YSAS Industry Partnership Program (YIPP)

IndustryCollaborationOpportunityBackgroundYSAS is the largest supporter of disadvantaged young people in Victoria with a particular focus on youth alcohol and other drug support services. YSAS has over 300 employees and provides outreach, counselling, residential withdrawal and residential rehabilitation services alongside education programs, leading Collingwood and Frankston Headspaces and work in the criminal and justice systems.

Moving towards our future YSAS has been operating for 21 years and as a part of our strategic plan and commitment to the young people of Australia, we are launching the Centre for Youth AOD Research and Policy. As a part of this launch program YSAS is looking for 1-2 University partners who can provide research teams in the area of psychology/allied health or public health for a two year collaboration.

What YSAS can offer?• A dynamic outcome focused research team • Ability to both learn from and inform practice in a service setting • Funding for academics to spend two days per week on dedicated

industry focused research• $80,000 p.a. for two years to facilitate this partnership team to dedicate

time to YSAS partnership• Ability to apply for granting schemes restricted for NFP organizations• A research context that can forge direction on a national level in youth AOD• A passionate and committed research team with executive endorsement.

What we are looking for from YIPP?• Teams of energized and collaborative researchers• Teams who engage in co-design of research agenda with Centre Director• Researchers with strong cross sector communication skills• Researchers who can engage in meta-analysis level work and

understand complex data• Researchers who have track records in working successfully across

disciplines and considering multiple theoretical orientations• Researchers who can introduce student projects to the service with the

collaboration of the Director• Research teams who will collaborate, support and inform each other’s

work to ensure the best possible outcomes for young people.

How to respondIf your Department and University are interested in this Industry Partnership, please express your interest with the Centre Director, Dr Karen Hallam (KHallam@ysas.org.au or 0409 250 147) by the 21th June. To apply for the YIPP, please submit a proposal that addresses the Request for Proposal document attached according to the time-line specified.

YSAS Industry Partnership Program (YIPP) Request for Proposal

Statement of Confidentiality This Request for Proposal (RFP) contains confidential and proprietary information that is the property of Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS), which is provided for the sole purpose of permitting the recipient to respond to the RFP. The recipient agrees to maintain such information in confidence and not to copy nor disclose this information to any person outside the group directly responsible for responding to its contents. The contents of this document may not be used for any purpose other than preparation of a response to this RFP.

About YSAS YSAS has over 300 staff, based across Victoria. Its mission is “to engage, support and strengthen vulnerable young people affected by drug and alcohol use, mental illness and social disconnection in order to improve their health, well-being and participation in the community. YSAS develop supportive, respectful and caring relationships with vulnerable young people, their families and communities; provide holistic, integrated services; establish productive, collaborative partnerships; generate research, innovation and growth; and influence positive social change.”

It provides a range of services directed to its mission, including services directly supporting young people – outreach and assertive outreach, day programs, clinical services and residential programs. It also undertakes research, policy development, community engagement and advocacy.

Part of the mission of YSAS is to improve the lives of young people and one element of this mission is to extend our impact beyond the young people we directly support and have a wider impact on the community and Australia. YSAS Research has been developed to fulfil this brief. YSAS Research is dedicated to analysing and publishing evidence on the personal, family, social and economic impacts of youth alcohol and other drug issues and related concerns.

YSAS National Centre for Youth AOD ResearchThe YSAS National Centre for Youth AOD Research has a brief that includes the following functions;

• Identification, research and publication of meta-analyses, systematic review and review articles relating to the area of youth AOD

• Development of research grants to further research capacity and outputs on the unique client population

• Collaborations with research partners to participate in other related grants and project development

• Disseminate research findings in government documents, position papers and community focused pieces of work (e.g. Conversation) to share evidence informed practices with the wider community

• Provide input as required on the scientific evidence base for programs and innovations for the consideration of executive alongside clinician and client evidence in developing evidence informed programs and strategies.

