Tender

Synthetic plants

  • ADVANCED RESEARCH AND INVENTION AGENCY

F02: Contract notice

Notice identifier: 2024/S 000-028221

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-0497e6

Published 4 September 2024, 10:17am



Section one: Contracting authority

one.1) Name and addresses

ADVANCED RESEARCH AND INVENTION AGENCY

96 EUSTON ROAD,

LONDON

NW12DB

Email

clarifications@aria.org.uk

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

www.aria.org.uk

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/