UK SBS Understanding of mental health and wellbeing in the UK PGR population

In recent years, research policy observers and academics have voiced concerns about the impact of current academic working conditions in universities on mental health . Despite an increasing awareness of stress and mental ill-health issues within academia, and a growing number of studies that now address this issue, there is a need for more empirical data on the prevalence of mental health problems and the organisational policies that are linked to them.

In particular, there is limited data about the incidence of mental health issues amongst the postgraduate research (PGR) student population. HEFCE aims to develop and sustain a dynamic and internationally competitive research sector that makes a major contribution to economic prosperity, national wellbeing and the expansion and dissemination of knowledge.

We support higher education institutions (HEIs) in training and developing researchers, with doctoral degrees forming a critical link in the supply chain for the UK's research base and knowledge-intensive economy. As such we wish to gather data on the mental health and wellbeing of the PGR student population to inform our understanding of mental health and wellbeing among PGR students in UK higher education institutions.

We wish to gather qualitative evidence and quantitative data that will inform our knowledge and understanding of mental health and wellbeing in the UK PGR population. The study should focus more strongly on the student interest rather than the economic consequences that arise as a result of this issue.

This study will measure the mental health and wellbeing of PGR students - including those who disclose a diagnosed mental health condition and those who do not. It will look at the structure of research degree programmes (RDPs) and the broader higher education (HE) research culture to identify environmental factors that may cause mental distress or otherwise affect the student experience.

Additional information: The final date and time for the submission of bids is 10/07/2017 at 14:00 DO NOT apply directly to the buyer. All tender information MUST be submitted through the CCS eSourcing Portal.

DO NOT APPLY DIRECTLY TO BUYER All submissions will be assessed in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, for procurement values that exceed Regulation 5 (Threshold amounts) Responses must be received by the date in the bid documents. Responses received outside or concurrently using the eSourcing process will not be accepted or considered further for this opportunity.

How to Register on the CCS eSourcing Suite Full details of this opportunity can be found on the e-sourcing portal please follow instructions below. If you have not yet registered on the eSourcing Suite, this can be done online at https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk by following the link 'Register for CCS eSourcing'.

Please note that, to register, you must have a valid DUNS number (as provided by Dun and Bradstreet) for the organisation which you are registering, who will be entering into a contract if invited to do so. Once you have registered on the eSourcing Suite, a registered user can express an interest for a specific procurement.

Your email must clearly state: • name and reference for the procurement you wish to register for; • name of the registered Bidder; • name and contact details for the registered individual sending the email. Crown Commercial Service will process the email and then enable the Bidder to access the procurement online via the e-Sourcing Suite.

The registered user will receive a notification email to alert them once this has been done. The Sourcing documents can then be accessed on the eSourcing Suite at: https://gpsesourcing.cabinetoffice.gov.uk using the instructions detailed in the Specification documents within Contracts Finder.

As a user of the e-Sourcing Suite you will have access to Emptoris email messaging service which facilitates all messages sent to you and from you in relation to any specific RFX event. Please note it is your responsibility to access these emails on a regular basis to ensure you have sight of all relevant information.

For technical assistance on use of the e-Sourcing Suite please contact Crown Commercial Service Helpdesk: Telephone: 0345 010 3503 Training documents to support Bidders to utilise Emptoris CCS eSourcing are available in the Contracts Finder Tender documents section. About UK Shared Business Services UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UK SBS) brings a commercial attitude to the public sector; helping our customers improve efficiency, generate savings and modernise.

Our broad range of expert services is shared by our customers. This allows our customers the freedom to f