Award

UK Plant Breeders Rights, National Listing and Seed Certification (NIAB)

  • ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY

UK6: Contract award notice - Procurement Act 2023 - view information about notice types

Notice identifier: 2025/S 000-083079

Procurement identifier (OCID): ocds-h6vhtk-05f1c2 (view related notices)

Published 15 December 2025, 6:32pm



Scope

Reference

C32250

Description

This notice is published to describe our intention to enter into two contracts with the National Institute of Agricultural Botany ("NIAB"); one service contract and one concession contract. The subject matter of both contracts is the delivery of plant breeders rights, national listing & seed certification.

The services are:

Service A: Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability, ("DUS") Testing Service

Service B - Value for Cultivation and Use ("VCU") Tests for Disease Resistance

Service C - Independent Review and Reporting of VCU Trials and Disease Resistance Tests

Service D - Seed Certification Services

Service E - Seed Testing Services

Service F - Technical Advice and Additional Services

Service G - Management of Authority IT Systems

Service H - Delivery of DUS Quality Assurance System ("QAS")

Please note: the contract start date is expected to be 1st July 2025


Contract 1. Service Contract

Supplier

Contract value

  • £6,100,000 excluding VAT
  • £7,320,000 including VAT

Above the relevant threshold

Award decision date

15 December 2025

Standstill period

  • End: 24 December 2025
  • 8 working days

Earliest date the contract will be signed

2 January 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 2 January 2026 to 30 June 2027
  • Possible extension to 30 June 2028
  • 2 years, 5 months, 30 days

Description of possible extension:

12 month extension options

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 77100000 - Agricultural services

Contract 2. Concession Contract

Supplier

Contract value

  • £4,600,000 excluding VAT
  • £5,520,000 including VAT

Below the relevant threshold

Award decision date

15 December 2025

Earliest date the contract will be signed

2 January 2026

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 2 January 2026 to 30 June 2027
  • Possible extension to 30 June 2028
  • 2 years, 5 months, 30 days

Description of possible extension:

12 month extension options

Main procurement category

Services

CPV classifications

  • 77100000 - Agricultural services

Procedure

Procedure type

Direct award

Special regime

Concession


Supplier

Niab

  • Companies House: 03395389

3 Lawrence Weaver Road

Cambridge

CB3 0LE

United Kingdom

Region: UKH12 - Cambridgeshire CC

Small or medium-sized enterprise (SME): No

Voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE): No

Supported employment provider: No

Public service mutual: No

Contract 1. Service Contract

Contract 2. Concession Contract


Contracting authority

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH AGENCY

  • Public Procurement Organisation Number: PBHC-6261-BLLQ

Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

United Kingdom

Contact name: Tom Redfearn

Telephone: 07920053570

Email: tom.redfearn@defra.gov.uk

Website: https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome

Region: UKI32 - Westminster

Organisation type: Public authority - central government