Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
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
Provision of Support to an APHA Tier 2 National Exercise (ASPEN)
Reference number
C28984
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 98110000 - Services furnished by business, professional and specialist organisations
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is seeking to engage a supplier to support the production and delivery of a Tier 2 National Exercise and supporting agencies. Tier 2 National Exercises are a) led by a Lead Government Department with involvement from key stakeholders (including other departments), b) may take the form of Tabletop or Live Exercises or elements of both and c) include likely participation of COBR (Civil Contingencies Committee).
The primary purpose of the Tier 2 National Exercise will be to test the Government’s Contingency Plans and established policy, for the control of an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). Its aim is not to provoke new policy developments but rather to explore current policy and the arrangements for its implementation. It will also test APHA’s operational response arrangements and expose communications, resilience and capability to
scrutiny.
The supplier will have experience of managing and delivering exercises of a similar scale. They will be expected to create and deliver an Exercise Package capable of testing the preparedness and effectiveness of Defra framework response plans, Contingency Plans for Governmental administrations and APHA Operational response plans.
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: £155,600
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
APHA has a critical role in the control and eradication of endemic and exotic notifiable and reportable diseases including responding to Outbreaks of notifiable avian disease, Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) or swine fever.
APHA in conjunction with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Welsh Government (WG), Scottish Government (SG) & Northern Ireland (NI) and their operational partners are to work in partnership to plan, prepare and deliver a Tier 2 National Exercise. The exercise will be a medium to large scale FMD Outbreak originating in
the border regions of England and Wales spreading to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The primary purpose of the National Exercise is to test Defra’s, WG’s, SG’s and NI governments current contingency plans and established policy, for the control of an outbreak of FMD. Its aim is not to provoke new policy developments but rather to explore current policy and the arrangements for its implementation. It will also test the APHA’s operational response arrangements and expose communications, resilience and capability to
scrutiny.
A phased approach is required and summarised below. This is to ensure a level of professionalism and quality of delivery that APHA resource could not produce. It is necessary that the Contractor has experience of managing and delivering exercises of similar scale.
Phase 1 – Project Initiation & Contract Mobilisation
Phase 2 – Project Design & Exercise Planning
Phase 3 – Exercise Development & Pre-briefing
Phase 4 – Project and Exercise Delivery
Phase 5 – Project Debriefing
Phase 6 – Project Reporting & Closure
two.2.5) Award criteria
Quality criterion - Name: Technical Envelope (Including Sustainability & Social Value) / Weighting: 50%
Cost criterion - Name: Commercial Envelope / Weighting: 50%
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The Authority may extend the Contract for a period of up to 6 months’ by
giving not less than 1 months’ notice in writing to the Supplier prior to the
Expiry Date. The terms and conditions of the Contract shall apply throughout
any such extended period
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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2025/S 000-006592
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
20 May 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 2
Number of tenders received from SMEs: 1
Number of tenders received by electronic means: 2
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
RAB Consultants Ltd.
Cathedral House, Second Floor, Beacon Street
Lichfield
WS13 7AA
Telephone
+44 7753730886
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UK - United Kingdom
National registration number
5799647
Internet address
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £220,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £155,600
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY
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