NICE Research and Development (R&D) team leads on R&D to improve NICE’s processes and methods, to ensure they remain fit for purpose and keep pace with the latest developments in methodology, and encourages partners to commission research relevant to the work of NICE. The R&D team is also responsible for NICE’s research governance activities, Social Values Judgements document and Citizens Council, and coordinates the Technical Forum at NICE.

NICE wishes to commission a Research Support Unit (RSU) to support the cross-NICE R&D activities. The RSU will carry out scoping work and projects to meet methodological research needs identified by NICE. These research needs will usually be relevant across more than one NICE programme.

A key role of the Research Support Unit will be to enhance the delivery of robust information to support NICE's methods and processes and to provide rapid responses to specific technical issues raised.