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Published 7 Aug 2025, 11:52 BST

Official UK procurement notice

Advanced Technologies for Autonomous Health and Welfare Monitoring in Aquaculture

Official notice

Authority: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Central government)

ServicesOpen procedureAbove thresholdSME suitableVCSE suitable
Sectors: Research & Development (R&D) (73) Delivery: UK
Published estimate£450,000≈ £142k / year · £540,000 inc. VAT · 1 value update
Submissions closed 17 Dec 2025
Next notice expected 13 Oct 2025
Contract term 3 yrs 2 moends 31 Mar 2029 · up to 30 Sept 2029 with extensions · starts 22 Jan 2026

What is being bought

Published requirement description

Defra wishes to undertake research to develop a proof-of-concept advanced technology that allows for continuous monitoring of welfare in commercial production systems, focussing on both Atlantic salmon (essential) and rainbow trout (desirable).

The procurement documents are available for unrestricted and full direct access, free of charge, at defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome ↗

Tenders or requests to participate must be submitted electronically via defra-family.force.com/s/Welcome ↗

CPV: Research and development consultancy services

The lotProcurement structure

single lot · value published
Lot #1Renewal 3 yrs 2 moSMEVCSEPublished value£450,000
Contract period: 22 Jan 2026 – 31 Mar 2029 (3 yrs 2 mo) · up to 30 Sept 2029 with extensionsValue: £450,000 exc. VAT · £540,000 inc. VAT
Delivery: UKEligibility: SME eligibleVCSE eligible
Extensions: Potential no cost 6 month extension
Pre-qualification & selection criteria (PQQ)1
  • Economic & financial standing

    See tender documentation

What it takes to win
i

How this buyer will score bids.

The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).

Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add more
How bids were scored
Quality: 60%Price: 30%Social value: 10%
Published sub-criteria (3)
  • Technical: 60%
  • Commercial: 30%
  • Social Value: 10%
Published award criteria (3)
  • Technical: Sub criterion
  • Social Value: Sub criterion
  • Commercial: Fixed price
Conditions of participation1
  • Economic & financial standing

    See tender documentation

What this means for your bid
  • Price carries 30 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.

Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.

Procedure terms & legal framework

From the official record
Procedure method
Open procedure
Legal basis
UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
Procurement category
Services
Notice status
Closed
Procurement threshold
Above threshold (FTS publication)
Regulatory regime
Standard
Commercial structure
Stand-alone contract (no framework)
Competition type
Competitive procedure
GPA / WTO covered
Unspecified in notice
Recurring procurement
Unspecified in notice
First published
7 Aug 2025, 11:52 BST
Last source update
18 Nov 2025, 16:52 GMT
Award evaluation window
Submission end – 15 Jan 2026
FTS notice number
2025/S 000-074958
Latest notice
Tender notice (UK4)
Classification (CPV)
Research and development consultancy services
Delivery area
UK
Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-05833b Find a Tender

How it was run

Official notice
Run through: Defra Group eSourcing
Supplier login requiredElectronic submission allowedLanguage: EN
Access & registration note: Free
Submission deadline
17 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
Clarification deadline
5 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
Submission channel
Official e-sourcing portal
Electronic submission
Allowed
Accepted languages
en
Detailed submission instructions & authority contactsFrom official release

Timeline

7 Aug 2025 → 22 Jan 2026 · 8 dates
  1. Planning notice published
    7 Aug 2025, 11:52 BST
  2. Market engagement
    21 Aug 2025, 23:59 BST

    Defra is seeking to gather expressions of interest from interested suppliers that may be able to deliver a potential proof-of-concept research requirement. The project would aim to deliver a proof-of-concept output, aligned with recent advances in emerging technologies such as, but not limited to, artificial intelligence, to progress key stages in the development of an operational tool for autonomous monitoring of health and welfare within aquaculture, focusing on Atlantic Salmon and Rainbow Trout. Interested suppliers are asked to register their interest by completing the following form: forms.cloud.microsoft/e/w3ZCJhUSa2 ↗ This should be completed and submitted no later than 17:00 on 05/09/2025. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

  3. Next notice expected380 days ago
    13 Oct 2025, 23:59 BST
  4. Tender notice published344 days ago
    18 Nov 2025, 16:52 GMT
  5. Clarification questions by328 days ago
    5 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
  6. Submission deadline316 days ago
    17 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
  7. Award decision expected by286 days ago
    15 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
  8. Contract starts280 days ago
    22 Jan 2026

Notice history

7 events · 3 releases on Find a Tender · since 7 Aug 2025
  1. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    7 Aug 2025, 11:52 BST
    UK2
  2. Preliminary market engagement notice published
    20 Aug 2025, 09:24 BST
    UK2
  3. Tender notice published
    18 Nov 2025, 16:52 GMT
    UK4
  4. Published value published: £450,000
    18 Nov 2025, 16:52 GMT
  5. Status changed to active
    18 Nov 2025, 16:52 GMT
  6. Procurement method changed
    18 Nov 2025, 16:52 GMT
  7. Deadline published: 17 Dec 2025, 12:00 GMT
    18 Nov 2025, 16:52 GMT
Published amendments (1)

Extension to the expression of interest deadline. New deadline 05/09/2025 at 17:00

Contracting authority & participating public bodies

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Contracting authorityPublic authority - central government GB-PPON: PNBD-3289-CDGX Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, London, SW1P 4DFContact name, email

Official documents & specifications (3)

Official links; attachments are not copied

Notices published for this procedure