Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Royal Botanic Gardens
Royal Botanic Gardens,, The Herbarium, Kew Green,
Richmond
TW9 3AE
Contact
Jamal Jimenez
Telephone
+44 2083325000
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI75 - Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via
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
RBGKEW1308 Expanding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in root fungal colonisation assessment
Reference number
RBGKEW1308
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
RBG Kew require a consultancy service, to expand the work developed during phase 1, to adapt AMFinder, an AI visualisation tool developed by Evangelisti et al (2021) to assess fungal-colonisation, for use with more complex field root samples. The work in phase 2 would focus on improving the accuracy of the outputs that AMFinder generates and expanding its functionality to detect different mycorrhizal types. This will build on the preliminary work carried out in phase 1, exploring the potential of a semi-supervised learning approach, and improving the user experience of the tool, by editing the dashboard interfaces and developing pipelines. The AMFinder tool should provide a method for rapid quantification of fungal colonisation in plant roots. Input to the tool will be images of ink-stained fungal structures inside roots mounted on microscopy slides, taken with a digital slide scanner (Panoramic Midi II) at RBG Kew. Adherence to data regulation and standards is essential.
two.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: £500,000
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKI75 - Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames
Main site or place of performance
Hounslow and Richmond upon Thames
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The total contract value for the Core Work Requirements is £250,000 excluding VAT. Tenders above this value will be excluded. Additional Work Requirements are subject to the needs of RBGKEW and will also form part of the contract. The total contract value is anticipated to be between £200,000 - £500,000 excluding VAT.
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical Criteria / Weighting: 75
Price - Weighting: 25
two.2.6) Estimated value
Value excluding VAT: £500,000
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Start date
9 September 2024
End date
31 March 2025
This contract is subject to renewal
No
two.2.10) Information about variants
Variants will be accepted: Yes
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract may be extended by up to 31.03.2026 depending on the requirements of RBGKEW.
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
15 August 2024
Local time
12:00pm
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: 3 (from the date stated for receipt of tender)
four.2.7) Conditions for opening of tenders
Date
15 August 2024
Local time
12:02pm
Section six. Complementary information
six.1) Information about recurrence
This is a recurrent procurement: No
six.3) Additional information
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Delta eSourcing portal at:
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/ZETY78UYK8
GO Reference: GO-2024716-PRO-26900999
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
Head of Procurement & Contract Management, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
1 Kew Palace Flats, Royal Botanic Gardens,, Kew Green
Richmond
TW9 3AE
Telephone
+44 2083325000
Country
United Kingdom