IMPROVING MULTIMORBIDITY ACUTE CARE USING DATA ANALYTICS, PHASE 1 – FUNDING

1. Title: IMPROVING MULTIMORBIDITY ACUTE CARE USING DATA ANALYTICS, PHASE 1 – FUNDING2. Awarding Authority: Innovate UK, GB Tel: 0300 321 4357. Email: support@innovateuk.ukri.org / Kate.Cheesbrough@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk. (competition helpline)3. Contract type: Service contract4. Description: This is a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) competition funded by the Scottish Government through Health Innovation specified locationThe aim is to improve clinical decision-making by introducing a data-driven approach that must:identify multimorbidity patientsprovide individual risk stratification through real-time data visualisationprovide decision support following an emergency admissionThis is phase 1 of a potential 2-phase competition. A decision to proceed with phase 2 will depend on the outcomes from phase 1 and assessment of a separate application into a subsequent phase 2 competition. Only successful applicants from phase 1 will be able to apply to take part in phase 2.Successful applicants will receive funding, as well as guidance from NHS Lothian, The Data Lab, University of Edinburgh and access to the DataLoch repository of health data for South East Scotland.Any adoption and implementation of a solution from this competition would be subject of a separate, possible competitive, procurement exercise. This competition does not cover the purchase of any solution.In applying to this competition you are entering into a competitive process.This competition closes at 11am UK time on the date of the deadline.Who can applyYour projectProjects are expected to start by 5 May 2021 and can last up to 3 months.To lead a project, you can:be an organisation of any sizework alone or with others from business, research organisations, research and technology organisations or the third sector as subcontractorsContracts will be awarded only to a single legal entity. However, if you can justify subcontracting components of the work, you can employ specialist consultants or advisers. This work will still be the responsibility of the main contractor.Your proposalMulti-morbidity (two or more concurrent chronic conditions) is associated with poor quality health, reduced life expectancy, greater levels of social exclusion, and reduced employment opportunities.Currently the identification and characterisation of multi-morbidity is hindered by poor real-time access to fragmented individual data sets. This leads to delays in clinicians being able to make rapid, informed recommendations on the best next steps in a person’s care journey.The aim is to develop a data-driven solution that can improve and personalize the care plans for patients with multimorbidity when they have an emergency admission to hospital by introducing analytical models in the clinical system that could assist with the risk assessment of patients.In phase 1, you must:engage with clinicians, patients and other stakeholders to understand data sets, ascertain end-user requirements and how information visualisation can be tailored to cliniciansoutline requirements and plans for Phase 2At this stage contracts will be awarded for phase 1 only. You must define your goals and outline your plan for phase 2. This is part of the full commercial implementation in your phase 1 proposal.You must demonstrate a credible and practical route to market, so your application must include a plan to commercialise your results.Phase 2 projects must:develop automated mechanisms for identifying multimorbidity in patients admitted to emergency departments using clinical data from varied sources in collaboration with clinical and academic partnersdevelop AI and/or machine learning that will facilitate data extraction from new data sources and integrate into risk stratification modelsdevelop algorithms to risk stratify individuals who are at risk of adverse outcomes including death or hospital readmissiondevelop end-user tools that permit real-time visualisation of data and risk stratification to support personalised clinical decision makingdevelop a business planResearch categoriesPhase 1: technical feasibility studiesThis means planned research or critical investigation to gain new knowledge and skills for developing new products, processes or services.In phase 1 the supplier will work closely with the stakeholders to explore the needs for developing a solution. The outcome of phase 2 will be a prototype of the solution.Phase 2: prototype development and evaluationThis can include prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services in environments representative of real-life operating conditions. The primary objective is to make further technical improvements on products, processes or services that are not substantially set.Projects we will not fundWe will not fund projects that cover:solutions that are incompatible with the current technologies used by the healthcare community and the main patient population in Scotlandbasic research or exploratory studies where an idea or solution has not been identified5. CPV Code(s): 73400000, 73420000, 723160006. NUTS code(s): UKK, UKK1, UKK14, UKM7. