Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Defra Network eTendering Portal
17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
Contact
Lucy Coulson
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.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
https://atamis-9529.my.site.com/s/Welcome
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
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
Evaluation of the NCEA Programme (2021-2025)
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) is a £140m R&D programme delivered over three years through two separate portfolios, terrestrial (tNCEA) and marine (mNCEA). It is a science, innovation and transformation programme, which spans across land and water environments, set up to collect data on the extent, condition and change over time of England’s ecosystems and natural capital, and the benefits to society. Together, these approaches provide a more holistic and joined-up view of our natural environment, enabling us to identify connections, dependencies, and trade-offs between policy ambitions and to make better-informed decisions that truly benefit people and nature. The evaluation contract’s objectives are to assess the relevance, effectiveness (including cost-effectiveness), outcomes and sustainability (i.e. integration into business as usual) of the NCEA. The evaluation will go beyond the monitoring of outputs (which will be led by the Programme Management Offices) to identify the mechanisms through which change takes place; and assess the likelihood of long-term effects being sustained through the adoption of a natural capital approach across business areas. It will provide an accountability function for a significant investment of public funds, and capture learning throughout the lifetime of the programme to shape programme delivery.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £1,200,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The overall aim of the evaluation is to assess the relevance, performance (effectiveness and impact), value for money and sustainability of NCEA. The evaluation will go beyond programme delivery to identify the mechanisms of change; and assess the likelihood of long-term effects being sustained.
This evaluation will play a critical role in understanding the early benefits of NCEA, as well as helping to shape and improve delivery of the programme. It will also inform future funding decisions for natural capital and ecosystem assessment work.
2.2 Evaluation purpose and use
The evaluation has two distinct purposes:
• Accountability: NCEA is a significant investment of public funds in this Spending Review period (over £140m from 22/34 through to 24/25). This evaluation will provide accountability to HMT for the funds.
• Learning: NCEA is designed to be a transformational programme, meaning that it will change the way data is captured, integrated, and communicated. The evaluation will be a learning tool for use during the remaining period of the programme and beyond, as well as generating evidence that may be applicable to other data programmes in Defra or beyond.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical / Weighting: 80%
Price - Weighting: 20%
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £1,200,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
5 October 2023
End date
31 March 2025
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: No
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
12 Month extension option
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
Open procedure
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
30 August 2023
Local time
10:00am
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
four.2.6) Minimum time frame during which the tenderer must maintain the tender
Duration in months: 6 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
17 July 2023
Local time
12:00pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Defra Network eTendering Portal
17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
Country
United Kingdom
Internet address
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs