Summary
- OCID:
- ocds-h6vhtk-05d031
- Published by:
- College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
- Authority ID:
- AA87541
- Publication date:
- 21 October 2025
- Deadline date:
- 20 November 2025
- Notice type:
- UK4
- Has documents:
- No
- Has SPD:
- No
- Has Carbon Reduction Plan:
- N/A
Abstract
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.
Full notice text
Scope
Procurement reference
ID 6210936
Procurement description
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.
Total value (estimated, excluding VAT)
3500000 GBP to 3500000GBP
Contract dates (estimated)
05 January 2026, 00:00AM to 04 January 2029, 23:59PM
Extension end date (if all the extensions are used): 04 January 2031
Contracting authority
College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise
Identification register:
Address 1: 45 Tirgracey Road
Town/City: Antrim
Postcode: BT41 4PS
Country: United Kingdom
Public Procurement Organisation Number: PYCL-3331-QQMP
NUTS code: UKN0D
Email: SSDAdmin.CPD@finance-ni.gov.uk
Organisation type: Public authority - central government
Devolved regulations that apply: Northern Ireland
Procedure
Procedure type
Open procedure
Is this procurement under a special regime?
Light touch
Is the total value above threshold?
Above threshold
Trade agreements
Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
Lots
Divided into 2 lots
Face-to-face training for groups of farmers
Lot number: 1 Description
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.
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80522000 - Training seminars
- 80521000 - Training programme services
- 80531200 - Technical training services
- 80510000 - Specialist training services
Lot value (estimated)
500000 GBP Excluding VAT
600000 GBP Including VAT
Sustainability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contract start date (estimated)
05 January 2026, 00:00AM
Contract end date (estimated)
04 January 2029, 23:59PM
Extension end date (estimated)
04 January 2031, 23:59PM
Can the contract be extended?
Yes
Description of extensions
One optional extension period of 2 years for each Lot. The extension will be utilised at the Buyers discretion.
Participation
Conditions of participation
TA1 - Event Management Experience
Award criteria
Weighting description
Qualitative Criterion: 70%
Quantitative Criterion: 30%
Type: quality
Name
Qualitative Criterion
Description
5 Criteria as detailed within the Instruction to Tender - Lot 1 Document. the criteria are Key Delivery Personnel Experience, Recruitment, Promotion and Marketing Plan, Programme Delivery and Implementation, Contract Management and Business Continuity, and Social Value.
Type: price
Name
Quantitative Criterion
Description
Total Contract Price as detailed within the Instructions to Tender - Lot 1 document.
Themed peer-to-peer group facilitators
Lot number: 2 Description
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.
CPV classifications
- 80000000 - Education and training services
- 80500000 - Training services
- 80522000 - Training seminars
- 80521000 - Training programme services
- 80531200 - Technical training services
- 80510000 - Specialist training services
Lot value (estimated)
3000000 GBP Excluding VAT
3600000 GBP Including VAT
Sustainability
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME)
Contract start date (estimated)
05 January 2026, 00:00AM
Contract end date (estimated)
04 January 2029, 23:59PM
Extension end date (estimated)
04 January 2031, 23:59PM
Can the contract be extended?
Yes
Description of extensions
One optional extension period of 2 years for each Lot. The extension will be utilised at the Buyers discretion.
Participation
Conditions of participation
TA1 - Company Experience
Award criteria
Weighting description
Qualitative Criterion: 70%
Quantitative Criterion: 30%
Type: quality
Name
Qualitative Criterion
Description
5 Criteria as detailed within the Instruction to Tender - Lot 2 Document. the criteria are Key Delivery Personnel Experience, Program Delivery and Implementation, Marketing and Promotion Plan, Contract Management and Communication, Social Value.
Type: price
Name
Quantitative Criterion
Description
Total Contract Price as detailed within the Instructions to Tender - Lot 2 document.
Submission
Tender submission deadline
20 November 2025, 14:00PM
Enquiry deadline
10 November 2025, 14:00PM
Date of award of contract
05 January 2026, 23:59PM
Submission address and any special instructions
https://etendersni.gov.uk/epps
May tenders be submitted electronically?
Yes
Languages that may be used for submission
Coding
Commodity categories
| ID |
Title
|
Parent category
|
| 80000000 |
Education and training services |
Education |
| 80510000 |
Specialist training services |
Training services |
| 80531200 |
Technical training services |
Industrial and technical training services |
| 80521000 |
Training programme services |
Training facilities |
| 80522000 |
Training seminars |
Training facilities |
| 80500000 |
Training services |
Education and training services |
Delivery locations
| ID |
Description
|
| 100 |
UK - All |
Alert region restrictions
The buyer has restricted the alert for this notice to suppliers based in the following regions.
| ID |
Description
|
|
There are no alert restrictions for this notice.
|
About the buyer
- Main contact:
- N/a
- Admin contact:
- N/a
- Technical contact:
- N/a
- Other contact:
- N/a
Further information
|
Date
|
Details
|
|
No further information has been uploaded.
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