PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT AND FACILITIES – FUNDING

1. Title: PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT AND FACILITIES – FUNDING2. Awarding Authority: Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), GB Email: sfmt@nerc.ukri.org. Web: 3. Contract type: Service contract4. Description: Tell us what you need from the next generation of awarding authority scientific support and facilities (S&F).We want to hear about S&F ideas that are essential to the delivery of environmental science over the next five to 10 years.To share your ideas with us you must submit a statement of community need. Only ideas submitted to NERC via this opportunity will be considered for inclusion in the future S&F portfolio.We want to hear from:eligible UK higher education institutionsNERC research centresindependent research organisations.No direct funding will be available through this opportunity. A successful outcome will be a future funding opportunity5. CPV Code(s): 73112000, 73110000, 73000000, 90700000, 732100006. NUTS code(s): UKK, UKK1, UKK147. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: UK8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: Not provided.9. Estimated value of requirement: Not provided.10. Closing Date: 22.6.2021 (16:00:00).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information regarding the above contract notice please visit:12. Other information: Funding type: OtherOpportunity status: UpcomingOpening date: 1 March 2021 12:00 UK timeWho can applyThis will be an open call for eligible UK higher education institutions, NERC research centres and independent research organisations.What we’re looking forA NERC scientific S&F is defined as a provider which delivers a unique and much in-demand capability available to the UK’s environmental science community.This is typically over a minimum period of five years, of which measurement facilities and sample repositories are examples.Through their centralised national provision S&F deliver a critical mass in operation, technical innovation and financial efficiency.S&F are distinct from other types of NERC national capability investments, such as large-scale research infrastructure and strategic capital investments.NERC is currently reviewing its S&F portfolio and considering what will form the next generation of NERC S&F.NERC is looking to invite the environmental science community to submit statements of community need for S&F that are essential to the delivery of environmental science over the next five to 10 years.Such a portfolio may include current S&F, an evolution of current S&F to provide new or enhanced capability, and new S&F.NERC S&F are expected to be accessible across the entirety of the UK environmental science community and to support research across all UKRI funding streams.Only those S&F ideas submitted to NERC via this call will be considered for inclusion in the future S&F portfolio.The statements of community need must, as a minimum, be co-created by the relevant sector of the environmental science community.They must be for unique, innovative and forward-looking national or international centres of excellence that:build capacityenable world-leading research (including interdisciplinary research)unlock any relevant opportunities for national or international collaborations.Statements of community need are encouraged from across the breadth of environmental science.Statements of community need are required to present convincing evidence of?strong community engagement and support during the development of the proposed idea.It?must?be clear how the proposed idea complements and adds value to the existing and future research landscape.The statement will also need to describe how it aligns with NERC’s strategy and goals and how it is addressing sustainability and equality, diversity and inclusion.How we will assess your applicationNo direct funding will be available through these statements of need. A successful outcome from this opportunity will be a future funding call.The statements of need will be assessed by a diverse working group who will make recommendations to NERC on priority ideas for future S&F investment.Based on consideration of these recommendations, NERC will convene focus groups for each priority S&F idea to inform NERC on the capability needs, commissioning route and development of an open call.Contact detailsDiscuss this pre-announcementEmail awarding authorityAdditional infoFind out more about NERC’s current portfolio of scientific S&F in our list of facilities (NERC website).TKR-2021211-EX-1554592