Scope
Reference
C32808
Description
Defra is responsible for managing a confidential and sensitive project that is exploring options to deliver organisational change to support a long-term strategic objective. The project is complex, multi-year, and involves stakeholders who are accustomed to current arrangements and may be resistant even to the discussion of change.
We require an experienced Stakeholder Engagement Adviser to provide strategic advice and support in shaping and delivering an engagement approach that helps to build trust, address concerns, and guide stakeholders through a common-sense discussion of the options and their benefits/disbenefits, and potentially also a sensitive transition process. Defra has already completed stakeholder mapping but requires support in engagement planning, advisory services, and risk management.
Total value (estimated)
- £170,000 excluding VAT
- £204,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 16 July 2026 to 15 March 2027
- 8 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 79112100 - Stakeholders representation services
- 79900000 - Miscellaneous business and business-related services
- 79416100 - Public relations management services
- 79416000 - Public relations services
- 79420000 - Management-related services
- 79416200 - Public relations consultancy services
Contract locations
- UK - United Kingdom
Participation
Technical ability conditions of participation
Suppliers must hold Cyber Essentials Certification.
Particular suitability
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
- Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Submission
Enquiry deadline
6 February 2026, 5:00pm
Submission type
Tenders
Tender submission deadline
20 February 2026, 12:00pm
Submission address and any special instructions
The procurement documents are
available for access, free of charge, at
https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome
Please note that the full bidder pack/specification will not be available to view until stage 2 and will only be released to successful tenders at stage 1 who have signed and returned an NDA to the Authority.
Any questions, requests to participate
or tender submissions must be
submitted electronically via this portal.
Tenders may be submitted electronically
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
English
Award decision date (estimated)
2 July 2026
Award criteria
| Name | Description | Type | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical | 35% of the quality weighting will be allocated to the technical criteria and questions 15% will be allocated to Virtual Pitch 10% will be allocated to Social Value |
Quality | 60.00% |
| Commercial Envelope | 40% - Commercial Evaluation will use relative scoring methodology as set out in the bidder pack. All Suppliers who have been successful at stage 2 (virtual pitch) will be commercially evaluated.... |
Price | 40.00% |
Other information
Description of risks to contract performance
Risk that Ministerial Approval won't be given.
There is a risk that Ministerial approval of the overarching project won't be obtained in May/June. In this event the procurement may be withdrawn
Conflicts assessment prepared/revised
Yes
Procedure
Procedure type
Competitive flexible procedure
Competitive flexible procedure description
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU CONTINUE - Please be advised this project is subject to the Ministerial approval (anticipated date May/June 2026). We reserve our right to withdraw the tender at any place in the procurement process. We ask that you bare this in mind when considering tendering for this opportunity.
Stage 1 - Selection Questionnaire Stage
This stage will include Yes/No questions to help down-select suppliers invited to full tender based on their responses to the questions which will focus on required skills, qualifications and experience. In addition to Yes/No questions, there will be some written responses which will be formally evaluated using the standard evaluation scoring criteria.
Suppliers must meet a minimum consensus score of 70 on the written questions in addition to passing all the Yes/No questions to be taken through to Stage 2.
All successful suppliers at stage 1 will be taken through to Technical Evaluation (stage 2).
Stage 2 - Full written tender submission
All successful suppliers from stage 1 (PSQ) will be invited to submit their written bid for the tender. This will be subject to them signing and returning the NDA within 5 working days of receipt. Failure to return a signed NDA within this timeframe will result in disqualification from the tender process. Tenders must agree to this as part of Stage 1.
They will be required at this stage to also submit their commercial bid however this will only be evaluated if they are successful at stage 2 and invited to stage 3 (Virtual pitch). Commercial submissions will be requested upfront to avoid delays at the next stage.
Stage 3 - Virtual Pitch
All suppliers will then be invited to present a virtual pitch on a specified question outlined in the bidder pack. The question will be based on a scenario and will help to demonstrate and provide confidence to the contracting authority that they have the capability to deliver the requirement to a high standard.
Stage 4 - Commercial Evaluation
All Suppliers who have been successful at technical stage 2 (virtual pitch) will be commercially evaluated,
Contracting authority
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNBD-3289-CDGX
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Contact name: Katie Thompson
Email: katie.thompson@defra.gov.uk
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government