Planning

Big Nature Impact Fund (BNIF) Policy Evaluation

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Planning

19 Jan 2023 at 11:18

Planning

19 Jan 2023 at 10:34

Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs is planning a procurement process titled "Big Nature Impact Fund (BNIF) Policy Evaluation" in the financial and insurance services industry category. The procurement stage is in the planning phase, with an engagement end date set for 2nd February 2023. The contract aims to develop an evaluation framework for the BNIF policy intervention, involving research requirements and two work packages. The buying organisation is seeking contractors with expertise in impact investment funds and environmental finance.

This tender offers opportunities for businesses, especially those experienced in evaluation consultancy services and environmental solutions, to contribute to the BNIF project's success. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations are well-suited for this contract. The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs is leading this initiative, aiming to drive private sector investment in nature projects in England, focusing on woodland creation, peatland restoration, and habitat banks to support Biodiversity Net Gain.

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Notice Title

Big Nature Impact Fund (BNIF) Policy Evaluation

Notice Description

Background The Big Nature Impact Fund (BNIF) is a policy framework designed to create a public-private blended impact investment fund. It aims to increase private sector investment in domestic nature recovery projects - particularly woodland creation, peatland restoration and habitat banks to support Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) implementation. It will also develop a track record for private investment in nature which others can build upon. By investing on a repayable basis into a private sector fund, Defra aims to show market actors that HMG is committed to scaling up nature-based investment and demonstrate the potential for achieving a financial return on investment. BNIF's fund manager was announced as Federated Hermes and Finance Earth in November 2022[1] with Defra committing PS30m seed capital to act in a 'first loss' position. Federated Hermes and Finance Earth will invest blended public-private capital through BNIF, on a repayable basis, into a portfolio of nature projects that can generate revenue from ecosystem services and green enterprises to support the development and delivery of such projects. BNIF will only invest in England but will be part of a UK-wide investment strategy managed jointly managed by Federated Hermes and Finance Earth. DRAFT - SPECIFICATION Research Requirements The aim of this contract is to: i. design a robust yet proportionate and reasonable evaluation framework in line with HMT Magenta Book guidance and relevant supplementary guidance to enable us to understand the success of BNIF as a policy intervention; and ii. undertake the initial process evaluation to explore the initial set up of the fund and collect and present baseline data to enable us to track progress on tackling market failures, for example around investor confidence. The contract is made up of the following 2 work packages: Work Package 1: Developing the Evaluation Framework Work Package 2: Carry out an initial process evaluation Project Team We anticipate that the contractor should have experience in carrying out successful, complex, evaluations, with knowledge and expertise of impact investment funds which invest capital on a repayable basis, the financial market and nature-based solutions. We would like the contractor to have a track record of working collaboratively with the key stakeholders in the environmental and green finance sector. RFI - Response to Catherine.Hacker@defra.gov.uk with Subject heading: BNIF M&E RFI response HOW TO RESPOND: You are not required to answer every question - any information will be gratefully received. * Clarification period will be 18th November 2023 - 16:00 1st February 2023. Questions and further information can be found within the attached documents.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-b5fd17-d9c3a8cf-59ab-45e5-90eb-316709dd4260
Publication Source
Contracts Finder
Latest Notice
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/34af951b-1f3f-496d-8e89-ac9e376c5d78
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Not specified
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

66 - Financial and insurance services

77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services


CPV Codes

66000000 - Financial and insurance services

77200000 - Forestry services

79419000 - Evaluation consultancy services

90700000 - Environmental services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
19 Jan 20233 years ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
2 Feb 2023Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Not Specified
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 3JR
Post Town
South West London
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLI London
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLI3 Inner London - West
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLI35 Westminster and City of London
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Westminster
Electoral Ward
St James's
Westminster Constituency
Cities of London and Westminster

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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