Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Defra Network eTendering Portal
17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
Telephone
+44 2072385921
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
UK - UNITED KINGDOM
Internet address(es)
Main address
http://defra.bravosolutions.co.uk
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
79986
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73110000 - Research services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
79986
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: £79,986
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - UNITED KINGDOM
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
1. Summary
There are an estimated 369,000 known species of flowering plants, but only about 7,000 have been cultivated for food, forage, fibre or fuels, with just 30 underpinning the world’s food supply. In the UK, 75% of arable-farmed land is accounted for by three crops: wheat, barley and oilseed rape. Similarly, apples and strawberries account for a large proportion of the UK’s fruit production, with carrots, onions and brassicas the leading vegetable crops.
The dependence of our agri-food systems on relatively few crops highlights a potential risk to food security and agricultural resilience. Plant breeding and crop husbandry developments have supported high productivity to date, but on-farm yields of several key crops have shown little increase over the last three decades. For some crops, adverse weather, loss of agrochemicals and pests or diseases are leading to a decline in the area grown. With the need to support healthier diets, address climate change and protect the environment through sustainable land management, identifying economically viable alternatives that are suited to UK conditions and can enhance the diversity of cropping systems is important.
New production methods like indoor/vertical farming, changing climate, advances in crop establishment and harvesting machinery and new plant breeding techniques mean that the introduction or reintroduction of some novel or underutilised crops may now be feasible. Given the potential number, it would not be possible to evaluate all such crops in the field. This project will examine the diversity of plant species and genetic resources that exist, explore the scope for these to be grown in the UK for food, feed/forage or pharmaceutical uses, and assess potential opportunities, benefits, barriers and risks for farmers, end users and the environment.
A comprehensive scientific review will identify underutilised, underdeveloped and novel crops with potential to be grown successfully in the UK within diversified cropping systems. Crop groups will include cereals and grains; grain legumes/pulses; oilseeds and seeds; vegetables and tubers; fruits, vines and nuts; and forages. An evidence map will summarise available information, and a research landscape map will outline relevant key research groups and programmes. The scope to model productivity, sustainability and resilience metrics, including climate change mitigation, for new crops and diversified cropping systems will also be assessed.
The full inventory of crops will then be screened against criteria relating to economic potential, ease of cultivation, environmental impact and state of knowledge/resources. This will generate a short-list of candidates for more detailed assessment, which will also involve engagement with stakeholders representing producers, advisers, breeders, end-users, environmental organisations, policymakers and researchers, to determine which crops would be preferred and potential market opportunities for UK growers and international trade. The final report will include recommendations as to the priority crops for future work/investment; how government could support their mainstreaming; knowledge gaps and how they could be filled; and knowledge exchange routes to raise awareness and achieve successful introduction of the crops.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
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
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
This is a Single Tender Action. There was no competition; hence no need for publication in Official Journal of the European Union.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
3 February 2021
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
NIAB
93 Lawrence Weaver Road, Cambridge,
Cambrisgeshire
CB3 0LE
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - UNITED KINGDOM
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot: £79,986
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Defra
17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
Country
United Kingdom