UK SBS on behalf of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) undertakes a procurement exercise for the Provision of a Service offering advice, guidance, and support for Responsible Research and Innovation to the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) Research Community. The purpose of this tender is to source a service that the ICT community can draw on in looking at the potential consequences of its innovations.

Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) is an approach that seeks to promote creativity and opportunities for science and innovation that are socially desirable and undertaken in the public's interest. The consideration of RRI often raises questions and dilemmas, it is sometimes ambiguous in terms of purposes and motivations, and unpredictable in terms of impacts, beneficial or otherwise. The application of RRI requires spaces and processes to explore these aspects of innovation in an open, inclusive, and timely way.

In order to encourage RRI in ICT research there is a need to provide a service that will offer advice, guidance, and support. EPSRC is looking to appoint a contractor that will provide this service and will recognise and meet the needs of the UK community.

The estimated cost of the service over the 5-year period is 1 000 000 GBP. Over the course of the contract period, the expectation is that a significant portion of the costs will be met by subscriptions by the community to the service, such that by the end of the contract, the service will be self-sustaining. EPSRC will provide 450 000 GBP of the service costs.