---
title: "Third Cycle of the Field Data Collection Survey for the National Forest Inventory (NFI) of Great Britain."
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-02953e"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02953e"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02953e.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02953e.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "FOREST RESEARCH"
published: "2021-02-23"
---

# Third Cycle of the Field Data Collection Survey for the National Forest Inventory (NFI) of Great Britain.

Buyer: FOREST RESEARCH  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-02953e

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## Summary

The procurement process involves Forest Research, based in Edinburgh, which is seeking to award a contract for the "Third Cycle of the Field Data Collection Survey for the National Forest Inventory (NFI) of Great Britain." This project falls under the services category, specifically focusing on forest inventory services. The procurement is currently in the Tender stage, with the submission deadline for interested suppliers set for 22 March 2021. The total estimated value of the contract is £3,500,000, and it encompasses a wide geographical area across the United Kingdom. Interested participants are required to engage in field trials as part of the selection process.

This tender presents significant opportunities for growth, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the forestry and environmental services industry. Companies with expertise in forest surveying, data collection, and ecological research would be well-positioned to compete, particularly those with a track record in delivering similar projects. Further, businesses should prepare to demonstrate their staff qualifications and relevant past performance, ensuring compliance with the selection criteria, which emphasises the importance of past conduct and experience in similar projects.

## Notice

Survey work for the third 5-year cycle of field data collection for the National Forest Inventory (NFI) of Great Britain. The National Forest Inventory (NFI) programme monitors woodland and trees within Great Britain. It involves a 5-year cycle, rolling programme of in-depth surveys designed to provide accurate information about the size, distribution, composition and condition of Great Britain's forests and woodlands, and also about the changes taking place through time. The NFI is essential for developing and monitoring the policies and guidance that support the sustainable management of forest and woodland. Forest Research manages the NFI programme and is responsible for this procurement. NFI survey contractors will gather a variety of information, such as tree species, heights and ages, and the woodland area within each 1-ha sample square. They will also input the survey results data and information directly into a Forest Research geo database programme (part of Forester GIS).

### Lot Information

Lot 0

Survey work for the third 5-year cycle of field data collection for the National Forest Inventory (NFI) of Great Britain The NFI programme monitors woodland and trees within Great Britain. It involves a 5-year cycle, rolling programme of in-depth surveys designed to provide accurate information about the size, distribution, composition and condition of GB's forests and woodlands, and also about the changes taking place through time. The NFI is essential for developing and monitoring the policies and guidance that support the sustainable management of forest and woodland. Forest Research manages the NFI programme and is responsible for this procurement Procurement of a non-exclusive, multi-Lot, multi-supplier framework agreement for forest surveying services covering, in the main, the 3rd 5-year cycle of NFI field data collection. Under this framework the intention is to re-survey at least 10,000 1st & 2nd cycle 1-hectare sample squares but there will also be a volume of new sample squares to be assessed and significant, but as yet unquantified, woodland survey work in England relating to the Natural Capital Ecosystem Accounts programme, plus possible reactive, ad hoc survey work (e.g. in response to storm damage or disease). The framework covers the whole of GB and is broken down into 108 individual geographical-based hexagon-shaped Lots (most of comparable size and approximately 36 miles across at the widest point - see map of Lots along with the Field Manual summary document here https://www.dropbox.com/sh/akroyfcvzdipqh0/AABpGd_IerrPjSjHvfGpmZtya?dl=0 ), offering potential opportunities for work for the full range of experienced surveyors and forestry specialists, small and large, from sole traders to multinationals. Suppliers will be required to tender for at least 3 Lots. Where there are multiple bids for the same Lot, multiple suppliers may be allocated to that Lot on a ranked basis based on the tender assessment, with the 1st ranked supplier being the primary supplier for that Lot. Suppliers will only be appointed to the framework if they have been successful in being assessed as primary in 3 or more Lots. Each primary supplier will be awarded the work within their given Lots and a forward work schedule agreed with them. Framework suppliers will be considered for ad hoc survey work in areas that are covered by their Lots and, depending on the nature of the work, it will be carried out at framework rates or for a quoted price. NFI survey contractors will gather a variety of information, such as tree species, heights and ages, and the woodland area within each 1-ha sample square. They will also input the survey results data and information directly into a Forest Research geo database programme (part of 'Forester GIS', details here https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/forester/), for which training and software-loaded hardware (Toughbooks) will be provided by Forest Research. The NFI Survey Manual provides the detailed specification for the work required and appointed suppliers will be required to comply with the Manual in delivering the survey services. Suppliers considering expressing an interest in this framework are urged to first familiarise themselves with the requirements of the NFI Survey Manual contained in the summary document. The tendering process for this procurement will involve mandatory field trials. The field trials will test the candidates' knowledge and understanding relevant to the competencies needed to successfully undertake the survey work. The trials, which will be conducted during the tendering period, will be carried out in the field or possibly on-line, if necessary. Tenderers will be required to make themselves available for the field trials and at least one representative of the tenderer must pass the mandatory field test in order for its tender submission to be considered for evaluation. Additional information: To respond to this opportunity please click here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/akroyfcvzdipqh0/AABpGd_IerrPjSjHvfGpmZtya?dl=0

Options: The term of the framework will be an initial three (3) years with options to extend the term up to five (5) years

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003542-2021 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Framework |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Selective |
| Procurement method details | Restricted procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 23 Feb 2021 |
| Submission deadline | 22 Mar 2021 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | c6 months prior to the end of any framework agreement implemented as a result of this procurement |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,500,000 |
| Lots value | £3,500,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | FOREST RESEARCH |
| Locality | EDINBURGH |
| Post town | Edinburgh |
| Postcode | EH12 7AT |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM1 East Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM13 City of Edinburgh |
| Local authority | City of Edinburgh |
| Electoral ward | Corstorphine/Murrayfield |
| Westminster constituency | Edinburgh West |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 77231400 - Forest inventory services
- 77231500 - Forest monitoring or evaluation services

## Release History

- 23 Feb 2021 at 09:32 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003542-2021

## Notice URLs

- https://www.delta-esourcing.com/delta/viewNotice.html?noticeId=534707313
- https://www.dropbox.com/request/CvqyyImmS7lxeN4durSZ
- https://www.dropbox.com/sh/akroyfcvzdipqh0/AABpGd_IerrPjSjHvfGpmZtya?dl=0
- https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/
- https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/about-us/procurement/
- https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/forester/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/procurement-policy-note-816-standard-selection-questionnaire-sq-template

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-02953e. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-02953e.json.
