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ES RDE 135 - Livestock Unit Update Project (LUUP) - updating the unit of measur

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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21 Oct 2026 at 12:44

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) commissioned research and consultancy to update its livestock unit measurements. Livestock units are used by Defra and its related bodies, including for Environmental Land Management schemes, to estimate the grazing pressure associated with different livestock species and breeds. The project reviews the underlying data and calculations, which no longer reflect current livestock sizes, scientific advances or modern understanding of feed intake. The aim is to produce more accurate estimates of grazing pressure. The work is a research and development service (CPV 73000000) for Defra; the procurement does not identify a specific delivery location.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded to WSP UK Limited, formerly Ricardo-AEA Limited. Defra used a selective, non-competitive direct award under a framework, below the applicable threshold. The contract was signed on 14 October 2026, with a period from 14 October 2026 to 26 March 2027. Its value is £74,699.72 excluding VAT (£89,639.66 including VAT). There was one lot, covering the livestock unit update project. The available process information gives no separate scored evaluation criteria; the award is recorded as a non-competitive framework award.

For suppliers seeking to compete for comparable work for Defra, this award demonstrates demand for applied research and consultancy that can review scientific evidence, update livestock-related datasets and methods, and improve estimates of grazing pressure. Credibility would depend on combining knowledge of livestock species and breeds with expertise in livestock size, feed intake and the assessment of grazing impacts. Suppliers would also need the research capability to examine existing input data and calculations and translate current evidence into robust, usable estimates for government programmes such as Environmental Land Management. The selected supplier is a large consultancy, showing that a sizeable organisation was appointed for this project, although the contract value indicates a relatively contained piece of work. Defra procured it through a framework direct award rather than an open competition. This is evidence of the buyer's route and requirements, not an invitation to bid on the completed contract.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

ES RDE 135 - Livestock Unit Update Project (LUUP) - updating the unit of measur

Notice Description

Defra Self-Service Direct Award. Livestock Units (LU) are used across Defra and its arms-length bodies, for example in the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, to estimate the grazing pressures different livestock species and breeds represent. The data underlying the LU estimates is no longer aligned with modern livestock sizes and scientific advances, as well as using outdated calculations of feed intake, both of which lead to inaccurate estimates of grazing pressure. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the input data and calculations used is necessary to ensure changes to livestock phenotypes over the last four decades and advances in our understanding of feed intake are captured accurately.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-078cc4
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/099443-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - award under framework
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

CPV Codes

73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£74,699 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
21 Oct 20266 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Oct 2026 - 26 Mar 2027 1-6 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LONDON
Postcode
SW1P 4DF
Postcode Area
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

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

WSP UK Limited (formerly Ricardo-AEA Limited)

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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