Published date: 10 August 2018

Last edited date: 10 August 2018

This notice was replaced on 25 March 2019

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 25 March 2019)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Environmental services - 90700000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£0

Procurement reference

tender_174856/695256

Published date

10 August 2018

Closing date

9 October 2018

Contract start date

19 November 2018

Contract end date

30 November 2020

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (below threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements below the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

A key objective in Defra's 25 year environment plan is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture and help contribute to UK Climate Change Act 2008 commitments as part of domestic efforts to mitigate climate change. Lowland peat under intensive arable agriculture in England is one of the UK's largest land-use derived source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions1. Reducing emissions from cultivated peatlands could potentially contribute to reducing total emissions to a greater extent than blanket bog restoration on a per hectare basis, where the main focus has been previously, and therefore could generate significant emissions savings at a UK scale. However, much of this is high grade agricultural land (due in part to its historic and ongoing drainage) and in order to support Defra's ambition to promote profitable but sustainable food production we need to explore mitigation measures which effectively reduce GHG emissions but do not require land to be taken out of agricultural production; and are sustainable under a changing climate.

Research is required to evaluate potential greenhouse gas mitigation measures (with a focus on water table management) on lowland peat arable and horticultural agricultural systems for their impact on emissions, productivity and the wider environment. The focus should be on mitigating CO2 emissions from the peat soil without leading to increases in other GHG emissions or loss pathways.

Aims:
- To evaluate the viability of paludiculture as an alternative agricultural system on lowland peat

- To develop greater understanding of the impact on other greenhouse gas mitigation measures on reducing emissions from lowland peat, the wider environment, and agriculture productivity.

- To assess the practicality of these mitigation measures including any socio-economic barriers which may exist;

- To provide evidence to help support delivery options for the peatland strategy

More information

Links

Additional text

Please note that Defra procurement uses an E-tendering system for Procurement activities. This is currently provided by Bravo Solutions. To access appropriate tendering and contractual documents, please access the E-Tendering portal at https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk, ensuring that your registration includes "Defra". If you have any problems with this system, please contact Bravo on their telephone helpline number 0800 368 4850 or by emailing them at help@bravosolution.co.uk

About the buyer

Address

DEFRA
London
SW1P 3JR
England

Telephone

00

Email

network.procurement@defra.gsi.gov.uk