Notice Information
Notice Title
Food Data Infrastructure and Governance
Notice Description
This project's aims are three-fold: to design and develop a data sharing infrastructure suitable for the UK agri-food system; advise on an optimal governance model for this infrastructure; and pilot data sharing across a selection of food product supply chains. The project will begin with a discovery phase that will form a picture of the current data sharing ecosystem in the agri-food sector and learn from current practice within and outside of the agri-food sector. Following this, a detailed design of a potential DSI system architecture will be developed alongside an optimal model of system governance. Data sharing pilots in specific agri-food supply chains will consider how data sharing can be operationalised and incentivised to inform this design, identifying and proposing solutions to scale-up participation. The outputs of this project should provide the evidence base for government and industry to invest in and deliver DSI that delivers public goods and promotes sustainable growth and resilience of the UK agri-food sector. Support the work of UK government to create a smart data ecosystem with in the Agri-Food Sector. It should take into account major international data sharing infrastructure in development such as the EU 'digital product passports' and the UN CEFACT 'Transparency Protocol' and align with any UK data sharing policy that emerges between project procurement and inception. This project should use the Digital Twin Hub's Gemini Principles (Figure 2), Smart Data initiatives such as Open Banking, and the FDTP Key Principles as a basis for the aims and outcomes of the DSI and governance design work.
Lot Information
Lot 1
Options: Break Clause The contract term is 18 months with a break clause 6 months into the project; upon receipt of the Work Package 2 Technical Report.
Renewal: There is an option of a 6-month extension to the project contingent on satisfactory delivery and the needs of the Authority (Defra). Due to unknown situations any extension must be agreed with the Authority (Defra) and will be processed via a Variation/ Contract Change Note (CCN) issued by DGC. (Should an extension request arise at a cost and agreed on, then an additional invoice will need to be sent to cover the period between the interim payment and the original project end date).
Planning Information
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO HOLD PRELIMINARY ENGAGEMENT Food Data Infrastructure and Governance (FIG) Project In collaboration with the Food Data Transparency Partnership (FDTP), Defra’s Agri-Food Science team are tendering for a new R&D project on Agri-food system data sharing infrastructure and governance. This project has the following aims: 1. To identify the breadth of data and data sharing initiatives, currently within the agri-food system. 2. To provide detailed recommendation for the design and development of a data sharing infrastructure suitable for the UK agri-food system. 3. To explore the feasibility of operationalising product level environmental impact data sharing across a selection of food product supply chains, through piloting the proposed data sharing infrastructure. The work will build on the work of the FDTP and associated R&D projects commissioned by the Defra Agri-Food science team. More information can be found at the following links: • https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/food-data-transparency-partnership • https://www.wrap.ngo/resources/report/led-4-food-project Bidders should be able to demonstrate good technical understanding of the key themes of the project: digital infrastructure, data sharing infrastructure, date system architecture, and governance structures. They should also have a good understanding of the complexity of the agri-food system. Bidders are encouraged to submit joint bids to ensure that multi-disciplinary requirements across the themes can be satisfied. The project is to be contracted through an open tender competition. It is expected to commence in September 2025 and will last for approximately 18 months. Supplier Engagement Event Please note that the Authority (Defra); will be holding a supplier event in w/c 9th June 2025 (exact time and date TBD). If you and or your organisation is interested in attending this event, please respond using the email address below: FoodDataTransparencyPartnership@defra.gov.uk on or before Monday 2nd June by 12:00pm. Please include the name and email address of who to invite. An invite will be shared via teams. Regards Defra
Notice Details
Publication & Lifecycle
- Open Contracting ID
- ocds-h6vhtk-0523ef
- Publication Source
- Find A Tender Service
- Latest Notice
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084789-2025
- Current Stage
- Tender
- All Stages
- Planning, Tender
Procurement Classification
- Notice Type
- UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice
- Procurement Type
- Standard
- Procurement Category
- Services
- Procurement Method
- Open
- Procurement Method Details
- Below threshold - open competition
- Tender Suitability
- SME, VCSE
- Awardee Scale
- Not specified
Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)
- CPV Divisions
73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
-
- CPV Codes
73100000 - Research and experimental development 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 Dec 20252 months ago
- Submission Deadline
- 3 Nov 2025Expired
- Future Notice Date
- 2 Jun 2025Expired
- Award Date
- Not specified
- Contract Period
- 12 Jan 2026 - 12 Jul 2027 1-2 years
- Recurrence
- Not specified
Notice Status
- Tender Status
- Complete
- Lots Status
- Complete
- Awards Status
- Cancelled
- Contracts Status
- Not Specified
Buyer & Supplier
Contracting Authority (Buyer)
- Main Buyer
- DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
- Additional Buyers
- Contact Name
- Defra
- Contact Email
- procurement@defra.gov.uk
- Contact Phone
- 03459 335577
Buyer Location
- Locality
- LONDON
- Postcode
- SW1P 4DF
- 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
Further Information
Notice Documents
-
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/084789-2025
19th December 2025 - Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/061730-2025
2nd October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender -
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/026775-2025
23rd May 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
Notice URLs
Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)
View full OCDS Record for this contracting process
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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