Priority Habitat Management Pilot

Concepts

• cardiff
• research and development
• welsh government
• pilot research project
• environmental land-management
• aim of the pilot
• pilot project
• current conventional land-management schemes
• priority grassland habitat
• pilot

Location

Wales:

Description

Welsh Government have commissioned a project to deliver and manage an environmental land-management based pilot research project. The pilot is targeted at specific grassland priority grassland habitat types that are under threat. These are listed as ‘of principal importance to Wales’ at Section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016: Unimproved Lowland Neutral Grassland. The aim of the pilot is to bring this priority grassland habitat into optimum condition over the next five years. The pilot will be utilising newly-designed outcome based methodology to assess habitat condition in ecological terms and reward participants accordingly (Results-based Agricultural Payment Scheme (RBAPS). This methodology and newly developed technical assessment process has been specifically designed and developed by RSK ADAS Ltd. This novel outcome based methodology approach is different to current conventional land-management schemes that pay farmers to deliver specific prescriptions on an income forgone principle. The outcome of the project is to support the Section 6 of the Environment Act (public authorities’ duty to maintain & enhance biodiversity & resilience of ecosystems) & inform development of our post-Brexit farming support mechanism: Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), by Land Management Reform Unit. One of the key actions proposed in the new SFS is support for management of priority habitats, and this pilot project can provide a baseline mechanism for delivery of that action. The results will also make a contribution to support the Programme for Government “creating a new system of farm support that will maximize the protected power of nature through farming”.

Total Quantity or Scope

The pilot will be utilising newly-designed outcome based methodology to assess habitat condition in ecological terms and reward participants accordingly (Results-based Agricultural Payment Scheme (RBAPS))

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

Legal Justification

This contract has been awarded without prior publication in the FTS / OJEU as it can be met compliantly by relying on Regulation 32(2)(b)(iii) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015: RSK ADAS holds the exclusive rights of the unique methodology developed specifically for Welsh conditions as well as holding the intellectual property rights of the complex calculations to work the methodology. No reasonable alternative or substitute exists for this, as it is an outcome-based technical methodology which incorporates comprehensive and expert knowledge of the project area and local networks.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** (WA Ref:119849)