Planning

AFBI Commercialisation of AFBI bred grass varieties - PRE MARKET ENGAGEMENT

AGRI-FOOD AND BIOSCIENCES INSTITUTE (AFBI)

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

16 Apr 2025 at 14:30

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is currently in the planning stage for a procurement process concerning the commercialization rights to forage grass varieties bred at the AFBI site in Loughgall, Northern Ireland. This initiative falls under the agricultural services and financial market operational services industry categories. AFBI is collaborating with CPD – Supplies & Services Division, a Centre of Procurement Expertise providing procurement functions for central government in Northern Ireland. Key dates include the submission deadline for the preliminary market engagement questionnaire on 16 May 2025. The procurement method involves pre-market engagement to assess the feasibility of funding the grass breeding pipeline in its entirety, rather than the current model which only includes near-market testing.

This tender presents significant opportunities for business growth, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) capable of providing comprehensive funding for agricultural variety production and development. Companies specializing in agricultural services or seeking to expand into financial market operational services could benefit from the commercialization of AFBI's bred grass varieties. Engaging with this tender can cultivate long-term relationships with AFBI and create new revenue streams through participation in the innovative funding model. Businesses with expertise in agricultural development and variety production would be well-suited to compete in this forthcoming procurement process.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

AFBI Commercialisation of AFBI bred grass varieties - PRE MARKET ENGAGEMENT

Notice Description

PRE-MARKET ENGAGEMENT EXERCISE - the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), via its non-departmental public body, the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland, is preparing a procurement process for the commercialization rights to forage grass varieties bred at the AFBI site in Loughgall. AFBI wishes to assess the potential for implementation of a new funding model for the AFBI grass breeding programme in which funding is provided by the commercial partner for the entire grass breeding pipeline. Currently funding is provided by a commercial partner for near-market testing only. Funding for the entire pipeline would include all activities directly involved in variety production and development, but would not include associated research projects, which AFBI would seek to be funded by other sources.. Before launching a procurement procedure, AFBI and Construction and Procurement Delivery (CPD) are conducting market consultations to raise awareness of a possible forthcoming procurement opportunity, and to engage with potential providers around the feasibility of this new funding model ahead of a possible release for a subsequent tender.

Planning Information

If you wish to participate in the Contracting Authority’s Preliminary Market Engagement for this requirement, a questionnaire for completion is available via eTendersNI under ID 5870806 The questionnaire must be completed and submitted via eTendersNI by the engagement deadline date detailed above, by no later than 1500 hours. Details can be found within the questionnaire document.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050436
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015625-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

66 - Financial and insurance services

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

CPV Codes

66151000 - Financial market operational services

77100000 - Agricultural services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,800,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
16 Apr 202510 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
16 May 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2025 - 30 Nov 2025 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
AGRI-FOOD AND BIOSCIENCES INSTITUTE (AFBI)
Additional Buyers

CPD - SUPPLIES & SERVICES DIVISION

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
info@afbini.gov.uk, justice.cpd@finance-ni.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT9 5PX
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Sydenham
Westminster Constituency
Belfast East

Further Information

Notice Documents

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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