« Two PhD Studentships in Health Economics: Health Economics Research Unit (HERU) | Main | Researcher (Health Economics): Ingenix »
March 24, 2006
Call for Proposals: The impact of demographic change on demand for and delivery of health services: Health Research Board (Ireland)
Closing date: 24 March 2006
The Health Research Board, in association with the Health Service Executive, invites proposals for a research project on the impact of demographic change on the demand for and delivery of health services in Ireland.
Background: Research on the impact of population trends on the demand for and delivery of health services in Ireland is necessary for two main reasons. The first is that demographic change is a major influence on demand for health services and the manner in which they are delivered.
Patterns of population reproduction, population ageing, migration and the spatial distribution of population are among the fundamental drivers of future development of health services in Ireland, as in the developed world generally. It is therefore important that we know as much as possible about these aspects of Irish population trends.
The second reason is that demographic patterns in Ireland, which have always tended to be different to those of other countries, continue to evolve in exceptional ways. Patterns of demographic change in other countries may not be replicated in Ireland. For this reason, Ireland cannot simply import results, findings and trends based on research from elsewhere.
Unlike other EU member states, the total population in Ireland is growing strongly, driven by both rising natural increase and inward migration. The scale of the increase in the population and the reasons for this increase make it all the more important to identify its impact on the demand for and delivery of health services.
The research proposal should:
- Identify the extent to which demographic change in Ireland in the past five years is impacting on demand for health services
- Identify the likely impact of expected demographic change to 2020 on demand for health services, with particular attention to patterns of fertility, migration and ageing
- Identify the implications of the likely spatial impact of demographic change for the delivery and organisation of health services.
The key deliverables of the project are:
- An overview report on the impact of demographic change in Ireland in the past five years on demand for and delivery of health services
- An overview report on the likely impact of expected demographic changes to 2020 on demand for and delivery of health services
- Detailed reports on the impact of likely changes to 2020 in
- fertility patterns,
- migration and
- ageing over the next ten years on demand for and delivery of health services.
Payments will be linked to the satisfactory receipt of deliverables.
Funding available: As an indicative figure, an amount of up to €100,000 (inclusive of any VAT chargeable) is available each year over two years to support a research proposal.
Selection criteria: Applications will be peer reviewed by national and international experts. Selection of the successful proposal will be based on the following criteria:
- The track record of the principal applicant/s in demographic, health policy and health systems research
- The quality of the proposal to research the impact of demographic change on demand for and delivery of health services
- The capacity of the applicant/s to undertake a programme of research of this nature
- The timescale for producing the deliverables of the research project
- The cost of the proposal and the value for money that it represents.
Proposals should include the following information:
- The name of the principal applicant and details of his/her track record, including publications and relevant experience
- The qualifications and competencies of the members of the team that will work on the project
- A proposal as to how a programme of research on demographic change and its impact on health services will be developed
- An estimate of the costs involved in the project
- An estimate of the timescale for producing the deliverables of the project.
All applications for funding must be signed by the lead applicant. The CEO/Director of the lead agency must also sign the application. If not submitted with the original application, the completed signature pages must reach the HRB by 12:00 on Friday 31 March 2006 (i.e., within five working days of the closing date for receipt of applications) in order for the application to be considered.
Terms and conditions: Proposals should contain any other information deemed by the applicant/s to be relevant to the submission. The HRB is not bound to accept the lowest priced or any proposal.
Acceptance by the HRB of a proposal will be subject to the negotiation of a contract. The HRB reserves the right of approval for the appointment of replacement project staff or sub-contractors by the contractor, once the contract has commenced. The contract will be awarded based on a fixed price. All travel, subsistence and other expenses related to the project are deemed to be part of the fixed price. Invoices are to be issued at the satisfactory completion of each stage of the contract. Payment will be on foot of appropriate documentation and invoices, and will be in accordance with the terms of the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions Regulations), 2002.
Responsibility for publication of reports specified as key deliverables and any other publications will be a matter for agreement in the negotiation of the contract.
The successful applicant/s will report progress on the study at regular intervals to a project group consisting of representatives of the HRB, the HSE and other interested parties.
Closing date: The closing date for receipt of proposals is 17:00 on Friday 24 March 2006. Applications should be made on sent electronically to HRB@HRB.ie
All enquiries and correspondence relating to this call for proposals should be addressed to:
Office of the Chief Executive
Health Research Board
73 Lower Baggot Street
Dublin 2, Ireland
t +353 1 6761176 ext 130
f +353 1 6612335
e mcotter@hrb.ie
w http://www.hrb.ie
