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.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.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £500,000
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.2.11) 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.2.1) Previous publication concerning this procedure
Notice number: 2024/S 000-021794
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
15 August 2024
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 8
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
D-fine GmbH
An der Hauptwache 7 60313, Frankfurt, Registration number : HRB 48 103, Amtsgericht Frankfurt a.M., Germany
Frankfurt
Country
Germany
NUTS code
- DE712 - Frankfurt am Main, Kreisfreie Stadt
National registration number
N/A
The contractor is an SME
No
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £500,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £500,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.3) Additional information
To view this notice, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=896966890
GO Reference: GO-20241025-PRO-28288115
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