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Variety Trials for AHDB's Recommended List

Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

12 Aug 2026 at 10:06

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board is considering procurement of agricultural services for its Recommended Lists Variety Trials programme. The work would support the trials used in developing and maintaining AHDB’s Recommended Lists, although the specific trial activities and technical scope have not yet been settled. Delivery is intended to take place across the United Kingdom. This is a service contract rather than a goods supply or construction project. The procurement is intended to involve one lot, covering the programme as a whole. AHDB is seeking views from existing and potential suppliers while it considers its future approach, including how the services could be delivered and how future contracts could be managed.

The process is at preliminary market-engagement and planning stage; it is not an invitation to tender. AHDB expects to decide its procurement approach following market research, with a future notice currently anticipated for 13 January 2027. Interested suppliers are invited to request and complete a questionnaire, with responses expected by 12 noon on 14 September 2026. The planned contract period is 15 June 2027 to 14 June 2028, with renewal possible up to 14 June 2032. One lot is planned, and the buyer has recorded the procurement value as £0 including gross value, in GBP. The engagement will explore market capability, commercial considerations, delivery approaches and improved contract management arrangements.

This will suit agricultural service providers with practical experience of variety trials, crop evaluation or related field-based research delivered across the UK. Suppliers should be prepared to explain their technical capability, operational capacity, delivery model and commercial approach for supporting a national Recommended Lists programme. Experience of planning and managing agricultural trials, collecting reliable results and working to agreed technical requirements would be relevant when AHDB develops the future specification. The buyer is also seeking ideas for improving contract management, so organisations able to demonstrate robust governance, reporting, quality assurance and performance management should be well placed. The planned lot is identified as suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community or social enterprises.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Variety Trials for AHDB's Recommended List

Notice Description

AHDB is considering its future procurement approach for the Recommended Lists Variety Trials programme and is undertaking preliminary market engagement with existing and potential suppliers in relation to any future procurement of these services. The purpose of this engagement is to gather feedback to better understand market capability, commercial considerations, delivery approaches and opportunities to improve future procurement and contract management arrangements. Please note that this questionnaire is for market research purposes only. Responses will not be used to evaluate future tenders and do not commit AHDB to any particular procurement approach. Please email procurement@ahdb.org.uk to receive the questionnaire.

Planning Information

Interested suppliers are invited to request a copy of the questionnaire by emailing Procurement@ahdb.org.uk. AHDB may also issue the questionnaire directly to suppliers known to operate within this market. However, any interested supplier that has not received a copy may request one using the email address above. Completed questionnaires should be returned to Procurement@ahdb.org.uk no later than 12 noon on 14 September 2026. Please quote "RL Pre-Engagement Response" in the email subject line.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e20f
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076542-2026
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, VCSE
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

77100000 - Agricultural services

Notice Value(s)

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

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Jan 20275 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
15 Jun 2027 - 14 Jun 2028 1-2 years
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
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
COVENTRY
Postcode
CV3 4PE
Postcode Area
Coventry
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG13 Warwickshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Warwick
Electoral Ward
Cubbington & Leek Wootton
Westminster Constituency
Kenilworth and Southam

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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