Provision of Increased Seed Testing for ISTA OIC's

Contract summary

Industry

• Research services - 73110000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£2,130,522

Procurement reference

tender_250086/892492

Published date

7 October 2020

Closing date

28 September 2020

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

5 October 2020

Contract end date

31 March 2022

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Single tender action (below threshold)

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

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Description

European Union legislation and international treaties provide a framework for registration of new varieties of the main agricultural and vegetable crop species (National Listing), plant variety rights and certification of seed. The objectives are to facilitate the breeding of improved varieties, provide farmers with information about variety performance and to assure the quality of marketed seed.

Following the UK vote to leave the EU, the way UK seed is marketed in the EU will change. When transition period ends on 31 December 2020, the UK will need to market (export) seed under third country equivalence with the EU and under OECD seed certification. This requires additional seed testing capacity to issue International Seed Testing Association Orange International Certificates (ISTA OICs) to accompany Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) certified seed and to show that EU Rules and Standards have been met.

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More information

Attachments

• NIAB Standard Contract Services_30694_Redacted.pdf
• Tender notice
• n/a

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Award information

Awarded date

28 September 2020

Contract start date

5 October 2020

Contract end date

31 March 2022

Total value of contract

£2,130,522

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

NIAB

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About the buyer

Address

17 Noble House
London
SW1P 3JR
England

Email

mark.chamberlain@defra.gov.uk