---
title: "ID 6210936 - DAERA - CAFRE - Farming for Sustainability Scheme Training and Themed Groups Requirements"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05d031"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d031"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d031.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d031.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL ENTERPRISE"
published: "2026-01-27"
---

# ID 6210936 - DAERA - CAFRE - Farming for Sustainability Scheme Training and Themed Groups Requirements

Buyer: COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL ENTERPRISE  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05d031

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05d031)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d031.json)

## Summary

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), a public authority under central government in the United Kingdom, initiated a procurement process for the "Farming for Sustainability Scheme Training and Themed Groups Requirements" project. This open procedure, compliant with Northern Irish devolved regulations, is set within the services category, focusing on education and training. The procurement, headquartered in Antrim, UK, covers two lots, one for face-to-face farmer training and another for themed peer-to-peer facilitation. The contract period spans from 5 January 2026 to 4 January 2029, with a potential extension until 2031. The procurement aimed to fulfil educational and practical training goals, particularly for those unable to engage with e-learning platforms without support, and to enhance farm sustainability.

This tender offers significant opportunities for growth in the education and training services industry, particularly for SMEs experienced in event management and company-level training facilitation. The project encourages participation from enterprises geared towards developing agriculture's sustainability. Countryside Services Limited, an SME, has been awarded both lots under this scheme, highlighting the potential for similar sized businesses to compete effectively. With a clear emphasis on providing qualitative training and development through structured programmes and peer-group strategies, companies specialising in agricultural education, technical training, or similar fields could find lucrative opportunities by being involved in such public sector contracts. The project's setup offers financial growth potential, given the estimated combined contract values of up to GBP 4.2 million, providing successful bidders opportunities to expand their market reach and service portfolio.

## Notice

This contract will be broken down into 2 Lots: * Lot 1 - Face-to-face training for groups of farmers * Lot 2 - Themed peer-to-peer group facilitators Each Lot will be evaluated and awarded independently. Lot 1- CAFRE require a Supplier to administer, secure access to appropriate venues and deliver training to participants who cannot use e-learning courses without support. The supplier will be required to administer, hire appropriate venues, and deliver training sessions to groups of participating farmers. Each course will have its own specific Learning Outcomes, underpinning knowledge, assessment process (if required) and delivery schedule. Lot 2 - CAFRE requires a Supplier to administer and deliver specialist technical facilitation and mentoring to Themed Groups. These groups will be delivered alongside Business Sustainability Groups (BSGs) and are a development from the previous Business development Group (BDG) scheme which operated under the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme. BSGs are enterprise specific but with a focus on the sustainability of the entire farm. Themed Groups will provide more focused support and advice relating to specific enterprises and topics. Groups will also have a shorter duration of 18-24 months with an estimated 3-6 meetings per group per year dependent on topic. This will be a demand-led contract and all values are estimates only.

### Lot Information

Face-to-face training for groups of farmers

CAFRE require a Supplier to administer, secure access to appropriate venues and deliver training to participants who cannot use e-learning courses without support. The supplier will be required to administer, hire appropriate venues, and deliver training sessions to groups of participating farmers. The training courses will be prioritised by DAERA as part of the Sustainable Agriculture Programme or wider policy programme, with CAFRE responsible for overall planning and development of learning materials for each training course. Each course will have its own specific Learning Outcomes, underpinning knowledge, assessment process (if required) and delivery schedule.

Renewal: One optional extension period of 2 years for each Lot. The extension will be utilised at the Buyers discretion.

Themed peer-to-peer group facilitators

CAFRE requires a Supplier to administer and deliver specialist technical facilitation and mentoring to Themed Groups. These groups will be delivered alongside Business Sustainability Groups (BSGs) and are a development from the previous Business Development Group (BDG) scheme which operated under the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme. BSGs are enterprise specific but with a focus on the sustainability of the entire farm. Themed Groups will provide more focused support and advice relating to specific enterprises and topics. Groups will also have a shorter duration of 18-24 months with an estimated 3-6 meetings per group per year dependent on topic.

Renewal: One optional extension period of 2 years for each Lot. The extension will be utilised at the Buyers discretion.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006939-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 27 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 20 Nov 2025 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Dec 2025 |
| Contract period | 5 Jan 2026 - 4 Jan 2029 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £3,500,000 |
| Lots value | £3,500,000 |
| Awards value | £3,500,000 |
| Contracts value | £3,500,000 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL ENTERPRISE |
| Additional buyers | CPD - SUPPLIES AND SERVICES DIVISION |
| Locality | ANTRIM |
| Post town | Northern Ireland |
| Postcode | BT41 4PS |
| 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 | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | COUNTRYSIDE SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 80 - Education and training services

### Codes

- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80510000 - Specialist training services
- 80521000 - Training programme services
- 80522000 - Training seminars
- 80531200 - Technical training services

## Release History

- 27 Jan 2026 at 10:05 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006939-2026
- 12 Dec 2025 at 16:44 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082659-2025
- 20 Oct 2025 at 16:58 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066886-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/006939-2026
  27th January 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082659-2025
  12th December 2025 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/066886-2025
  20th October 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-05d031. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05d031.json.