The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is looking for tenderers to submit bids for a contract to support and build the evidence base for the Nature for Climate Fund Tree Planting Programme worth an estimated £1.5 million.

The overall aim is to demonstrate the Programme’s impact in the following outcome areas:

a. Carbon sequestration

b. Biodiversity

c. Flood mitigation

d. Water quality

e. Air quality

The development of indicators will be used to demonstrate the short-term changes caused by the Tree Planting Programme up to 2025, and address evidence gaps in the Programme Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Framework.

Defra said it welcomes proposals from a consortium of organisations bringing together several institutions including commercial, academia, and / or subject matter experts.

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement. Anticipated start date for the contract is 3 July 2023 with an end date of 3 October 2024.

Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 26 April 2023 – click here to access the tender documentation.