Award

Exploratory work around reinstating agricultural tenancy data collection for Scotland

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Summary of the contracting process

The Scottish Government has overseen the procurement process for a project titled "Exploratory work around reinstating agricultural tenancy data collection for Scotland." The buying organisation is the Scottish Government, based in Edinburgh, UK. The contract involves services within the general public services industry. The procurement process used an open procedure, and the status of the contract is complete, with the award dated 7th July 2025 and the contract running until March 2026. The contract was awarded to Alma Economics, a large supplier based in London, for the amount of £69,400 GBP. Key details include a discovery phase to address historical issues and test agricultural tenancy questions, engaging with various stakeholders and experts. The procurement was carried out within the UKM region and covers services associated with agricultural data collection.

This tender offers significant opportunities for growth, especially for businesses specialising in agricultural data collection and analysis. Companies with expertise in question design, stakeholder engagement, and testing within an agricultural context would be well-suited. The scope of the project provides a platform for businesses to engage in detailed exploratory work that contributes to the improvement of agricultural data collection, potentially leading to long-term collaborations with governmental bodies. Engaging in such projects not only raises the participating businesses' profiles but also allows them to showcase their capabilities in a high-impact, public sector domain, enhancing credibility and opening doors for future opportunities.

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Notice Title

Exploratory work around reinstating agricultural tenancy data collection for Scotland

Notice Description

Section 1 - Introduction The Agricultural Statistics unit in RESAS are responsible for a number of key agricultural data collections and statistical publications. The largest data collection is through the annual June Agricultural Census (JAC) which goes out to around 35,000 agricultural holdings each year. The JAC team produces an annual publication on annual land use, crop areas, livestock, number of people working on agricultural holdings and occasional modules on specific topics (e.g. manure management, machinery). The outputs are used by a wide range of users and the team support expert users in bespoke data requests as well as providing sampling frames and contact information for research projects.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Section 3 - Scope /Statement of Requirement We require a team to design and test agricultural tenancy questions. The project aim is to lead to improved data collection and data quality around agricultural tenancy data. 1. The design phase of the project will require a discovery phase where the supplier will scope out the issues and potential routes forward to collecting high quality data. This will require discussions with agricultural tenancy experts and farmers to determine the barriers to producing answerable questions on what types of tenancy farmers have. It may also include discussions with National Records of Scotland on Census question testing. This discovery phase will also look at the historic issues related to tenancy data collection. 2. The second half of the design phase could include roundtable meetings, farmer stakeholder discussions and more detailed discussions with agricultural census statisticians on what has been identified and potential routes forward. Also, discussions with other data collectors in this space including Central Association for Agricultural Valuers (CAAV) and Rural Payments and Inspections Division (RPID), Scottish Government. 3. The testing phase will involve producing at least one set of questions which could be used within the June Agricultural Census or could be standalone questions in a survey. Ideally, we would be interested in two separate groups of questions to be able to test the benefits of one over another, however this may not be possible. The questions would ideally cover the number and type of tenancies and land area covered by that tenancy. 4. If there is time the testing phase should also include testing the questions in an online environment to make sure that the questions continue to be useable for farmers. By the end of the project, we would like to have tested questions and evidence of whether these are suitable to be included in the June Agricultural Census (JAC) or another data collection. We need a team who are able to lead on the following within an agricultural setting: - Desk based review of previous data collection and understanding of historic issues with collecting agricultural tenancy data in Scotland - Question design - User and stakeholder engagement - Question testing and improvement The June Agricultural Census team in RESAS can support with the following: - Analytical information around the issues with the historic data which has been collected on tenancy types - List of key stakeholders and expert data users (a working group is already started to be defined) - Subset of farmers contact details who are recorded as having tenanted land. The work will require expertise in question design and knowledge of the agricultural sector, ideally including agricultural tenancies although this is desirable but not essential. - Geographical area covered - Flexible location although in person meetings with customer and stakeholders will be required. - Technology, systems and management techniques - We expect the contractor to use good project management to make sure they achieve the desired outcomes at the correct time. Whilst engaging with the customer at appropriate points such as milestone delivery dates. - Security - The following must be completed prior to any sharing of personal data: - DSA - DPIA - erdm connect workspace - procurement, protective security and information assurance questionnaire to be completed by contractor. - Implementation timetable to be agreed at the inception meeting.

Renewal: 2 MONTHS EXTENSION TO BE DISCUSSES AND AGREED BY THE CONTRACT MANAGER

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000800127
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539757
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
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
£69,400 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
23 Sep 20255 months ago
Submission Deadline
23 Jun 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
7 Jul 20257 months ago
Contract Period
7 Jul 2025 - 6 Mar 2026 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
Contact Name
Kate Townsley
Contact Email
kate.townsley@gov.scot, simon.lucas@gov.scot
Contact Phone
+44 1312446263

Buyer Location

Locality
EDINBURBH
Postcode
EH11 3XD
Post Town
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM13 City of Edinburgh
Delivery Location
TLM Scotland

Local Authority
City of Edinburgh
Electoral Ward
Leith
Westminster Constituency
Edinburgh North and Leith

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

ALMA ECONOMICS

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAY531321
    Exploratory work around reinstating agricultural tenancy data collection for Scotland - Section 1 - Introduction The Agricultural Statistics unit in RESAS are responsible for a number of key agricultural data collections and statistical publications. The largest data collection is through the annual June Agricultural Census (JAC) which goes out to around 35,000 agricultural holdings each year. The JAC team produces an annual publication on annual land use, crop areas, livestock, number of people working on agricultural holdings and occasional modules on specific topics (e.g. manure management, machinery). The outputs are used by a wide range of users and the team support expert users in bespoke data requests as well as providing sampling frames and contact information for research projects.
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539431
    Exploratory work around reinstating agricultural tenancy data collection for Scotland - Section 1 - Introduction The Agricultural Statistics unit in RESAS are responsible for a number of key agricultural data collections and statistical publications. The largest data collection is through the annual June Agricultural Census (JAC) which goes out to around 35,000 agricultural holdings each year. The JAC team produces an annual publication on annual land use, crop areas, livestock, number of people working on agricultural holdings and occasional modules on specific topics (e.g. manure management, machinery). The outputs are used by a wide range of users and the team support expert users in bespoke data requests as well as providing sampling frames and contact information for research projects.
  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP539757
    Exploratory work around reinstating agricultural tenancy data collection for Scotland - Section 1 - Introduction The Agricultural Statistics unit in RESAS are responsible for a number of key agricultural data collections and statistical publications. The largest data collection is through the annual June Agricultural Census (JAC) which goes out to around 35,000 agricultural holdings each year. The JAC team produces an annual publication on annual land use, crop areas, livestock, number of people working on agricultural holdings and occasional modules on specific topics (e.g. manure management, machinery). The outputs are used by a wide range of users and the team support expert users in bespoke data requests as well as providing sampling frames and contact information for research projects.

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