Published date: 4 November 2024

Last edited date: 15 November 2024

This notice was replaced on 12 June 2025

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

Awarded contract (published 12 June 2025)

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

  • Research and experimental development services - 73100000

Location of contract

England

Value of contract

£30,000 to £49,999

Procurement reference

NE041124MCINPP

Published date

4 November 2024

Closing date

22 November 2024

Closing time

5pm

Contract start date

29 November 2024

Contract end date

31 March 2025

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?

No

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

This project aims to deliver a short-term soil microcosm experiment to reveal the soil microbial responses to application of commonly used pesticides. Analysis of the microbial communities using metabarcoding will be used to identify any consistent community changes which might be used as indicators of exposure, or to evaluate pesticide impact. These indicators would be used to interpret microbial community data from the England Ecosystem Survey, a national soil monitoring programme, to indicate possible levels of pesticide exposure.
The project would involve planning stages during December 2024, with the soil microcosms being set up, initial communities sampled, and experimental treatments applied during January 2025. Subsequent sampling would occur in early February and March 2025, with a brief technical report produced before end of March 2025.

To apply for this opportunity you must submit your quotation meeting the requirements detailed in the Request for Quotation (RFQ) attached.
Your response must be sent to matthew.j.shepherd@naturalengland.org.uk and jonny.griffiths@naturalengland.org.uk by 5pm on 27/11/2024.

If you have any clarification questions linked to this opportunity or the procurement process please submit these via email to matthew.j.shepherd@naturalengland.org.uk and jonny.griffiths@naturalengland.org.uk before 15/11/2024. Please note that, unless commercially sensitive, both the question and the response will be circulated to all tenderers.

More information

Attachments

About the buyer

Contact name

Matthew Shepherd

Address

Natural England
Sterling House, Dix's Field
Exeter
EX1 1QA
England

Telephone

07866680786

Email

matthew.j.shepherd@naturalengland.org.uk