---
title: "PhD Studentship for Developing a Welfare Assessment Protocol for Kennelled Dogs"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-04dbe7"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-04dbe7"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04dbe7.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04dbe7.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL)"
published: "2025-02-05"
---

# PhD Studentship for Developing a Welfare Assessment Protocol for Kennelled Dogs

Buyer: DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL)  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-04dbe7

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## Summary

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has completed a procurement process for a PhD studentship aimed at developing a welfare assessment protocol for kennelled dogs. Categorised under research and development consultancy services (CPV code 73200000), this project is located in the UK and was awarded under the 'limited' procurement method without a prior call for competition. The key contract was signed on 22 January 2025 with the University of Bristol, valued at £167,378.16. The process utilised regulatory compliances, specifically relying on the R&D exemption under PCR 2015 Regulation 14, and absence of competition for technical reasons under Regulation 32 (2) (b) (ii).

This tender provides significant opportunities for businesses specialising in research and development, especially within the veterinary sciences and animal welfare sectors. Companies that can offer innovative approaches in crafting welfare protocols and assessing behavioural and physiological indicators in animals would find this tender particularly beneficial. The involvement of a prestigious institution like the University of Bristol highlights the collaborative potential and the public interest impact of this procurement, making it an excellent prospect for entities looking to expand their services and engage in impactful research endeavours.

## Notice

This is a PhD studentship for the development of a welfare assessment protocol for kennelled dogs.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

This is a PhD studentship for the development of a welfare assessment protocol for kennelled dogs. Welfare assessment of kennelled dogs has been the subject of considerable scientific scrutiny, however research to date has focussed separately on dogs housed in kennels for different purposes. The approach has varied across different populations of dogs and the validation of welfare indicators is limited. A practical standardised scientifically-informed Welfare Assessment Protocol is required.

The aim of this research is to develop bespoke validated Welfare Assessment Protocols for the purposes of both regular routine audits as well as less frequent, comprehensive audits of kennel facilities. The project will use an experimental approach to identify behavioural and physiological welfare indicators associated with different kennel environments, which can be used to assess the welfare of kennelled dogs. The protocols will be validated across a range of different establishments where dogs are housed in kennels.

### Procurement Information

This is a compliant award on the basis of the R&D (or "Frascati") exemption under PCR 2015: Reg 14 (R&D exemption). The CPV code falls within 73000000-2 (research & development services and related consultancy services) and satisfies the exemption on the following basis
* The benefits/outcomes of the requirement will be shared outside of Defra for the wider public benefit
* The requirement is being funded by more than one party, not just the Authority

In addition to regulatory compliance Reg 32 (2) (b) (ii) would also have applied outside of reg 14 because competition is absent for technical reasons.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003833-2025 |
| Notice type | Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Limited |
| Procurement method details | Award procedure without prior publication of a call for competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 5 Feb 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 22 Jan 2025 |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £167,378 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL) |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Post town | South West London |
| Postcode | SW1P 4DF |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West |
| ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| Electoral ward | St James's |
| Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services
- 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

## Release History

- 5 Feb 2025 at 14:39 - Award - Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/003833-2025

## Notice URLs

- https://defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome
- https://www.bristol.ac.uk/
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs

## 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-04dbe7. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-04dbe7.json.