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: South East Scotland.8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.9. Estimated value of requirement: Organisations can apply for a share of £1600,000 inclusive of VAT to develop a data-driven solution to improve the care and outcomes for patients with multimorbidity admitted in A&E.Project sizePhase 1 projects can have total costs of up to £10,000, inclusive of VAT.FundingA total of up to £50,000, inclusive of VAT is allocated to phase 1.Phase 1Feasibility study R&D contracts of up to £10,000, inclusive of VAT will be awarded for each successful project for up to 3 months. We expect to fund up to 5 projects.Phase 2The second phase involves up to 2 contracts being awarded to organisations chosen from the successful phase 1 applicants. Up to £55,000 inclusive of VAT will be awarded for each contract, to develop a prototype and undertake field testing for up to 9 months.The total funding available for the competition can change. The funders have the right to:adjust the provisional funding allocations between the phasesapply a ‘portfolio’ approachThe contract is completed at the end of phase 2, and the successful business is expected to pursue commercialisation of their solution.Research and developmentYour application must have at least 50% of the contract value attributed directly and exclusively to R&D services, including solution exploration and design. R&D can also include prototyping and field-testing the product or service. This lets you incorporate the results of your exploration and design, and demonstrate that you can produce in quantity to acceptable quality standards.R&D does not include:commercial development activities such as quantity productionsupply to establish commercial viability or to recover R&D costsintegration, customisation or incremental adaptations and improvements to existing products or processesState aidSBRI competitions involve procurement of R&D services at a fair market value and are not subject to state aid criteria that typically apply to grant funding.10. Competition closes: 3.3.2021 (11:00:00).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit: 12. Other information: Funding type Procurement4 January 2021 Competition opens18 January 2021 Online briefing event3 March 2021 11:00am Competition closes7 April 2021 Applicants notified5 May 2021 Phase 1 contracts awardedBefore you startBy submitting an application, you agree to the terms of the draft contract which is available once you start your application. The final contract will include any details you have agreed with the funding authority and will be sent to you if your application is successful.The contract is binding once the contract is returned by the applicant and signed by both parties. The terms and conditions included in the draft contract should not substantially change.When you start an application on the Innovation Funding Service you will be prompted to create an account as the lead applicant or sign in as a representative of your organisation. You will need an account to track the progress of your application.As the lead applicant you will be responsible for:collecting the information for your applicationrepresenting your organisation in leading the project if your application is successfulYou will be able to invite colleagues from your organisation to contribute to the application.What happens nextA panel of assessors will review and score your application and the winners of phase 1 contracts will be selected. All applicants will be provided feedback by NHS Scotland on request.For phase 2 assessors can also take into account the phase 1 end-of-phase report. They might ask a number of finalists to attend an interview or give a demonstration.What we will ask youThe application is split into 3 sections:Project details.Application questions.Finances1. Project detailsThese sections are not scored.Application detailsThe lead applicant must complete this section. Give your project’s title, start date and duration.Equality diversity and inclusionWe collect and report on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data to address under-representation in business innovation and ensure equality, diversity and inclusion across all our activities.You must complete this EDI survey and then select yes in the application question. The survey will ask you questions on your gender, age, ethnicity and disability status. You will always have the option to ‘prefer not to say’ if you do not feel comfortable sharing this information.Who made you aware of the competition?Select a category to state who made you aware of the competition. You cannot choose more than one.How long has your organisation been established for?Select a category to state how long has your organisation been established for. You cannot choose more than one.What is your organisation’s primary area focus?Select a category to state your organisation’s primary focus area. You cannot choose more than one.Project summaryPlease provide a short summary of your project and describe how it meets the scope of the competition.Describe your project briefly. Be clear about what makes it innovative and how it relates to the scope of the competition. How does it tackle different aspects of the challenge and how will it provide an integrated solution?Give details of the lead organisation. Before you submit, we expect you to have discussed your application within your own organisation and any other relevant organisations.List any organisations you have named as subcontractors.Your answer for this section can be up to 800 words long. This section is not scored, but we will use it to decide whether the project fits the scope of the competition. If it does not, it may be rejected.Public descriptionPlease provide a brief description of your project. If your application is successful, we will publish this description. This question is mandatory, but we will not assess this content as part of your application.Describe your project in detail, and in a way that you are happy to see published. Do not include any commercially sensitive information. If we award your project funding, we will publish this description. This could happen before you start your project. We have the right to amend the description before publication if necessary but will consult you about any changes.Your answer can be up to 400 words long.2. Application questionsThe assessors will score your answers to all these questions.Your answer to each question can be up to 400 words long. Do not include any URLs in your answers unless we have explicitly requested a link to a video.Question 1. Proposed idea or technologyProvide a brief description of your proposed idea or technology. How does it address the outcomes described in the competition scope?Describe the current state of development or readiness of the idea.You can submit an appendix containing images and diagrams to support your answer. It must be a PDF up to 2 A4 pages long and no larger than 10MB in size. