specifics with regard to the tender brief, schedule of liaison, reports and payments, will be prepared separately on awarding the contract. Note that all tenderers must be satisfied on submitting a proposal that the general terms of NACD contracts are acceptable to them as clauses are non-negotiable.

The budget for this study should be presented including overheads and excluding VAT. Note the NACD will not pay overheads higher than 20% of project costs.

Tenders may be short-listed and an oral presentation requested. You will be required to sign an FOI declaration and you must include an up to date tax clearance certificate with your submission.

The NACD reserves the right not to accept any or all tenders. Please submit 5 copies of your tender to the address below. Tenders will not be accepted by email.

Closing date: Wednesday 28th February 2007 no later than 4pm.

Tender should be addressed to:

The Secretary
3rd Floor, Shelbourne House
Shelbourne Road
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Tel: (01) 667 0760/765; Fax (01) 667 0828;

Email: info@nacd.ie
Web: www.nacd.ie

NOTE: TENDER RETURNS SHOULD BE MARKED: Ref: Ten/Capture Recapture

Download contract for research (Word Document 187KB)

Download Declaration under the Freedom of Information Act

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