Scope
Description
Defra's Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes are a key delivery mechanism for England's biodiversity targets set via the Environment Act 2021. These include halting the decline in species abundance by 2030 before increasing species abundance 10% by 2042 and restoring or creating over 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat.
Monetary valuation of the biodiversity impacts of the ELM scheme is needed for conducting value-for-money assessments and informing budgetary decisions. However, existing methods for valuing biodiversity benefits face challenges. These include:
the challenge of the complexity and multidimensional nature, functions and value of biodiversity,
limited alignment with biodiversity policy objectives, which can result in valuations that do not reflect progress toward statutory targets
being difficult to apply at the level of individual actions, particularly where aggregation effects complicate interpretation
Contract 1. OFFSENS Biodiversity Valuation
Supplier
Contract value
- £102,499 excluding VAT
- £122,998.90 including VAT
Below the relevant threshold
Earliest date the contract will be signed
31 October 2025
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 November 2025 to 31 March 2026
- 5 months
Main procurement category
Services
CPV classifications
- 90700000 - Environmental services
Participation
Particular suitability
Voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE)
Procedure
Procedure type
Below threshold - without competition
Supplier
University of Exeter
Northcote House, The Queens Drive, Exeter
Exeter
EX4 4QJ
United Kingdom
Email: crandc@exeter.ac.uk
Region: UKK43 - Devon CC
Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No
Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): Yes
Contract 1. OFFSENS Biodiversity Valuation
Contracting authority
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PNBD-3289-CDGX
Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
United Kingdom
Email: mike.lawson@defra.gov.uk
Region: UKI32 - Westminster
Organisation type: Public authority - central government