---
title: "On Farm Plans Integrated with Nature (OPIN) Project Management & Implementation"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000774799"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000774799"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000774799.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000774799.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL"
published: "2024-08-21"
---

# On Farm Plans Integrated with Nature (OPIN) Project Management & Implementation

Buyer: DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000774799

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## Summary

Dumfries and Galloway Council is planning a procurement process for the "On Farm Plans Integrated with Nature (OPIN) Project Management & Implementation," focused on delivering a new auditing system for farms within the Dumfries & Galloway region (UKM92). The project falls under the industry category of General Public Services and will be implemented from January 2025 through March 2031, with a planned budget of £360,000. The procurement stage is currently in the planning phase, and a formal notice is scheduled for 14 October 2024. This initiative aims to test a comprehensive audit system that integrates various aspects of land management, biodiversity, climate adaptation, and sustainable farming practices across 12 farms of varying sizes and characteristics over a five-year period.

This tender creates significant opportunities for businesses specialising in project management, agricultural consultancy, environmental auditing, and sustainable farming practices. Ideal bidders would have experience in professional and agricultural practices, potentially benefiting from a local presence for effective project delivery. Companies providing staffing resources, detailed auditing tools, and technical expertise in natural capital and farm management stand to gain from participating in this innovative project. The procurement encourages networking and peer-to-peer learning, making it an excellent growth opportunity for businesses looking to expand their footprint in the agricultural and environmental sectors.

## Notice

Project management project implementation including specific staff resoures.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Project management project implementation including specific staff resources. The purpose of the pilot it to test a new Natural Capital centred approach to integrated whole farm auditing that will identify synergies between management interventions that deliver public goods, sustainable food and a modern sustainable farm business. This process will go into a level of detail and breadth beyond any of the current auditing and management plans. The project will test existing audit tools, develop an audit protocol and refine specialist inputs to deliver a comprehensive and efficient audit system that breaks down silos and integrates land management, biodiversity, food production, carbon sequestration, climate adaptation and mitigation in a balanced way which protects farm incomes while delivering for natural capital. The project will take a more holistic perspective on each farm, as can be seen in the table below, which identifies what natural capital assets or aspects are audited under the existing or proposed system of agricultural support. This audit system will be trialled over 12 farms of varying size and character over a pilot project life span of 5 years. Farms will be selected by an open and transparent recruitment system. The intention is to enrol farms of over 100 acres that represent the types found in the Biosphere within Dumfries and Galloway, which is generally hill farming of sheep and/or cattle and dairy farming. We will start with one farm and build up over the life of the pilot allowing the audit tool to be tested and refined in an iterative way, ensuring that, by the end of the pilot it is a tested and proven system. Once audits are complete there is the option for farmers to 'test' an element of the recommendations with a small capital contribution as well as assistance in accessing existing grant systems. Both the audit and the 'on the ground' trialling will be subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation to act as a comparator to the pilot's outcomes generated by the audit, this will the further used to refine the audit process. During the life of the pilot project there will be extensive opportunities for networking and peer to peer learning within the farming and natural capital communities. It is anticipated the personnel doing the work will be required to evidence knowledge of the appropriate professional and agricultural practices. Due to the nature and geography of the project, it would be assumed a local presence and knowledge would be beneficial to project delivery. Timescales January 2025 - March 2031 Project Outputs The following measurable outputs will likely result from achieving the project outcomes: - 12 landholdings enrolled in pilot project - 1 innovative fully integrated audit tool/process - 12 On-farm Plans Integrated with Nature documents produced - 2.0 FTE jobs total - Approximately 800 hectares of land enrolled - Approximately 200 hectares of habitats improved - Increase in woodland cover, including 6 hectares of riverwoods - Improved 2.5 km of hedgerow network - Increase in grassland diversity on 50 hectares - Advisory group formed with representatives from a range of sectors that provide input into the audit and delivery process - At least annual (once multiple farms are enrolled, for a total of 4) peer-to-peer gatherings for farmers and land managers involved in the project to share best practices and skills development - Evaluation and dissemination of findings of the project's results - A minimum of 12 landowners or land managers gain skills and knowledge transfer from being involved in the pilot project. The project team are looking for notification of interest through this platform and not to approach individuals at present. Full details will be provided at tender.. Budget (inclusive of all expenses) Project Officer Salary with inflation + on costs + associated costs (travel, PPE training + IT) (PO salary 35000.00 plus annual inflation of 3%) over 5 years = 256490.00 Project Management (5 days/month) + accommodation over 5 years = 99000.00

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG512502 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Not Specified |
| Procurement method details | Not specified |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 21 Aug 2024 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 14 Oct 2024 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £360,000 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

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

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL |
| Locality | DUMFRIES |
| Post town | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Postcode | DG1 2HP |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM9 Southern Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway |
| Local authority | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Electoral ward | Nith |
| Westminster constituency | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Delivery location | TLM92 Dumfries and Galloway |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

### Codes

- 90713000 - Environmental issues consultancy services

## Release History

- 21 Aug 2024 at 00:00 - Planning - PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG512502

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=AUG512502
  On Farm Plans Integrated with Nature (OPIN) Project Management & Implementation - Project management project implementation including specific staff resoures.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.dumgal.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000774799
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=774799

## 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-r6ebe6-0000774799. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000774799.json.