Closed ATM View - RFQ1819-01
Analysis of brain cancer platforms and technologies (the Analysis)
Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart
Background:
Brain cancer is the sixth leading cause of cancer burden and there are more than 100 types of brain cancer and other central nervous system cancers. These cancers carry high rates of morbidity and mortality. The five-year relative survival rate for brain cancer is low, at around 22 per cent. The young are disproportionately affected by brain cancer and brain cancer kills more children in Australia than any other disease. Despite improvements in patient care and support, survival rates for brain cancer have remained relatively unchanged for the past 30 years.
The Australian Brain Cancer Mission (the Mission) was announced on 29 October 2017 and aims to double survival rates and improve the quality of life for patients with brain cancer over ten years to 2027, with the longer term aim of defeating brain cancer. As at July 2019, $124.7M had been committed to the Mission through co-investments from philanthropy, non-government organisations and governments, including $58.35M from the Australian Government through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). Cancer Australia is responsible for administering the Mission, supported by a Strategic Advisory Group (MSAG).
A national Brain Cancer Research Roundtable was convened in 2017 bringing together people affected by brain cancer and their families, leading Australian and international researchers, clinicians, advocacy and philanthropic groups. This Roundtable provided the framework for delivery on the aim of the Mission and developed a Research Roadmap that articulates the Mission’s investment strategies. Conducting an ‘Analysis of Australian brain cancer platforms and technologies’ is one of the early and immediate priorities for implementation outlined in the Research Roadmap.
The purpose of the Analysis is to inform future national infrastructure requirements and their use; identify networking strategies to enhance utilisation for platform and technology systems, and reduce duplication in effort; facilitate better coordinated use of platforms and technologies which will play a significant role in supporting brain cancer research, clinical trials, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and clinical care for children, adolescents and young adults (AYA), and adults with brain cancer for the next 3 – 5 years, and to 2027.
Scope:
The scope of the Analysis will cover platforms and technologies applicable to children, AYA and adults with brain cancer across the brain cancer continuum of care, which for the Analysis, will include brain cancer research, clinical trials, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical care.
Outcomes and Reporting Requirements:
The Analysis will inform future national infrastructure requirements, including how resources can be coordinated to play a significant role in supporting the brain cancer continuum of care for children, AYA, and adults. The Analysis will also identify existing platforms and technologies, as well as potential new platforms and technologies.
In undertaking this work, the contractor will be required to provide Cancer Australia with monthly updates by teleconference, two progress reports, a draft final report and a final report. The two progress reports, the draft final report and the final report will also be considered by MSAG.
The final report will include:
1.A review outlining brain cancer platforms and technologies that are currently available nationally and internationally, and how they are being used in Australia;
2.a review of platforms and technologies currently used in cancer research and clinical trials, and where relevant, how these platforms and technologies can be incorporated across the brain cancer continuum of care to inform potential future investments under the Mission over the next 3 - 5 years; and to 2027;
3.a review and the analysis of consultations with relevant experts identifying current platforms and technologies, and potential new platforms and technologies, that could inform the next investments under the Mission to support the brain cancer continuum of care in Australia, specifically:
a. what is needed over the next 3 - 5 years; and
b. what is on the horizon to 2027; and
4.an analysis of consultations with relevant experts identifying the workforce requirements, capacity, capability and training needs for the next 3 - 5 years and up to 2027, to support future investments in brain cancer platforms and technologies.
5.A gap analysis to inform future requirements across the brain cancer continuum of care in the next 3 – 5 years, and to 2027.
The gap analysis will include:
a.approaches to enhance utilisation of platform and technology system networks;
b.proposals for how current and potential new platforms and technologies utilising large data sets and bioinformatics, can aid in achieving the aim of the Mission;
c.potential strategies for reduction of any identified duplications in resources in relation to brain cancer platforms and technologies across the continuum of care; and
d.potential strategies to facilitate more efficient coordinated use of brain cancer platforms and technologies.
6.A cost-benefit analysis for upscaling current platforms and technologies, and introducing potential new platforms and technologies, to fill identified validated gaps from the above gap analysis. The cost-benefit analysis will include the costs and benefits to patients and the healthcare system in the next 3 – 5 years, and up to 2027, to inform potential future investments under the Mission.
7.A plan for upscaling existing platforms and technologies, and the introduction of potential new platforms and technologies, including considerations for the identified critical parameters and elements, required for the upscaling and introduction of these platforms and technologies, to achieve expansion of the brain cancer continuum of care in the next 3 – 5 years and up to 2027.
Partnerships:
Cancer Australia encourages the partnering of different organisations, departments, and groups to bring together the necessary skills and experiences to provide a Tender to undertake the Analysis. The organisational structure and management of staff involved in the partnership should be outlined in the Tender.
Timeframe:
The project is planned to commence in November 2019 and to be completed within six months of the start date.
Funding of up to $450,000 (GST inclusive) has been provided from the Department of Health to Cancer Australia for the purpose of procuring a suitably qualified organisation to undertake this work.
No mandatory conditions
Six months from start date