Official UK procurement notice
National Co-ordinator & Delivery Lead for a Badger Vaccination Field Force
Authority: DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS (Central government)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionThe Authority (Defra) requires an organisation to co-ordinate and deliver badger Vaccination Services in the High Risk and Edge Areas of England. Vaccination Services will be required within specific bTB “Clusters”, to be determined by epidemiological experts from Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
- How the procedure runs: This procurement is being conducted as a Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Completion and submission of all documents will be conducted via the Authority’s eSourcing system. As detailed in 'Part 2 Procurement Specific Requirements' of the Bidder Pack, following Evaluation Stages 1 - 5, the Authority reserves the right to re-issue the technical evaluation questions, pricing schedule, or any part thereof to the two highest scoring bidders, or any other bidder that has scored within 3% (total score) of the highest scoring bidder, for a Best and Final Offer (BAFO). This will allow bidders to incorporate any feedback from Evaluation Stages 3 and / or 4 of the evaluation. Evaluations and scoring of any reissued elements will be undertaken in line with the instructions for Evaluation Stages 3 and / or 4 (dependent on the re-issued elements) (as detailed in Appendix 6 and Appendix 7), unless otherwise advised by the Authority. If the Authority deems any amendment to the evaluation methodology to be significant, additional time may be allowed for responses – this will be at the Authority’s sole discretion. Please note that all relevant bidders will be invited to submit improved responses on the same items. Bidders will have ten (10) calendar days to review, revise and resubmit their bid via Atamis. There will be a period of five (5) calendar days for clarification questions. The exact dates of these periods and deadlines for submission will be shared with the relevant bidders. ! IMPORTANT ! – This is an optional stage for the Authority to ensure that the Most Advantageous Tender is selected, that the requirement has been fully understood, and that bidders are provided a fair chance to compete where the Authority does not feel ready to award after Evaluation Stage 5. Bidders should submit their best possible tender and price in the first instance, as it is not guaranteed that this stage will be used.
CPV: Animal husbandry services
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1AwardedRenewalPublished value£15,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
As set out in the Bidder Pack.
- Technical & professional ability
As set out in the Bidder Pack.
What it takes to wini
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 morei
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).
Published sub-criteria (2)
- Technical: 60%
- Commercial: 40%
Published award criteria (2)
- Technical
- Commercial
- Economic & financial standing
As set out in the Bidder Pack.
- Technical & professional ability
As set out in the Bidder Pack.
- Price carries 40 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 4 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
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Services
- Notice status
- Awarded
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Standard
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 22 Apr 2025, 11:56 BST
- Last source update
- 15 Oct 2026, 17:14 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 26 Jan 2026
- Authority reference
C33378- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-060883- Latest notice
- Contract details notice (UK7)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Not published
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-050585Find a Tender
- How it runs
This procurement is being conducted as a Competitive Flexible Procedure in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Completion and submission of all documents will be conducted via the Authority’s eSourcing system.
As detailed in 'Part 2 Procurement Specific Requirements' of the Bidder Pack, following Evaluation Stages 1 - 5, the Authority reserves the right to re-issue the technical evaluation questions, pricing schedule, or any part thereof to the two highest scoring bidders, or any other bidder that has scored within 3% (total score) of the highest scoring bidder, for a Best and Final Offer (BAFO). This will allow bidders to incorporate any feedback from Evaluation Stages 3 and / or 4 of the evaluation.
Evaluations and scoring of any reissued elements will be undertaken in line with the instructions for Evaluation Stages 3 and / or 4 (dependent on the re-issued elements) (as detailed in Appendix 6 and Appendix 7), unless otherwise advised by the Authority. If the Authority deems any amendment to the evaluation methodology to be significant, additional time may be allowed for responses – this will be at the Authority’s sole discretion.
Please note that all relevant bidders will be invited to submit improved responses on the same items. Bidders will have ten (10) calendar days to review, revise and resubmit their bid via Atamis. There will be a period of five (5) calendar days for clarification questions. The exact dates of these periods and deadlines for submission will be shared with the relevant bidders.
! IMPORTANT ! – This is an optional stage for the Authority to ensure that the Most Advantageous Tender is selected, that the requirement has been fully understood, and that bidders are provided a fair chance to compete where the Authority does not feel ready to award after Evaluation Stage 5. Bidders should submit their best possible tender and price in the first instance, as it is not guaranteed that this stage will be used.
- Risks
- At the time of tender publication, specific Project Areas (locations) for year 1 have not been finalised due to ongoing epidemiological assessments. This may result in changes to deployment areas, travel requirements, and logistical planning once the contract is awarded. This known risk will exist throughout the contract term, as the rate and spread of bTB may result in the need to change deployment areas, travel requirements, and logistical planning. This includes the need for different and / or additional geographic areas, increased frequency of operations and / or enhanced reporting requirements.
- Badger population movement or density changes may affect the feasibility of planned vaccination operations, necessitating changes to deployment areas or schedules.
- Additional funding may become available during the contract term. While the initial scope is defined, there is a foreseeable possibility that further budget may be allocated to expand service delivery. This may include additional geographic areas, increased frequency of operations and/or enhanced reporting requirements.
How it was run
Official notice- Submission deadline
- 10 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Clarification deadline
- 29 Oct 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Submissions must be made via the Authority's eSourcing platform.
Timeline
22 Apr 2025 → 15 Oct 2026 · 11 dates- Planning notice published22 Apr 2025, 11:56 BST
- Market engagement13 May 2025, 23:59 BST
As part of the Government's Bovine TB Strategy, pre-procurement activity has started on Defra's requirement for one (or more) organisation(s) to co-ordinate and deliver badger vaccination services within defined 'Project Areas' with high levels of bovine TB in the High Risk and Edge areas of England. Further information (in the form of a slide pack) is available from Melanie Swain (Defra Group Commercial) ([email protected]), along with a set of questions for potential suppliers. Responses to the slide pack and questions will help inform the Procurement Strategy and Bidder Pack. Defra reserves the right to follow up with suppliers on a 1:1 basis to further understand their capabilities with regard to this requirement (with publication of any new information that arises).
- Next notice expected3 Sept 2025, 23:59 BST
- Tender notice published385 days ago30 Sept 2025, 13:37 BST
- Clarification questions by356 days ago29 Oct 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Submission deadline344 days ago10 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT
- Award decision expected by266 days ago26 Jan 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts253 days ago9 Feb 2026
- Assessment summaries sent238 days ago24 Feb 2026
- Standstill ends228 days ago5 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Latest notice published5 days ago15 Oct 2026, 17:14 BST
Notice history
14 events · 6 releases on Find a Tender · since 22 Apr 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published22 Apr 2025, 11:56 BSTUK2
- Pipeline notice published29 May 2025, 14:38 BSTUK1
- Published value published: £10,000,00029 May 2025, 14:38 BST
- Status changed to planned29 May 2025, 14:38 BST
- Tender notice published30 Sept 2025, 13:37 BSTUK4
- Published value updated to £15,000,00030 Sept 2025, 13:37 BSTwas £10,000,000
- Status changed to active30 Sept 2025, 13:37 BST
- Procurement method changed30 Sept 2025, 13:37 BST
- Deadline published: 10 Nov 2025, 12:00 GMT30 Sept 2025, 13:37 BST
- Contract award notice published24 Feb 2026, 15:24 GMTUK6
- Status changed to complete24 Feb 2026, 15:24 GMT
- Contract signature expected7 Mar 2026, 23:59 GMTscheduled
- Contract details notice published10 Mar 2026, 15:53 GMTUK7
- Contract details notice published15 Oct 2026, 17:14 BSTUK7
Routine re-releases (6)
- 2025-09: 1 release · 30 Sept 2025
- 2025-05: 1 release · 29 May 2025
- 2025-04: 1 release · 22 Apr 2025
Commercial outcome & contract awards
Published awards, contracts and bid statistics, not a forecast| Awarded to | Value | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmcare Solutions LimitedSME9 Mar 2026 – 8 Mar 2030 · up to 8 Mar 2032Extensions: Up to twenty-four (24) months. | £15,158,014same award published again · counted once | 23 Feb 2026standstill to 5 Mar 2026 | Standstill |
| Farmcare Solutions LimitedSME | £15,158,014 † | — | Awarded |
Contracts
National Co-ordinator & Delivery Lead for a Badger Vaccination Field Force · Farmcare Solutions LimitedSME
- Signed
- 6 Mar 2026
- Value
- £15,158,014
- Period
- 9 Mar 2026 – 8 Mar 2030 · up to 8 Mar 2032 with extensions
- Status
- active
- Extensions
- Up to twenty-four (24) months.
