Additional Information
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Draft Tender Specification
Feasibility Study: Establishment of a Welsh Fisheries Producer Organisation
Contracting Authority
Welsh Fishermen’s Association - Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr Cymru (WFA-CPC)
Background
The Welsh Fishermen’s Association- Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr Cymru (WFA-CPC) is the national representative body for the Welsh fishing industry, working through five regional organisations. It represents a diverse fleet, predominantly made up of vessels under 10 metres using static gear.
Welsh Government currently manages Welsh fishing quota, including quota available to Welsh non-sector vessels, the under-10 metre pool, and additional fishing opportunities. WFA-CPC wishes to assess whether a Welsh Fisheries Producer Organisation (WFPO) could provide a more effective and sustainable model for managing relevant Welsh quota opportunities, while preserving WFA-CPC’s role as an independent industry advocacy body.
The successful contractor will undertake an independent feasibility study and provide practical recommendations for WFA-CPC and Welsh Government.
Requirement
WFA-CPC is seeking a suitably qualified consultant or organisation to assess the feasibility of establishing a Welsh Fisheries Producer Organisation, or an alternative formal quota-management model.
The work must examine whether a WFPO could manage:
Existing quota available to the Welsh non-sector fleet.
Existing quota available to the Welsh under-10 metre pool.
Welsh additional quota allocations and emerging fishing opportunities, where appropriate.
The study must consider the practical, legal, financial, governance and stakeholder implications of potential future arrangements. It must give particular attention to the distinct nature of the Welsh fleet, the relationship with existing Producer Organisations, and WFA-CPC’s continuing advocacy role.
Scope of Services
The contractor will be expected to deliver the following work areas.
Feasibility and options appraisal
Undertake an evidence-based feasibility assessment of options for future Welsh quota management. This should include, as a minimum:
Maintaining the current Welsh Government-led quota management arrangements.
A formal partnership model in which WFA-CPC has a greater role in quota management and allocation.
A hybrid Producer Organisation model administered by WFA-CPC, alongside continued Welsh Government support for WFA-CPC’s representative and advocacy functions.
A fully independent, self-financing Welsh Fisheries Producer Organisation.
The contractor should identify any additional viable options that emerge through the work and assess the costs, benefits, risks, opportunities and practical implications of each.
Operating model and governance
Identify and recommend an optimal operating model for a Welsh Fisheries Producer Organisation or alternative structure. This should cover:
Appropriate legal form, governance and membership arrangements.
Compliance and recognition requirements for a Producer Organisation.
Roles, responsibilities and accountability between WFA-CPC, Welsh Government, members and other relevant bodies.
Quota-management, monitoring, reporting and administrative arrangements.
Staffing, systems, skills and operational capacity requirements.
Potential income streams, costs and long-term financial sustainability.
Learning from relevant Producer Organisation models in the UK and, where useful, comparable European arrangements.
Transition and implementation
Develop an outline transition plan for moving from current arrangements to the preferred future model, should the feasibility work recommend change.
This should address:
Legal and regulatory requirements.
Necessary agreements, delegations or changes in responsibility.
Relationships with existing Producer Organisations and affected Welsh vessels.
Data, systems, reporting, monitoring and administrative handover requirements.
Staffing and capability requirements.
Financial transition and start-up costs.
Key risks, dependencies and mitigation measures.
Indicative implementation timetable and decision points.
Stakeholder engagement
Plan and undertake proportionate engagement with relevant stakeholders. This is expected to include:
Welsh Government officials.
WFA-CPC Board and member organisations.
Welsh non-sector and under-10 metre operators.
Relevant sector vessels and existing Producer Organisations.
Other relevant representatives of the Welsh seafood supply chain, where appropriate.
The contractor must ensure that stakeholder views are accurately reflected in the final report and that engagement considers the potential impacts on different fleet segments and coastal communities.
WFA-CPC advocacy and funding model
Assess how WFA-CPC can retain its independent representative and advocacy role under any preferred option.
This should include consideration of:
The separation or management of potential conflicts between quota-management responsibilities and industry representation.
The future role of Welsh Government support for WFA-CPC’s policy, engagement and advocacy activity.
Potential options for a more diverse and resilient income model.
Governance safeguards needed to protect the independence and credibility of WFA-CPC’s advocacy function.
All intellectual property rights in the deliverables produced under this contract shall vest in the WFA-CPC upon creation. The successful Contractor shall assign all relevant rights to the WFA-CPC and obtain all necessary permissions for the WFA-CPC to use, reproduce, adapt, publish, distribute and retain the deliverables without further charge. The Contractor may retain ownership of pre-existing materials and know-how, subject to granting the WFA-CPC a perpetual, royalty-free licence where these are incorporated into the deliverables.
Required Outputs
The successful contractor will provide:
An inception meeting and brief project plan, including methodology, timetable and stakeholder-engagement approach.
A concise interim update for WFA-CPC at an agreed point during delivery.
A final feasibility report setting out:
Evidence and stakeholder findings.
Options appraisal.
Recommended operating model.
Recommended governance and legal structure.
Financial and resource implications.
Risks and mitigations.
Outline transition and implementation roadmap.
Clear recommendations for WFA -CPC and Welsh Government.