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.This question will be scored against this assessment criterion: ‘How well does the proposal meet the challenge?’Question 2. Technical project summaryGive a short background to the main technical challenges you are looking to address.Describe or explain:how you will address the challengewhat the innovation isthe main technical deliverablesthe research and development that will prove the scientific, environmental and commercial merit of the projectwhat might be achieved by deploying the innovation to address the selected challengeThis question will be scored against this assessment criterion: ‘How valid is the technical approach?’Question 3. Current state of the art and intellectual propertyDetail other products currently available on the market and how your innovation differentiates itself from them.Include details of:any existing intellectual property (IP)its significance to your freedom to operateThis question will be scored against these assessment criteria: ‘How innovative is this project? How much does the project develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools or technologies for this area?’Question 4. Project plan and methodologyDescribe your project plan and identify the main milestones.The plan for phase 1 must be comprehensive. For phase 2 only an outline is required. The emphasis throughout should be on practicality. We are seeking evidence that the technology works, can be made into a viable product and can achieve the proposed benefits.You should describe or explain:what resources will be needed to deliver the projectwhat the main success criteria would bethe identified project management processes that will ensure you achieve the milestonesthe main technical, commercial and environmental risks and what you will do to mitigate themhow you would handle any IP issues which might arise during the projectIndicate your required payment schedule by month.Please ensure that if you are working with subcontractors you explain how you will maintain freedom to operate and fulfill the IP requirements detailed in the contract. Allow for the preparation of a detailed plan for phase 2, towards the end of phase 1.You must upload a project plan or Gantt chart as an appendix in PDF format no larger than 10MB and up to 2 A4 pages. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.Download and complete the milestone templateYour milestones must be:cleardefined using SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound) criteriaassociated with the appropriate deliverables and paymentsOnce you have completed the milestone template it must be uploaded in a PDF format to this question. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.This question will be assessed against these assessment criteria: ‘Does the proposal show a clear plan for establishing technical and commercial feasibility and the development of a working prototype? Is there a clear management plan What are the main technical, commercial and environmental risks to project success? Will these be effectively managed? Are the milestones and evaluation procedures appropriate?’Question 5. Technical team and expertiseProvide a brief description of your technical team.Describe or explain:the expertise of each team member or subcontractor, outlining why they are critical to the project’s successhow much of their time will be spent on the projectThis question will be scored against this assessment criterion: ‘Does the applicant have the skills, capabilities and experience to deliver the intended benefits?’Question 6. Costs and value for moneyHow much will the project cost for phase 1? How does it represent value for money for the team and the taxpayer?Describe or explain:the total eligible project costs, inclusive of VAT, you are requesting in terms of the project goalshow this project represents value for money for you and the taxpayerYou can submit a single appendix as a spreadsheet no larger than 10MB and up to 2 A4 pages long to support your answer. The font must be legible at 100% zoom.Indicate your potential costs for phase 2. Progression to phase 2 depends on your success in phase 1.Costs quoted must reflect actual costs at a “fair market value” and not include profitFull Economic Cost (FEC) calculations are not relevant for SBRI competitions. SBRI is a competitive process and applications will come from a variety of organisations. Whatever calculation you use to arrive at your total eligible project costs your application will be assessed against applications from other organisations. Bear this in mind when calculating your total eligible project costs. You can include overheads but remember that this is a competitive process.You will be asked if you are VAT registered before entering your project costs. If you are a VAT registered organisation you will not need to enter your costs inclusive of VAT as the application form will calculate the VAT for you.Total cost must include VAT. VAT is the responsibility of the invoicing business, and applications must list total costs inclusive of VAT. If you are not VAT registered then you can quote without VAT but you will not be able to increase invoice values to cover VAT later on.The assessors are required to judge the application finances in terms