1729 / ITT / SC Framework Agreement - Biochar as a Soil Amendment

Brief: The University of Nottingham (UoN) is conducting the most ambitious and comprehensive biochar demonstration programme to date involving arable fields, grass and woodland, contaminated land, and where soil erosion control is required. The programme, using over 200 tonnes of biochar, will address uncertainties regarding the extent and scope of deployment and its stability with respect to carbon sequestration, together with quantifying effects on ecosystem services. The framework will allow UoN to secure compliant supply chains and call off materials.

Tender Technical Specification: Starting in summer of 2022, UoN will be deploying 100-150 tonnes of biochar to arable lands across farms in the UK, for which we require biochar of EBC (European Biochar Certificate) Agro II specification. The biochar required must be suitable for application using agricultural spreaders with minimal dust production, which in practice means particle sizes of 1-5 mm. Over the following 3 years we may also require tonne quantities (1-10 tonnes) of biochar for smaller trials on an ad hoc basic, with the potential for larger quantities dependant on research demands. The biochar required must be produced from sustainable feedstocks, either virgin wood or sustainable organic by-products, and must have a minimal ash content and high carbon content. A low H/C content is required to ensure stability of carbon sequestration. Fossil carbon in the char must be negligible.

Implementation timetable: o Full specification of biochar submitted at tender stage, meeting EBC specification. o Production of initial quantities of up to 50 tonnes of Biochar, either delivered to sites across the UK, or available for collection from production sites within the UK or EU by a third-party delivery company in August 2022. o Up to 20 tonnes of biochar to be produced on request, at 4 weeks' notice. o Continued support and dialogue around any deviation from biochar to specification.

Additional information: TENDERERS MUST EXPRESS THEIR INTEREST THROUGH FIRST REGISTERING ON THE UNIVERSITYS E-TENDERING SYSTEM https://in-tendhost.co.uk/universityofnottingham/ Non-compliant expressions of interest (EOI) will not be considered or acknowledged. The university reserves the right to cancel the tender process at any stage. The University does not accept any liability for any costs incurred in tendering.

To EXPRESS INTEREST: Please first register on the eTendering system then Login and go to Tenders. Find the project scroll down to View Details and then scroll down to the Express Interest` button at the foot on the right hand side.

NOTE: To make sure you receive our email notifications. to ensure our emails reach your inbox please add our email domain @in-tend.co.uk to your safe senders list and check your spam filter settings.. Once you have registered, log-in and go to Current Tenders/view printable details, then expressed interest in the project. Once you have registered, expressed interest in the project AND your EOI will be accepted and an email will automatically be sent notifying you (to the inserted publish email address at point of registration) that it has been accepted and a second email notifying you that the documents have been published to your site under My Tenders. Internet Explorer (not Mozilla Firefox) should be used and pop ups must be allowed. All correspondence relating to this project should only be made through the e-Tendering web site. Click on CREATE NEW CORRESPONDENCE once you have logged on to the Web site and follow the instructions. Select send message via web option rather than by email option as this is received by the host company not directly to UoN. HELP?: Should you encounter any problems with using the Web site (including if you get locked out), contact the In-Tend Help Desk on 0844 272 8810 [email protected]

Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No