Evaluation of the NCEA Programme (2021-2025)

Concepts

• evaluation of the ncea programme
• research and development
• evaluation contract’s objectives
• overall aim of the evaluation
• evaluation purpose
• r&d programme
• programme management offices
• transformation programme
• ncea
• natural capital and ecosystem assessment

Location

United Kingdom:

Description

The Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) is a £140m R&D programme delivered over three years through two separate portfolios, terrestrial (tNCEA) and marine (mNCEA). It is a science, innovation and transformation programme, which spans across land and water environments, set up to collect data on the extent, condition and change over time of England’s ecosystems and natural capital, and the benefits to society. Together, these approaches provide a more holistic and joined-up view of our natural environment, enabling us to identify connections, dependencies, and trade-offs between policy ambitions and to make better-informed decisions that truly benefit people and nature. The evaluation contract’s objectives are to assess the relevance, effectiveness (including cost-effectiveness), outcomes and sustainability (i.e. integration into business as usual) of the NCEA. The evaluation will go beyond the monitoring of outputs (which will be led by the Programme Management Offices) to identify the mechanisms through which change takes place; and assess the likelihood of long-term effects being sustained through the adoption of a natural capital approach across business areas. It will provide an accountability function for a significant investment of public funds, and capture learning throughout the lifetime of the programme to shape programme delivery.

Total Quantity or Scope

The overall aim of the evaluation is to assess the relevance, performance (effectiveness and impact), value for money and sustainability of NCEA. The evaluation will go beyond programme delivery to identify the mechanisms of change; and assess the likelihood of long-term effects being sustained. This evaluation will play a critical role in understanding the early benefits of NCEA, as well as helping to shape and improve delivery of the programme. It will also inform future funding decisions for natural capital and ecosystem assessment work. 2.2 Evaluation purpose and use The evaluation has two distinct purposes: • Accountability: NCEA is a significant investment of public funds in this Spending Review period (over £140m from 22/34 through to 24/25). This evaluation will provide accountability to HMT for the funds. • Learning: NCEA is designed to be a transformational programme, meaning that it will change the way data is captured, integrated, and communicated. The evaluation will be a learning tool for use during the remaining period of the programme and beyond, as well as generating evidence that may be applicable to other data programmes in Defra or beyond.

Renewal Options

12 Month extension option

Award Criteria

CPV Codes

• 73200000 - Research and development consultancy services

Indicators

• This is a one-off contract (no recurrence)
• Options are available.
• Renewals are not available.

Other Information

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. **