About this Request for Proposal YSAS is issuing this RFP for YSAS Industry Partnerships where qualified and interested institutions and academics jointly engage in research with YSAS. These academics will engage in activities related to publishing and disseminating research and papers in the youth AOD field. Notably these appointments are to allow for new and shared research development rather than funding existing researchers to continue their own research agenda (unless this matches the Centres goals). Proposals are invited from both academic teams working in;

• Public health industry partnership (PHIP 1x$80,000p.a. for two years. Total value $160,000)

• Psychology and allied health areas (PAIP 1x$80,000p.a. for two years. Total value $160,000)

Proposals will be evaluated against their response to the RFP, curriculum vitaes of nominated staff, and identification of a delivery schedule and adoption of a project management approach to deliver products (papers, conference talks,) briefings on time on time and to budget. YSAS intends to identify a short list of qualified respondents and, ultimately, to select a supplier for this project.

This RFP is not an offer to contract and does not commit YSAS to award a contract to any bidder.

Submitting Proposals Please acknowledge receipt of this RFP and reply indicating whether your company intends to submit a proposal by contacting Dr Karen Hallam, Director of The Centre for Youth AOD Research at YSAS on KHallam@ysas.org.au. If your company does intend to submit a proposal, please provide the name, email address and telephone number for the representative from your company who will serve as the single point of contact for all communications regarding this RFP.

If your organization has any questions, please submit these. Copies of all questions and associated answers from Dr Karen Hallam will be distributed to all organizations preparing a RFP one week before submission deadline.

Submit all final proposals by COB Friday the 14th June via e-mail to Dr Karen Hallam at KHallam@ysas.org.au note that submissions after 5pm may be excluded from assessment.

The costs of preparing a proposal are the sole responsibility of your organization. All proposals and supporting documentation submitted with the proposal become the property of YSAS.

Submission TimelinesACTION PARTY RESPONSIBLE DUE DATE

Release of RFP YSAS 10th June

Indication of Interest Respondents 21st June

Questions on RFP Respondents 21st June

Response to Questions YSAS 28th June

Submission of RFP Respondents 12th July

Notification of outcomes YSAS 28th July

Contracting Process YSAS + Organization August

Commencement of Research Teams YSAS + Organization Sept/Oct

Proposal Evaluation Criteria YSAS will evaluate proposals based on the following factors:

• Responsiveness to the requirements set out in this RFP

• Value to YSAS, considering benefit, total cost (upfront, ongoing and external) and risk

• Organizations ability to implement the proposed solution to agreed scope, budget, timeframe and quality

• Organizations interest in ongoing and mutually beneficial collaboration

• YSAS will at its discretion approach shortlisted organizations for follow-up discussion.

Proposal Preparation GuidelinesIn providing a proposal for a YSAS industry partnership team (YIP) please provide the following documents.

• Cover letter from Department Head indicating whether the proposal is applying for the Public Health industry partnership (PHIP) or Psychology/Allied Health industry partnership (PAIP) or both partnerships (see below)

• Summary of the team and rationale for combination (1-2 page)

• It is recommended that staffing include two individuals at different stages of their academic careers with interest and experience (relevant to opportunity) in youth AOD, youth mental health or similar

• Note that the funding implies a 0.4EFT commitment by a minimum of two researchers but this allocation may vary by teams as long as the overall time allocated is unchanged

• Curriculum vitae’s of the relevant staff nominated including publication and grant history

• Personal one page statement of interest and relevance to the role by staff nominated indicating the reason for interest in an industry role (maximum one page per fellow)

• Evidence of successful industry partnership and capacity to engage in knowledge translation (maximum 1 page)

• A description of the current level of research paper/conference/ grant outputs and how these will be maintained or increased in collaboration with YSAS (maximum 2 pages)

• If available, sample University Industry Partnership pro-forma (optional).

Additional• If the University wishes to provide proposals for both the PHIP and PAIP teams,

provide details on how these staff have worked collaboratively in the past and the rationale for requesting YSAS select just one University partner

• This is an open request for proposal where all existing partnerships and potential partnerships will be considered equally based on the responses to this RFP and any subsequent interviews or deliberations

• Please refer to the YSAS strategic plan when preparing your response to these requests.

ACN 080 593 380