---
title: "Recommended List Variety Trials"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06ef07"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ef07"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ef07.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ef07.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board"
published: "2026-08-29"
---

# Recommended List Variety Trials

Buyer: Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06ef07

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ef07)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ef07.json)

## Summary

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) procured agricultural services to run cereal and oilseed variety testing trials under its Recommended Lists programme. The trials generate independent information about the characteristics and market options of new varieties, helping levy payers and the wider industry select crops suited to their cropping systems and local markets. The work supports productivity and a reliable grain supply chain, and provides data for selecting varieties for recommended and described variety lists. The requirement covers the full delivery of the trials rather than the supply of crops or equipment alone. Delivery is across the United Kingdom. The buying organisation is a central government public authority based in Coventry. The procurement was a single service requirement, covering the Recommended List Variety Trials programme.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded through a below-threshold direct award without competition. SRUC Innovation Limited was selected for the single lot. The award was made on 24 August 2026, and the contract was signed on 24 August 2026. The contract runs from 25 August 2026 to 1 November 2027. Its value is £101,666.67 excluding VAT, or £122,000 including VAT. The contract is active. AHDB used a time-limited extension to maintain continuity of the existing trials while it reviews the Recommended List programme and future procurement and delivery arrangements. The awarded service is classified as agricultural services. The published procurement information does not set out a competitive evaluation or scored award basis because the route used was a direct award without competition.

This procurement indicates demand from AHDB for specialist agricultural research and field-trial delivery, focused specifically on cereal and oilseed variety testing. Suppliers seeking to compete for a future requirement of this type would need credible capability to design, manage and deliver variety trials, collect reliable crop-performance data, and support the technical processes behind recommended and described variety lists. Relevant experience would include independent agricultural testing and producing evidence that can inform growers’ variety choices, cropping systems and market requirements. A strong competitor would also need the operational capacity to coordinate trial activity across the United Kingdom and maintain continuity of data and services during programme changes. The successful supplier profile is therefore a substantial agricultural services or research organisation able to combine field delivery, scientific data collection and industry-focused reporting.

## Notice

The AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds Recommended Lists (RLs) provide levy payers and the wider industry with independent information on the characteristics and market options for new cereal and oilseed varieties. The information provided by the RLs enables levy payers to select variety's that are optimal for their cropping system and meet the requirements of their local market, maximising productivity and ensuring a reliable supply of grain into the supply chain. Scope of delivery is running cereal and oilseed variety testing trials for the purposes of providing data to facilitate the selection of crop varieties into recommended and described variety lists. Under the Recommended List programme, AHDB is undertaking a review of the trials to inform future procurement requirements and delivery arrangements. A time-limited extension of services is required to ensure continuity of the existing trials while this review is completed.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082395-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 29 Aug 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 25 Aug 2026 - 1 Nov 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £101,666 |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board |
| Locality | COVENTRY |
| Postcode area | Coventry |
| Postcode | CV3 4PE |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLG West Midlands (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLG1 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire |
| ITL 3 | TLG13 Warwickshire CC |
| Local authority | Warwick |
| Electoral ward | Cubbington & Leek Wootton |
| Westminster constituency | Kenilworth and Southam |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SAC Commercial Ltd |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

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

### Codes

- 77100000 - Agricultural services

## Release History

- 29 Aug 2026 at 14:42 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082395-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/082395-2026
  29th August 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.ahdb.org.uk
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents
- https://www.sruc.ac.uk/business-services/commercial-opportunities/

## 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-06ef07. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ef07.json.
