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ID 6210936 - DAERA - CAFRE - Farming for Sustainability Scheme Training and Themed Groups Requirements

College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

27 Jan 2026 at 10:05

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

12 Dec 2025 at 16:44

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

20 Oct 2025 at 17:58

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), a public authority under central government in the United Kingdom, initiated a procurement process for the "Farming for Sustainability Scheme Training and Themed Groups Requirements" project. This open procedure, compliant with Northern Irish devolved regulations, is set within the services category, focusing on education and training. The procurement, headquartered in Antrim, UK, covers two lots, one for face-to-face farmer training and another for themed peer-to-peer facilitation. The contract period spans from 5 January 2026 to 4 January 2029, with a potential extension until 2031. The procurement aimed to fulfil educational and practical training goals, particularly for those unable to engage with e-learning platforms without support, and to enhance farm sustainability.

This tender offers significant opportunities for growth in the education and training services industry, particularly for SMEs experienced in event management and company-level training facilitation. The project encourages participation from enterprises geared towards developing agriculture's sustainability. Countryside Services Limited, an SME, has been awarded both lots under this scheme, highlighting the potential for similar sized businesses to compete effectively. With a clear emphasis on providing qualitative training and development through structured programmes and peer-group strategies, companies specialising in agricultural education, technical training, or similar fields could find lucrative opportunities by being involved in such public sector contracts. The project's setup offers financial growth potential, given the estimated combined contract values of up to GBP 4.2 million, providing successful bidders opportunities to expand their market reach and service portfolio.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

ID 6210936 - DAERA - CAFRE - Farming for Sustainability Scheme Training and Themed Groups Requirements

Notice Description

This contract will be broken down into 2 Lots: * Lot 1 - Face-to-face training for groups of farmers * Lot 2 - Themed peer-to-peer group facilitators Each Lot will be evaluated and awarded independently. Lot 1- CAFRE require a Supplier to administer, secure access to appropriate venues and deliver training to participants who cannot use e-learning courses without support. The supplier will be required to administer, hire appropriate venues, and deliver training sessions to groups of participating farmers. Each course will have its own specific Learning Outcomes, underpinning knowledge, assessment process (if required) and delivery schedule. Lot 2 - CAFRE requires a Supplier to administer and deliver specialist technical facilitation and mentoring to Themed Groups. These groups will be delivered alongside Business Sustainability Groups (BSGs) and are a development from the previous Business development Group (BDG) scheme which operated under the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme. BSGs are enterprise specific but with a focus on the sustainability of the entire farm. Themed Groups will provide more focused support and advice relating to specific enterprises and topics. Groups will also have a shorter duration of 18-24 months with an estimated 3-6 meetings per group per year dependent on topic. This will be a demand-led contract and all values are estimates only.

Lot Information

Face-to-face training for groups of farmers

CAFRE require a Supplier to administer, secure access to appropriate venues and deliver training to participants who cannot use e-learning courses without support. The supplier will be required to administer, hire appropriate venues, and deliver training sessions to groups of participating farmers. The training courses will be prioritised by DAERA as part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme or wider policy programme, with CAFRE responsible for overall planning and development of learning materials for each training course. Each course will have its own specific Learning Outcomes, underpinning knowledge, assessment process (if required) and delivery schedule.

Renewal: One optional extension period of 2 years for each Lot. The extension will be utilised at the Buyers discretion.

Themed peer-to-peer group facilitators

CAFRE requires a Supplier to administer and deliver specialist technical facilitation and mentoring to Themed Groups. These groups will be delivered alongside Business Sustainability Groups (BSGs) and are a development from the previous Business Development Group (BDG) scheme which operated under the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme. BSGs are enterprise specific but with a focus on the sustainability of the entire farm. Themed Groups will provide more focused support and advice relating to specific enterprises and topics. Groups will also have a shorter duration of 18-24 months with an estimated 3-6 meetings per group per year dependent on topic.

Renewal: One optional extension period of 2 years for each Lot. The extension will be utilised at the Buyers discretion.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d031
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006939-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

80500000 - Training services

80510000 - Specialist training services

80521000 - Training programme services

80522000 - Training seminars

80531200 - Technical training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,500,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
£3,500,000 £1M-£10M
Awards Value
£3,500,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
£3,500,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
27 Jan 20267 months ago
Submission Deadline
20 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Dec 20258 months ago
Contract Period
5 Jan 2026 - 4 Jan 2029 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
ANTRIM
Postcode
BT41 4PS
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN0D Antrim and Newtownabbey
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Antrim and Newtownabbey
Electoral Ward
Aldergrove
Westminster Constituency
South Antrim

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Countryside Services Limited

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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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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