Published date: 17 April 2015

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 14 February 2015

Contract summary

Industry

  • Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73000000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£44,994

Procurement reference

PH0522

Published date

17 April 2015

Closing date

14 February 2015

Contract start date

14 February 2015

Contract end date

13 April 2016

Contract type

Service contract

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

No

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

The Contractor aims to establish an insect biodiversity archive to preserve 50,000 specimens collected during research funded under the UK Insect Pollinators initiative (IPI), and make these available for future research. Based on PI estimates of the proportions of each IPI grant budget spent on collection, preparation, identification, and data entry, the Contractor estimates the value of the IPI specimens to be £3 million, 30% of the IPI budget. The proposed archive would represent a unique internationally significant resource for research into insect biodiversity, and pollinators specifically, and provide highly-resolved baseline sampling for tracking of changes in populations and diversity through time. Preserving this one-off resource requires that we move quickly to minimise degradation of the dry-pinned specimens that make up most of the archive material - both through dissipation of specimens due to lack of appropriate storage space, and degradation of key biological molecules (such as DNA and pesticide residues). The archive specimens will be cryopreserved at - 80°C and managed in perpetuity by the Natural History Museum, London (NHM), who will provide equipment and ongoing costs. This proposal will therefore help to secure the legacy of the IPI and maximise future research and policy impact.

More information

Attachments

Award information

Awarded date

23 March 2015

Contract start date

14 February 2015

Contract end date

13 April 2016

Total value of contract

£44,994

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

The University of Edinburgh

Address

Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL

Reference

None

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Address

DEFRA
London
SW1P 3JR
England

Email

Network.Procurement@defra.gsi.gov.uk