- Change Redacted contract attached.
6 agreed KPIs: KPI 3: Vaccination Services Delivery (B) · KPI 1: Land access and sign up for Vaccination Services · KPI 2: Vaccination Services Delivery (A) …
- KPI 3: Vaccination Services Delivery (B), The Supplier will carry out badger vaccination as part of the Vaccination Services and the numbers will be recorded on a km² basis. Year 1 of the Vaccination Services = a minimum of 2 badgers per km². Year 2 of the Vaccination Services = a minimum of 3 badgers per km². Years 3 onwards of the Vaccination Services = a minimum of 3.5 badgers per km².
- KPI 1: Land access and sign up for Vaccination Services, The Supplier will gain land-access agreements & appropriate licenses within the given Project Areas. Year 1 of the Vaccination Services = a minimum of 30% of each Project Area. Year 2 onwards of the Vaccination Services = a minimum of 70% of each Project Area.
- KPI 2: Vaccination Services Delivery (A), The Supplier will ensure that all preparatory activities required as part of the Vaccination Services are completed to a high standard and in line with the agreed Work Programme, using professional judgment to apply indicative guidance appropriately. % of preparatory Vaccination Services activities completed within agreed timescales, with documented rationale for any deviations from indicative guidance.
- KPI 3: Vaccination Services Delivery (B), The Supplier will carry out badger vaccination as part of the Vaccination Services and the numbers will be recorded on a km² basis. Year 1 of the Vaccination Services = a minimum of 2 badgers per km². Year 2 of the Vaccination Services = a minimum of 3 badgers per km². Years 3 onwards of the Vaccination Services = a minimum of 3.5 badgers per km².
- KPI 1: Land access and sign up for Vaccination Services, The Supplier will gain land-access agreements & appropriate licenses within the given Project Areas. Year 1 of the Vaccination Services = a minimum of 30% of each Project Area. Year 2 onwards of the Vaccination Services = a minimum of 70% of each Project Area.
- KPI 2: Vaccination Services Delivery (A), The Supplier will ensure that all preparatory activities required as part of the Vaccination Services are completed to a high standard and in line with the agreed Work Programme, using professional judgment to apply indicative guidance appropriately. % of preparatory Vaccination Services activities completed within agreed timescales, with documented rationale for any deviations from indicative guidance.
Bid statistics published by the authority
| Bids | SME | VCSE | Valid bid range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1final-stage tenders · 2 at stage one | 1 | 0 | — |
Who bid
- wonFarmcare Solutions LtdSME · West Midlands
Bidders as named on the Procurement Act 2023 award notice. “Won” means the bidder holds an award on this notice.
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Bidders & participating suppliers
1 commercial party on the notice- Farmcare Solutions LtdAwarded supplier
Official documents & specifications (7)
Official links; attachments are not copiedTender pack and attachments
Notices published for this procedure
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract details notice Contract details notice on Find a Tender
- Contract award notice Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Pipeline notice Pipeline notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender