Published date: 13 February 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.


Closing: 28 March 2025, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research and development consultancy services - 73200000

Location of contract

SW1P 4DF

Value of contract

£1

Procurement reference

CF-0457200D8d000003VQwdEAG

Published date

13 February 2025

Closing date

28 March 2025

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

21 May 2025

Contract end date

20 January 2026

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?

No

Description

This project aims to conduct a comprehensive review of existing data, activities, and initiatives related to breeding research programs, supported by conversations where needed with key national stakeholders, including research centres, universities, and seed companies. The focus of this review will be on major field grown and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), including Controlled Environment Horticulture (CEH) crops, outside the scope of the current Defra Genetic Improvement Network (GIN) Platform. This will provide evidence and knowledge regarding opportunities and current barriers associated with the development and implementation of crop breeding techniques to deliver public goods.

The findings will update our understanding of how crop breeding techniques can contribute to delivery of public goods. For the purposes of this work, public goods include (but are not limited to) increased crop productivity, resilience to abiotic and biotic threats, biodiversity, enhanced resource use efficiency, environmental protection, soil, air and water quality, food security, improved sustainability, and the production of crops with lower inputs and GHG emissions. The selected field grown crops for consideration in this review may include, but are not limited to, barley, oats, sugar beet, orchard fruits, and potatoes. Within CEA/CEH, crops may include (for example) tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and other salad crops. This study should encompass both traditional and precision breeding approach.

The contract duration is for eight (8) months with an anticipated start date of May 2025.

This is a below threshold contract therefore the opportunity will only be advertised on Contracts Finder. The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Any questions, requests to participate or tender submissions must be submitted electronically via this portal.

If you need technical help with the Atamis system, either when registering, or when completing a tender, please contact the Atamis support team e-mail Support@Atamis.co.uk or phone Tel: 029 2279 0052

About the buyer

Contact name

Olubunmi Akinmade

Address

Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom

Email

olubunmi.akinmade@defra.gov.uk