---
title: "DAERA AFBI Commercialisation of AFBI-bred forage grass varieties"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0337af"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0337af"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0337af.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0337af.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "AGRI-FOOD AND BIOSCIENCES INSTITUTE"
published: "2022-11-07"
---

# DAERA AFBI Commercialisation of AFBI-bred forage grass varieties

Buyer: AGRI-FOOD AND BIOSCIENCES INSTITUTE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0337af

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## Summary

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) based in Northern Ireland has completed a tender process titled "DAERA AFBI Commercialisation of AFBI-bred forage grass varieties" in the services category. The tender aimed to find a commercialisation partner for AFBI's grass breeding programme. AFBI sought a partner to test, produce, and market their varieties. The contract value was £100,000,000 with a contract period of 5400 days. The procurement method used was an award procedure with prior publication of a call for competition. The awarded supplier was Barenbrug Holland B.V.

This procurement opportunity presents businesses in the agricultural services sector with the chance to collaborate with a renowned scientific organisation like AFBI. Contractors responsible for the commercialisation of AFBI-bred forage grass varieties will play a crucial role in bringing new agricultural products to the market. Companies with expertise in marketing, production, and agricultural research would be well-suited to compete for this tender. The contract includes monitoring mechanisms to ensure the contractor's performance meets expectations and delivers value for money to the public purse.

## Notice

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is Northern Ireland's largest science and technology organisation and an internationally renowned multidisciplinary scientific organisation, based at seven locations across Northern Ireland. In line with our Vision of "Advancing the local and global agri food sectors through scientific excellence", AFBI works with a range of partners to provide scientific solutions to the global challenges of climate change, food security and environmental protection. Our staff undertake scientific research, surveillance, and analytical and diagnostic testing for a wide range of customers in the fields of sustainable agricultural systems, animal health and welfare, plant science, food innovation and safety, environmental protection, fisheries and aquatic ecosystems and agricultural and rural economics. AFBI is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) established under the Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order, 2004. The Institute undertakes an assigned work programme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) that comprises statutory, analytical, and diagnostic/surveillance testing, together with research and development and the provision of specialist advice in the fields of agriculture, animal health and welfare, plant science, food safety and innovation, marine and fisheries, the natural environment and agri-food and rural economics. The AFBI grass breeding programme, based in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, produces locally-adapted ryegrass varieties for a range of forage grass markets, but primarily for the NI as well as the GB/ROI markets. The programme, which has been in place since 1952, has a long history, and a strong reputation in the marketplace. The AFBI programme has been extremely successful. As of 2020/21, there were 19 different AFBI-bred ryegrass varieties on the Irish and UK recommended lists. There were also a number of varieties on recommended lists in other European countries. The average annual number of AFBI varieties that have been accepted onto Recommended Lists over the past 10 years is 2.6, demonstrating the consistent performance of new AFBI varieties. The current programme focuses on the production of intermediate and late diploid and tetraploid perennial ryegrass varieties for both silage and grazing, as well as varieties of the hybrid type. The AFBI forage grass breeding programme is split into two programmes: the strategic programme and the commercialisation programme. The early stage strategic programme is funded by DAERA, and produces germplasm for incorporation into new synthetics. The commercialisation programme tests near-market stage synthetics prior to national list testing and subsequent commercialisation. AFBI requires a commercialisation partner in order for AFBI-bred varieties to be tested for market performance prior to national/recommended list testing, and ultimately for seed from AFBI-bred varieties to reach target markets. In compliance with the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016, AFBI therefore intends to run a tender exercise for commercialisation rights to all future AFBI-bred varieties for the purposes of testing, production and marketing of these varieties.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is Northern Ireland's largest science and technology organisation and an internationally renowned multidisciplinary scientific organisation, based at seven locations across Northern Ireland. In line with our Vision of "Advancing the local and global agri food sectors through scientific excellence", AFBI works with a range of partners to provide scientific solutions to the global challenges of climate change, food security and environmental protection. Our staff undertake scientific research, surveillance, and analytical and diagnostic testing for a wide range of customers in the fields of sustainable agricultural systems, animal health and welfare, plant science, food innovation and safety, environmental protection, fisheries and aquatic ecosystems and agricultural and rural economics. AFBI is a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) established under the Agriculture (Northern Ireland) Order, 2004. The Institute undertakes an assigned work programme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) that comprises statutory, analytical, and diagnostic/surveillance testing, together with research and development and the provision of specialist advice in the fields of agriculture, animal health and welfare, plant science, food safety and innovation, marine and fisheries, the natural environment and agri-food and rural economics. The AFBI grass breeding programme, based in Loughgall, Northern Ireland, produces locally-adapted ryegrass varieties for a range of forage grass markets, but primarily for the NI as well as the GB/ROI markets. The programme, which has been in place since 1952, has a long history, and a strong reputation in the marketplace. The AFBI programme has been extremely successful. As of 2020/21, there were 19 different AFBI-bred ryegrass varieties on the Irish and UK recommended lists. There were also a number of varieties on recommended lists in other European countries. The average annual number of AFBI varieties that have been accepted onto Recommended Lists over the past 10 years is 2.6, demonstrating the consistent performance of new AFBI varieties. The current programme focuses on the production of intermediate and late diploid and tetraploid perennial ryegrass varieties for both silage and grazing, as well as varieties of the hybrid type. The AFBI forage grass breeding programme is split into two programmes: the strategic programme and the commercialisation programme. The early stage strategic programme is funded by DAERA, and produces germplasm for incorporation into new synthetics. The commercialisation programme tests near-market stage synthetics prior to national list testing and subsequent commercialisation. AFBI requires a commercialisation partner in order for AFBI-bred varieties to be tested for market performance prior to national/recommended list testing, and ultimately for seed from AFBI-bred varieties to reach target markets. In compliance with the Concession Contracts Regulations 2016, AFBI therefore intends to run a tender exercise for commercialisation rights to all future AFBI-bred varieties for the purposes of testing, production and marketing of these varieties.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031376-2022 |
| Notice type | Tender Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure with prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 7 Nov 2022 |
| Submission deadline | 14 Jun 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 23 Oct 2022 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £100,000,000 |
| Lots value | £50,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £100,000,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Cancelled |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | AGRI-FOOD AND BIOSCIENCES INSTITUTE |
| Locality | BELFAST |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT3 9ED |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| ITL 1 | TLN Northern Ireland |
| ITL 2 | TLN0 Northern Ireland |
| ITL 3 | TLN06 Belfast |
| Local authority | Belfast |
| Electoral ward | Sydenham |
| Westminster constituency | Belfast East |
| Delivery location | TLN Northern Ireland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | BARENBRUG HOLLAND |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 66 - Financial and insurance services
- 77 - Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services

### Codes

- 66151000 - Financial market operational services
- 77100000 - Agricultural services

## Release History

- 7 Nov 2022 at 11:29 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/031376-2022
- 16 May 2022 at 07:38 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/012561-2022

## Notice URLs

- https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
- https://www.afbini.gov.uk/
- https://www.barenbrug.co.uk/
- https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/topics/procurement

## 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-0337af. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0337af.json.