Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
ADVANCED RESEARCH AND INVENTION AGENCY
96 EUSTON ROAD,
LONDON
NW12DB
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.3) Communication
The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at
https://www.aria.org.uk/synthetic-plants/
Additional information can be obtained from the above-mentioned address
Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted to the above-mentioned address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Other type
An executive NDPB exempt from the PCRs
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Synthetic plants
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 73110000 - Research services
two.1.3) Type of contract
Services
two.1.4) Short description
ARIA is an R&D funding agency built to unlock scientific and technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. We empower scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of what is technologically or scientifically possible. We will reach across disciplines, sectors and institutions to shape, fund and manage projects across the R&D ecosystem, from startups to universities, to break down silos and discover new pathways. We are looking for proposals for our Synthetic Plants programme. For more info see here https://www.aria.org.uk/synthetic-plants/
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UK - United Kingdom
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Why this programme
Representing eighty percent of the world's biomass, with scope to provide everything from food to pharmaceuticals, plants are a critical lever for addressing the dual challenges of sustainable food supply and climate change. To unlock their potential, we must accelerate the pace of agricultural innovation. Synthetic biology is already revolutionising the world of healthcare. Exploring its application to tailor the traits of plants has the potential to transform the agricultural industry, and deliver valuable benefits ranging from food to pharmaceuticals and beyond.
What we're shooting for
We see a vital opportunity to unlock new plant capabilities that can meet the future needs of humankind.We aim to develop synthetic chromosomes and chloroplasts that are viable in a living plant. This will move beyond what can be accomplished with gene editing and imbue plants with new functionalities, from reducing agricultural water use to protecting crop yields in uncertain conditions.
Our goal: to unite expertise in synthetic biology and plant biology, opening pathways to a new generation of major crops and future-proofing our agricultural system.
For more information, https://www.aria.org.uk/synthetic-plants-programme/
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price is not the only award criterion and all criteria are stated only in the procurement documents
two.2.7) Duration of the contract, framework agreement or dynamic purchasing system
Duration in months
60
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
Additional funding, scope and duration could be added to any contracts awarded.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Competitive procedure with negotiation
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
four.2) Administrative information
four.2.2) Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate
Date
12 November 2024
four.2.4) Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted
English
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
Not Applicable, see the ARIA Act 2022
London
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Detailed timelines can be found in the programme call information on ARIA's website here. The application process for Technical Areas 1 and 2 consists of two stages:
Submission of a concept paper - At this stage and based on your concept paper, you will either be encouraged/ discouraged to submit a full proposal. If you receive feedback indicating that you are not encouraged to submit a full proposal you can still choose to submit a full proposal. You should note that this preliminary assessment/encouragement provides no guarantee of any full proposal being selected for award of funding.
The deadline for submission of concept papers is 25 September 2024 (12:00 BST).
Submission of a full proposal - the deadline for submission of full proposals is 12 November 2024 (12:00 GMT).
The total funding value is the estimated budget available. We expect to fund multiple applicants.
Funding is anticipated to be award via both contracts and grants. For information on how we fund https://www.aria.org.uk/faqs-funding/