of value for money. In other words, does the proposed cost for effort and deliverables reflect a fair market price? They will score your finances against this assessment criterion: ‘Are the budget and costs realistic, justified and appropriate for the aims and methods?Please note information from the finances section will be used to support the assessment of this question. Proposed costs stated in this section must match those entered in the finance summary on your application.Question 7. Commercial potentialDescribe how you would realise the commercial potential of your proposal and to what timescales, including a clear plan to deliver that and a route to market. Focus on your proposed customer’s needs but you may also mention the future commercial potential across the public or private sector and the international market.How far is the challenge you are addressing shared across the public and/or private sector in the UK and further afield? Describe the competitive advantage that your proposal has over existing or alternative technologies that meet market needs.This question will be scored against these assessment criteria: ‘Is there a clear commercial potential for a marketable product, process or service and a clear plan to deliver that and a clear route to market? How significant is the competitive advantage of this technology over existing technologies that meet the market’s needs?’3. FinancesEnter your phase 1 project costs, organisation details and funding details. For full information on what costs you can claim, see our project costs guidance.Background and further informationAbout Small Business Research Initiative competitionsSBRI provides innovative solutions to challenges faced by the public sector. This can lead to better public services and improved efficiency and effectiveness.The SBRI programme:supports economic growth and enables the development of innovative products and services through the public procurement of R&Dgenerates new business opportunities for companiesprovides a route to market for their ideasbridges the seed funding gap experienced by many early-stage companiesSBRI competitions are open to all organisations that can demonstrate a route to market for their solution. The SBRI scheme is particularly suited to small and medium-sized businesses, as the contracts are of relatively small value and operate on short timescales. Developments are 100% funded and focused on specific identified needs, increasing the chance of exploitation.Suppliers for each project will be selected by an open competition process and retain the intellectual property generated from the project, with certain rights of use retained by the contracting authority. This is an excellent opportunity to establish an early customer for a new technology and to fund its development.Broader informationThe numbers of people living with multi-morbidity are increasing globally, with significant increases particularly in the proportion of people over 75. This results in additional demands being placed on health & social care services at a time when these services are constrained and already under pressure.When multi-morbid people experience acute illness requiring emergency attendance at hospital, they will be met by clinical teams. These clinical teams, unlike their primary care colleagues, will often have little knowledge about that individual. In addition, these teams meet the patient in an urgent situation when time-critical decisions are required to agree on what will be best next for that person.The sooner consensus can be reached, the faster the appropriate care pathway can be implemented. This maximises the opportunity for that individual to be discharged safely and quickly to their community.It is anticipated that this collaboration will lead the development of a decision support tool that offers better data visualisations, ability to identify those at highest risk, and support clinicians in their decision making.It is also anticipated that this solution will increase the efficient use of NHS resources and improve the significant economic burden of multimorbidity.Data sharingThis competition is jointly operated by Innovate UK and NHS Lothian (each an “agency”).Your submitted application and any other information you provide at the application stage can be submitted to each agency on an individual basis for its storage, processing and use. Any relevant information produced during the application process concerning your application can be shared by one agency with the other, for its individual storage, processing and use.This means that any information given to or generated by Innovate UK in respect of your application may be passed on to NHS Lothian, and vice versa.Innovate UK and NHS Lothian are directly accountable to you for their holding and processing of your information, including any personal data and confidential information. Data is held in accordance with their own policies. Accordingly, Innovate UK, and NHS Lothian will be data controllers for personal data submitted during the application.Innovate UK complies with the requirements of GDPR, and is committed to upholding the data protection principles, and protecting your information. The Information Commissioner’s Office also has a useful guide for organisations, which outlines the data protection principles.Further help and informationIf you want help to find a project partner, contact the Knowledge Transfer Network or Scottish Enterprise.If you have any questions about the scope requirements of this competition, email Kate.Cheesbrough@nhslothian.scot.nhs.ukIf you need support with the application process, email us at support@innovateuk.ukri.org or call the competition helpline on 0300 321 4357 between 9am and 11:30am or 2pm and 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).# funding opportunity