A presentation and facilitated workshop for the WFA-CPC Board.
A presentation or workshop for the wider Welsh fishing industry and relevant stakeholders.
A short, accessible summary of findings suitable for circulation to industry stakeholders.
All written outputs must be supplied in editable Microsoft Word format and PDF. The contractor should use clear, accessible language and present findings in a format suitable for both policy-makers and industry participants.
Contract Period
The anticipated contract period is from 1st October 2026 to 31 March 2027, subject to funding approval.
The estimated consultant input is approximately 6–8 weeks, which may be delivered flexibly across the contract period to accommodate stakeholder engagement, meetings and reporting.
Budget
The available budget is expected to be in the region of £20,000 to £30,000.
Full inclusive of VAT and ALL other costs and expenditure
The tendered price should include all professional fees, travel, subsistence, stakeholder engagement, workshop delivery and report-production costs. Tenderers must clearly identify VAT and provide a full cost breakdown.
Tenderer Requirements
Tenderers should demonstrate:
Experience of fisheries management, fishing quota systems, Producer Organisations or related marine-policy arrangements.
Understanding of the Welsh fishing industry, including the under-10 metre and non-sector fleet.
Knowledge of the legal, regulatory and governance requirements relevant to fisheries Producer Organisations.
Experience of feasibility studies, options appraisals, governance reviews and implementation planning.
Experience of stakeholder engagement involving government, industry bodies, fishing businesses and coastal communities.
Ability to produce clear, practical and evidence-based recommendations.
Capacity to deliver the work within the stated timetable.
Consortia and partnerships are welcome, provided there is a clearly identified lead contractor and single point of accountability.
Tender Response Requirements
Tenderers should provide:
A brief description of their organisation and relevant expertise.
Examples of at least two comparable assignments completed within the last five years.
Proposed methodology, including how they will address each element of the scope.
Proposed timetable and key milestones.
Details of the proposed project team, roles, relevant experience and availability.
Proposed stakeholder-engagement approach.
Identification of key risks and assumptions.
A fixed-price cost proposal, including a breakdown of fees, travel, engagement and workshop costs.
Details of professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
Details of any actual or potential conflicts of interest.
Evaluation Criteria
Tenders may be evaluated using the following criteria:
Criterion
Weighting
Quality and suitability of proposed methodology
30%
Relevant fisheries, quota-management and PO experience
25%
Understanding of Welsh sector needs and stakeholder engagement approach
20%
Value for money and clarity of pricing
15%
Delivery capacity, timetable and risk management
10%
Key Conditions
The contract will be awarded subject to funding approval.
WFA reserves the right not to award a contract as a result of this procurement process.
All information and data supplied by WFA-CPC or stakeholders must be treated as confidential unless otherwise agreed in writing.
Ownership of reports, research materials and other project outputs will rest with WFA-CPC on completion of the contract.
The contractor must comply with applicable UK data-protection legislation when handling personal or stakeholder information.
The report should be available in Welsh.
Optional short portal summary
The Welsh Fishermen’s Association- Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr Cymru (WFA-CPC) is seeking a consultant to undertake a feasibility study into the establishment of a Welsh Fisheries Producer Organisation, or alternative formal quota-management model. The work will assess governance, legal and regulatory requirements, operating and funding models, transition arrangements, stakeholder support and the continuing advocacy role of WFA-CPC. The anticipated contract value is £20,000 to £30,000 fully inclusive of ALL costs, with delivery expected between October2026 and March 2027
Mae Cymdeithas Pysgotwyr Cymru – Welsh Fishermen’s Association (WFA-CPC) yn ceisio penodi ymgynghorydd i gynnal astudiaeth ddichonoldeb i sefydlu Sefydliad Cynhyrchwyr Pysgodfeydd Cymru, neu fodel ffurfiol amgen ar gyfer rheoli cwotâu.
Bydd y gwaith yn asesu trefniadau llywodraethu; gofynion cyfreithiol a rheoleiddiol; modelau gweithredu a chyllido; trefniadau pontio; cefnogaeth rhanddeiliaid; a rôl eiriolaeth barhaus WFA-CPC.
Disgwylir i werth y contract fod rhwng £20,000 a £30,000, yn gwbl gynhwysol o bob cost. Disgwylir i’r gwaith gael ei gyflawni rhwng Hydref 2026 a Mawrth 2027.
Submission of Tenders
Tenders should be submitted electronically by 12.00 noon. Monday 21st September 2026.
Tender submissions should be sent via Sell 2 Wales.
Any questions relating to this tender should be submitted to:
WFA-CPC’s Agent: The Fishing Animateurs
info@fishinganimateur.co.uk
Responses to material clarification questions may be made available to all potential tenderers to ensure a fair and transparent procurement process.
Indicative Procurement Timetable
Stage
Date
Tender published
4th September
Deadline for clarification questions
11th September
Responses to clarification questions
13th September
Tender submission deadline
21st September (12.00 noon)
Evaluation
22nd September
Preferred supplier notified
23rd September
Contract commencement
1st October
Project completion
31st March 2027
WFA-CPC reserves the right to amend this timetable where necessary.
The WFA-CPC We reserve the right not to accept the lowest, or any, tender.
(WA Ref:170094)
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