AHDB REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ)

1. Introduction

This document forms a request for quotations to carry out a scoping review for a jointly funded initiative between AHDB, Anglian Water, Southern Water and Wessex Water, to help deliver a road map towards practical and robust farm level guidance on adjusting nutrient planning for cash crops following cover crops.  Submissions should be based on the information contained within this document and in the format outlined in section 5.  Deadlines and submission instructions are contained in sections 7 and 8.

2. Background

The widespread interest in cover crops across the UK agriculture industry is clear, with potential benefits both to crop production and to the wider environment reported across a disparate pool of knowledge arising from industry trials and scientific literature. It is also well recognised that harnessing the benefits of cover crops is case specific with species mixes, timing, soil type and condition as well as local environment included as factors influencing the outcomes.

AHDB and our industry partners on this initiative Anglian Water, Southern Water, Wessex Water and BBRO have all supported trials and research on UK cover crops and have a keen interest in ensuring farmers are equipped to make sound decisions on the integration of cover crops into their farming systems. The current funding opportunity focuses on the lack of clear and specific guidance to farmers on how better to account for nutrient release from cover crops, especially nitrogen, as part of their nutrient management planning. 

Our overall vision is for farmers to have access to a decision support tool capable of informing the adjustments needed to allow for nutrient release from cover crops, to optimise cash crop nutrient management.  We are aware of tool development reported in the literature e.g. the MERCI method based on a significant pool of data from France (Constantin et al 2024) and the ‘Cover crop N calculator for adaptive nitrogen fertilizer management’ tested on crops in the US (Gaskin et al 2020) and would like to understand what the realistic prospects are for developing a tool suited to the UK.  This would include a critical evaluation of whether the inputs required to deliver such a tool would be justified in relation to the resources required to build it and for farmers to make use of it.

3. Service requirement

To review and collate all relevant evidence to inform the feasibility of creating a decision support tool to help UK farmers predict nutrient release following the use of cover crops; and provide recommendations for future development of the tool.

A desk study is to be carried out to review existing sources of information across the scientific and grey literature and held by experts and practitioners, with the following objectives:

• Collate and interrogate evidence and methodologies for estimating and predicting timing and amount of nutrients (with particular focus on nitrogen) released from cover crops (inc. summer, winter, single and multi-species)
• Identify and evaluate decision support tools available internationally, including the MERCI model, for cost-benefit, accuracy, shortcomings, data requirements, ease of use and adoption by different user groups (e.g. farmers, agronomists, etc.)
  • Evaluate current user access for the existing tools identified within the relevant user communities as well as barriers and incentives for uptake
  • Evaluate tool impacts on user behaviour e.g. reduction of nutrient inputs in the following crop
• Identify and asses existing available data for suitability for building a UK relevant decision support tool
  • Outline options for creating a suitable dataset (if required) and decision support methodology for the UK, appropriate to climatic conditions, soil types and cover crop species
• Consider the practicality of the tool for the farmer end user in terms of input data requirements and likely end benefits in comparison to the current status quo
• Provide recommendations for the future route to developing a decision support system. To include a realistic evaluation of the resource inputs required in relation to the likely validity and accuracy of resulting recommendations.  Would the investment required to deliver a suitable tool be proportional to the outcomes delivered for farmers and the environment?
• Consider the suitability of decision support for a wide range of potential soil nutrient building options beyond conventional fertilisers e.g. cover crops, companion crops, maize undersow, legume fallows, legume crops, herbal leys, etc.

4. Budget

The maximum budget for delivery of this desk study is £36,000 (inclusive of VAT).  

 5. Structure/format of submission

There is no specific form/template for the submissions. Your quote should consider the scoring criteria outlined in section 6 and include:

• How you intend to address the project objectives and deliverables with an emphasis on ensuring delivery of robust, practical and objective recommendations.
• Timelines and milestones.
• Approaches for ensuring alignment of project delivery with funder expectations.
• Evidence of the team capability to deliver the work including collation and interpretation of the data and ensuring a practical farming perspective is applied to project outcomes.
• Proposed budget, including a breakdown by staff time, overheads etc and of payment schedule expectations.
• Your contact details.

Joint applications from two or more organisations are acceptable and encouraged where there is added value.

AHDB reserves the right to not proceed with any application or, if appropriate, to request applicants to form a consortium to work together to deliver a programme of activities.

An evaluation panel will assess submissions in line with the scoring criteria and weightings in section 6 to decide the best outcome for these services. The selection will be an open and fair competition according to AHDB’s procurement policy, which complies with EU state aid rules.

6. Evaluation and award of contract

Evaluation of tenders will be on the following basis:

7. Tender submissions

Submissions to be made electronically:

Submissions will remain unopened until after the closing date and time has passed

8. Timetable

Please note these timescales are approximate and may change.

A project initiation meeting will be held between the successful bidder and the project funders at the commencement of the contract.  Additional meetings will be held as required for progress updates.

9. Terms/conditions of participation

AHDB Terms and Conditions for the supply of goods and services shall apply to any contract awarded as a result of this request for quote.

If you have any questions relating to this tender please contact:

References

Constantin J, Minette S, Vericel G, Jordan-Meille L and Juste E (2024).  MERCI: a simple method and decision-support tool to estimate availability of nitrogen from a wide range of cover crops to the next cash crop.  Plant Soil 494:333–351

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06283-1

Gaskin JW, Cabrera ML, Kissel DE, Hitchcock R (2020). Using the cover crop N calculator for adaptive nitrogen fertilizer management: a proof of concept. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 35, 550–560.

https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170519000152