Contract

PhD Studentship for Developing a Welfare Assessment Protocol for Kennelled Dogs

  • DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Defra Network eTendering Portal)

F03: Contract award notice

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-003833

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-04dbe7

Published 5 February 2025, 2:39pm



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Defra Network eTendering Portal)

Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

Contact

Olubunmi Akinmade

Email

olubunmi.akinmade@defra.gov.uk

Telephone

+44 3459335577

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

PhD Studentship for Developing a Welfare Assessment Protocol for Kennelled Dogs

two.1.2) Main CPV code

  • 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

two.1.3) Type of contract

Services

two.1.4) Short description

This is a PhD studentship for the development of a welfare assessment protocol for kennelled dogs.

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: £167,378.16

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

two.2.4) Description of the procurement

This is a PhD studentship for the development of a welfare assessment protocol for kennelled dogs. Welfare assessment of kennelled dogs has been the subject of considerable scientific scrutiny, however research to date has focussed separately on dogs housed in kennels for different purposes. The approach has varied across different populations of dogs and the validation of welfare indicators is limited. A practical standardised scientifically-informed Welfare Assessment Protocol is required.

The aim of this research is to develop bespoke validated Welfare Assessment Protocols for the purposes of both regular routine audits as well as less frequent, comprehensive audits of kennel facilities. The project will use an experimental approach to identify behavioural and physiological welfare indicators associated with different kennel environments, which can be used to assess the welfare of kennelled dogs. The protocols will be validated across a range of different establishments where dogs are housed in kennels.

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 services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
    • absence of competition for technical reasons

Explanation:

This is a compliant award on the basis of the R&D (or “Frascati”) exemption under PCR 2015: Reg 14 (R&D exemption). The CPV code falls within 73000000-2 (research & development services and related consultancy services) and satisfies the exemption on the following basis
• The benefits/outcomes of the requirement will be shared outside of Defra for the wider public benefit
• The requirement is being funded by more than one party, not just the Authority

In addition to regulatory compliance Reg 32 (2) (b) (ii) would also have applied outside of reg 14 because competition is absent for technical reasons.

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

A contract/lot is awarded: Yes

five.2) Award of contract

five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract

22 January 2025

five.2.2) Information about tenders

Number of tenders received: 1

Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1

Number of tenders received from tenderers from other EU Member States: 0

Number of tenders received from tenderers from non-EU Member States: 1

Number of tenders received by electronic means: 1

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No

five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor

University of Bristol

Beacon House, Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1QU

Bristol

BS40 5DU

Telephone

+44 1179289000

Country

United Kingdom

NUTS code
  • UKK11 - Bristol, City of
Internet address

https://www.bristol.ac.uk/

The contractor is an SME

No

five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)

Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £167,378.16

Total value of the contract/lot: £167,378.16


Section six. Complementary information

six.4) Procedures for review

six.4.1) Review body

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (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

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (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