Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
Defra Network eTendering Portal
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Contact
Melanie Swain
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UK - United Kingdom
Internet address(es)
Main address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
Buyer's address
https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Ministry or any other national or federal authority
one.5) Main activity
Environment
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Cornwall Badger Vaccination Pilot
Reference number
C27752
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 85200000 - Veterinary services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice, indicating that Defra intends to enter into a contract with the National Farmers Union (NFU) to undertake a three-year project of badger vaccination and research activities in three (3) pilot areas in Cornwall.
Defra aims to award this contract in February 2025 so this Notice confirms that a voluntary standstill period will be in effect for ten (10) days from the date of publication of this notice.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £1,370,231
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
Main site or place of performance
Three (3) sites in mid-Cornwall.
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
This is a voluntary ex ante transparency (VEAT) notice, indicating that Defra intends to enter into a contract with the National Farmers Union (NFU) to undertake a three-year project of badger vaccination and research activities in three (3) pilot areas in Cornwall.
Defra aims to award this contract in February 2025 so this Notice confirms that a voluntary standstill period will be in effect for ten (10) days from the date of publication of this notice.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Quality / Weighting: 100
Cost criterion - Name: Cost / Weighting: 0
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: No
two.2.13) Information about European Union Funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: No
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated without a prior call for competition
- The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- absence of competition for technical reasons
Explanation:
This unique pilot aims to provide scientific evidence in support of the Government manifesto pledge to stop badger culling and move to badger vaccination as the main form of TB control in badgers.
This project focuses solely on three (3) pilot areas in Cornwall. Defra recognise that the National Farmers Union (NFU), alongside their main subcontractor Zoological Society London (ZSL), are uniquely placed in Cornwall to deliver this project, starting in March 2025.
The NFU is the recognised industry body that has delivered licensed badger control operations since its inception in 2013. For many years in Cornwall, the NFU has worked closely with landowners, farmers and industry, organising badger culls alongside small badger vaccination projects. They have developed extensive networks and groups, including those developed specifically to oversee these types of operations. For reasons of privacy, security and sensitivity, information on their networks is not publicly available or collectively accessible by any other third party or organisation.
ZSL has undertaken badger vaccination research and delivery projects in Cornwall since 2012. They are able to provide technical expertise in trapping and vaccinating badgers, and also the procedures required for the research aspects of this project. This includes highly specialized processes such as anesthetising and blood sampling badgers in the field under Home Office licence. In addition, they are APHA accredited badger vaccination trainers and will train a field force of local industry contractors to vaccinate badgers.
Based on the information detailed above, the conclusion is that the NFU is the only contractor able to provide these services to Defra.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
17 January 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
NFU
Agriculture House Stoneleigh Park Stoneleigh Warwickshire
Stoneleigh
CV8 2TZ
Telephone
+44 02476858500
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKG1 - Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,370,231
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £1,370,231
five.2.5) Information about subcontracting
The contract/lot/concession is likely to be subcontracted
Value or proportion likely to be subcontracted to third parties
Proportion: 60 %
Short description of the part of the contract to be subcontracted
Activities including sett surveying, trapping, vaccination, blood sampling, training, deployment of cameras and associated monitoring and data analysis.
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Defra Network eTendering Portal
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Public Procurement Review Body
N/A
N/A
N/A
publicprocurementreview@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-procurement-review-service-scope-and-remit