The JISC wishes to commission a scoping study and consultation to evaluate what users requires from automatic metadata generation and then prioritise tool development and create general guidance for service providers within Higher Education.

The aims and objectives of the study are to:

• identify the functions and use cases that automatic metadata generations need to fulfil;
• identify the priority areas for developing tools and services that would support the Information environment;
• run a knowledge gathering workshop to bring experts in the field of automatic metadata generation together and to scope priority areas for JISC;
• create a general guidance document for service providers within HE as to the different automatic metadata generation approaches;
• provide a synthesis of the findings from a range of projects working at a national and international level.

Total funding of £60,000 (including VAT, travel and subsistence) is available for this project.

The deadline for receipt of tenders is 12 noon on Wednesday 14th January 2009. The successful bidder will be expected to start work on or around Monday 2nd February 2009. This study should take place over a maximum period of five months.

A full version of the ITT can be found below.