HRB 2026 Science Communication and Engagement Services

AI-generated analysis of the documents. Check the official notice and any amendments for current submission details.

1. At a glance

2. Scope of Work

The Health Research Board (HRB) seeks to procure Science Communication and Engagement Services. This procurement aims to enhance the HRB's ability to communicate the value, relevance, outcomes, and impacts of its research to both health experts and non-experts. The services are intended to make research findings accessible and engaging, evolving with modern communication trends to produce new types of content.

The core activities required from the successful tenderer include:

• Scientific Journalism Expertise: Identifying relevant stories and angles from HRB-funded research.
• Interview Skills: Eliciting interesting narratives from academic interviewees.
• Lay Term Writing: Producing written content, such as articles for medical publications, that explains HRB work in accessible language.
• Audio-Visual Content Creation: Developing podcasts and videos to communicate research.
• Content Ideation: Proposing new approaches for profiling the HRB's work, focusing on its impact on health, patient care, and health service delivery in a lay-friendly manner.
• Blog Contribution: Writing an estimated four blogs annually for the HRB.

Turnaround times for assignments will be agreed upon with the successful tenderer on a case-by-case basis. The contract will also require the nominated contract manager to oversee the relationship, provide performance reports, attend review meetings, and proactively suggest service improvements. Contract management activities are non-billable. Tenderers must also demonstrate a plan for continuity of service in case of personnel changes, ensuring no additional cost or reduced quality for the HRB.

3. Background & buyer context

The Health Research Board (HRB) is procuring these services in response to its significant expansion in activities, roles, and functions. This expansion is further driven by the recent launch of its Strategy 2026-2030, titled "Bringing research to life," which signals further growth in scale and ambition for the organisation. This strategic direction necessitates a high level of communications support to effectively convey the value and impact of its research. The services are intended to bridge the gap between complex scientific findings and public understanding, aligning with the HRB's mission to improve health and social care services through evidence-based research.

4. Eligibility & selection criteria

Tenderers must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for evaluation. These are assessed on a pass/fail basis.

• Turnover requirement: Not specified for this tender.
• Insurance:
• Employer's Liability: €13,000,000
• Public Liability: €6,500,000
• Certifications:
• Evidence of holding a Science Communication or Science Journalism Qualification is mandatory.
• Past experience:
• Demonstrate successful delivery of three (3) comparable projects within the last three (3) years.
• Projects must be in the Public Sector or equivalent.
• If relying on a third party for experience, one project must be from that third party.
• Referee contact details must be provided for each project; feedback may lead to disqualification.
• Personnel: Not specified for this tender.
• Geographic / facility constraints: Not specified for this tender.

Tenderers may rely on the resources of other entities to meet these requirements, provided they can prove these resources will be at their disposal.

5. Award criteria & scoring

The contract will be awarded based on the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), considering both qualitative and cost factors. Qualitative criteria are assessed first.

A minimum score of 60% is required for each qualitative criterion to be considered eligible. If qualitative scores are tied, the tender with the highest score on the highest weighted qualitative criterion will be selected.

6. Submission requirements

Tenders must be submitted electronically via the eTenders postbox facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.

• Method statement / response document: Tenderers must use the provided Tender Response Document (TRD). Personalisation or amendment of the TRD is prohibited.
• CVs: CVs for proposed resources delivering the service must be included, demonstrating proven track records. Page limits are not specified.
• Pricing schedule: Tenderers must complete the Pricing Table within the TRD.
• Case studies:
• Three (3) examples of written content from mainstream media (e.g., health supplement feature story) are required for Criterion A.
• Two (2) strong examples of audio-visual content (e.g., webinar hosting, podcast) are required for Criterion B.
• Declarations:
• Declaration of Bona Fides (as per Art. 57 of Directive 2014/24/EU).
• Declaration regarding compliance with relevant statutory obligations.
• Declaration regarding the International Procurement Instrument (2022/1031) and Article 5K of Regulation 2022/576.
• Confirmation of tax compliance.
• Confirmation of insurance coverage.
• Mandatory site visit: Not specified for this tender.
• Submission portal: eTenders.gov.ie. Responses must be uploaded as a ZIP file.

7. Key dates & process

These dates are estimates and not guaranteed.

8. Contract terms that matter

• Term: Initial contract is for two (2) years.
• Extension: Two (2) optional one-year extensions are available, bringing the total potential duration to four (4) years. Extensions are subject to performance, budget, and business needs.
• Payment terms: All fees are payable within 30 days of invoice receipt.
• Key SLAs/KPIs: Not specified in detail, but contract management will involve adherence to an agreed Service Level Agreement and Key Performance Indicators.
• Liquidated damages or penalty regimes: Not specified for this tender.
• Termination clauses: The Contracting Authority may terminate if increased costs render the arrangement uncompetitive due to changes outside its control. Termination will follow contract terms. Either party may terminate with 14 days' notice if a breach is not remedied within 30 days of request.
• IP ownership: Not specified for this tender.
• Sub-contracting rules: Tenderers may rely on subcontractors, but if a subcontract exceeds 10% of the contract value, the subcontractor must meet exclusion ground requirements.
• Parent-company guarantee or bond requirements: Not specified for this tender.

9. Risks, red flags & unusuals

The most significant unusual aspect is the very low indicative budget of €74,400 spread over a potential four-year contract term. This equates to an average of €18,600 per year, which is exceptionally low for comprehensive science communication and engagement services, especially given the €13 million and €6.5 million insurance requirements. This suggests a need for highly efficient service delivery or a very limited scope of work per year. Tenderers must carefully consider their pricing strategy to ensure profitability and sustainability under this budget constraint. The requirement for three comparable public sector projects within the last three years, with potential disqualification based on referee feedback, represents a significant hurdle for new entrants.

10. SME fit assessment

This tender is likely suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with specialised expertise in science communication and journalism, particularly those with a strong portfolio in audio-visual content creation.

• Who can credibly bid: An SME with a proven track record in science communication, capable of producing high-quality written and audio-visual content for a public sector client. They must possess the required insurance levels and a relevant qualification. The low budget may favour smaller, agile firms.
• Consortium or sub-contracting: Allowed. SMEs are encouraged to form relationships with other SMEs or larger enterprises to meet capacity requirements. If relying on a subcontractor for experience, one of the three required projects must come from that subcontractor.
• Indicative bid-prep effort: Moderate. The need for detailed responses on quality criteria, including specific examples of written and audio-visual work, alongside standard declarations and pricing, suggests a bid preparation time of 5-10 days for an experienced team.
• Pwin signal: The incumbent's strength is not specified. The low budget and specific experience requirements might limit the competitive pool. The emphasis on quality and specific examples suggests that a strong portfolio and clear understanding of the HRB's strategic goals will be critical.

11. Where to dig deeper

• Source RFT filename: [HRB 2026 Science Communication and Engagement Services RFT.pdf]
• eTenders CFT ID: Not specified in the provided text.
• Contact email or clarification portal: Messaging facility on www.etenders.gov.ie.
• Most important attachments:
• Tender Response Document (TRD)
• Appendix 1 – Sample Services Contract