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CASCADE evidence synthesis and research for JNCC's Areas of Research Interest

JNCC SUPPORT CO

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

22 Sep 2026 at 16:48

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

JNCC Support Co commissioned research and evidence synthesis for its six Areas of Research Interest, covering biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring technologies; predictive modelling of land, sea and environmental change; sustainable and resilient marine food systems; agricultural policy and management; market-based funding for nature conservation and recovery; and the outcomes of conservation actions. The service includes evidence databases, synthesis of evidence and gaps, reviews of emerging solutions, workshops, policy briefings, presentations and cross-cutting recommendations for future research investment. It is a research and consultancy service for environmental policy and decision-making, delivered across the United Kingdom. JNCC Support Co is the central government buyer, with the work intended to support JNCC, Defra and wider government priorities on biodiversity, environmental targets, food security and international obligations.

This procurement is complete and was awarded through a direct award to the University of Oxford as the sole supplier. The stated rationale was its expertise, methodology, intellectual property, datasets and scientific capability, under the relevant 2023 regulations. The award covers one lot and has a net value of £490,000, or £588,000 including tax. The award is above the relevant threshold and the service contract period runs from 26 October 2026 to 26 October 2027. Delivery is planned in stages: evidence syntheses and policy outputs are developed across six research areas, with the final reports, briefings and cross-cutting recommendations completing by September 2027. The requirement is classified as research and experimental development, research consultancy and environmental consultancy services.

The award indicates demand for suppliers able to lead large, interdisciplinary environmental research programmes for government. A credible future competitor would need strong capability in evidence synthesis, research database development, identification of evidence gaps, review of emerging technologies and solutions, and preparation of policy-relevant recommendations. The work also requires expertise spanning ecology, biodiversity, environmental change, marine food systems, agriculture, conservation finance, technology, socio-economic factors, governance and public policy. Experience of converting complex research into concise policy briefings and presentations would be important, alongside the ability to run expert workshops, coordinate cross-institutional networks and work with government stakeholders. The buyer’s stated justification highlights the commercial importance of proprietary intellectual property, relevant datasets, established methodology and scientific capability.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

CASCADE evidence synthesis and research for JNCC's Areas of Research Interest

Notice Description

2. Project Aims This project will focus on further developing the six agreed JNCC Areas of Research Interest (ARI): 1) Integrating novel monitoring technologies for biodiversity and ecosystem health. 2) Improving predictive and foresight modelling of land/sea use and environmental change. 3) Optimising the sustainability and resilience of different marine food systems. 4) Evaluating the impacts of agricultural policies and management regimes. 5) Identifying evidence needs for funding nature conservation and recovery through market-based approaches. 6) Strengthening knowledge on the outcomes of conservation and recovery actions. The project will ensure that for each ARI: * Priority research questions and methodologies are identified; * The readiness of novel technologies and data approaches are assessed; * Interdisciplinary and cross-sector capability needs are clarified; * Policy-relevant evidence gaps and uncertainties are identified; and * Coordinated research networks capable of rapid future delivery are established. 3. Project Background JNCC, Defra, and wider government require robust, forward-looking evidence to support work towards biodiversity commitments, environmental targets, food security objectives, and international obligations. Delays in establishing coherent evidence baselines and research priorities risk duplication of effort, inefficient allocation of future Research & Development (R&D) funding, reduced policy effectiveness, and missed opportunities to integrate emerging technologies and approaches. The six ARIs all relate to complex challenges requiring interdisciplinary approaches that integrate ecological, socio-economic, technological, governance and policy expertise. With existing evidence bases varying significantly in maturity, methodological consistency, and accessibility to decision-makers. The project will support effective future R&D investment and decision-making, and demonstrate a model for rapid, coordinated, cross-institutional research to provide policy-relevant evidence foundations to support the design of targeted research on strategic biodiversity and environmental challenges. 4. Project Objectives To meet the overall aims of this project (Section 2), the objectives are: 1. To develop six evidence synthesis reports aligned to JNCC's ARIs. * Each evidence synthesis report will include: o Collation of an evidence database; o Evidence synthesis and gaps identification; o Identification of solutions and emerging issues; o Incorporation of technical expertise across the CASCADE consortium and JNCC through workshops and review opportunities. 2. To develop six summary policy briefings and presentations, associated to the finalised ARI evidence synthesis reports. 3. To develop a cross-cutting recommendations report. * The report will include: o Recommendations for future targeted research investment; o Incorporation of technical expertise across the CASCADE consortium and JNCC through workshops and review opportunities. 5. Project Objectives: Detailed Tasks The project is to be delivered across two financial years due to funding allocation timelines. The proposed split of work allows progress on Objectives 1 and 2 before the end of the 2026/2027 financial year, with completion of these objectives and Objective 3 in 2027/2028 financial year. The proposed objectives will be delivered by end of March 2027 (FY 26/27): * Objective 1- partial delivery o Evidence synthesis 1 & 2 will be fully delivered. o Evidence synthesis 3 & 4 will be delivered to draft full report stage. o Evidence synthesis 5 & 6 will be delivered to evidence database collation stage. * Objective 2- partial delivery o Policy summaries and presentations for evidence synthesis 1 & 2 will be fully delivered. The proposed objectives will be delivered by end of September 2027 (FY 27/28): * Objective 1- partial delivery to complete o Evidence synthesis 3 & 4 will be fully delivered by finalising full report. o Evidence synthesis 5 & 6 will be fully delivered by completing the evidence synthesis, solutions and emerging issues review, incorporation of technical expertise and providing a full report. * Objective 2- partial delivery to complete o Policy summaries and presentations for evidence synthesis 3,4, 5 and 6 will be fully delivered. * Objective 3- full delivery o Cross-cutting recommendations report completed.

Procurement Information

The University of Oxford is the only supplier that can deliver the specified requirement, because they possess the required expertise, methodology, intellectual property, datasets, and scientific capability. As detailed within schedule 5 of the PA2023 regulations.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0777ef
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/089827-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
VCSE
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

73100000 - Research and experimental development services

73210000 - Research consultancy services

90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£490,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
22 Sep 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
26 Oct 2026 - 26 Oct 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
JNCC SUPPORT CO
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
PETERBOROUGH
Postcode
PE2 8YY
Postcode Area
Peterborough
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH4 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH41 Peterborough
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Peterborough
Electoral Ward
Fletton and Stanground
Westminster Constituency
North West Cambridgeshire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

University of Oxford

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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