Data Capture Services for Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine AIM Division

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the Office of State responsible for compiling and maintaining the census for Sheep, Goats, Pigs and Equine on an annual basis. Our vision is of an innovative and sustainable agri-food sector operating to the highest standards. Our mission is to serve the government and people of Ireland by leading, developing and regulating the agri-food sector, protecting public health and optimising social, economic and environmental benefits. Our strategic Goals: • to promote and safeguard public, animal and plant health and animal welfare for the benefit of consumers producers and wider society • provide income and market supports to underpin the rural economy and the environment • provide the optimum policy framework for the sustainable development of the agri-food sector • deliver a sustainable, growth driven sector focused on competitiveness and innovation driven by a skilled workforce delivering value added products in line with market demands • maintain and develop strategic, operational, regulatory and technical capacity to achieve operational excellence Our Services • we formulate national and EU policies to support the strategic development of the agri- food sector • we regulate the sector to ensure it operates to the highest standards • we design schemes and deliver supports for the sector, in collaboration with stakeholders • we seek to be innovative and adaptive in the delivery of our services The agriculture, food manufacturing and marine sectors in Ireland account for: • 7.5% of GNI in 2018 • 7.1% of employment in 2019 • 9.5% of total merchandising exports and 11.2% of total merchandising imports in 2019 The Irish Government's commitment to the agri-food sector remains strong. In the Estimate for 2020, the Exchequer is providing €1.6 billion for Programme Expenditure for agriculture, fisheries and food. Total public expenditure will amount to over €3 billion when the department's Vote is combined with EU funding of €1.5 billion. Further information on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is available from our website https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/ 2. Background The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine ( AIM DIVISION) is running an annual census for sheep, goats, equine and pigs. The schedule of requirements provided here is on an estimated basis. It is subject to change, including the timelines, quantities and job types. Annual Sheep, Goat, Equine and Pig Census It is vital that the services sought in an upcoming Request for Tender are delivered within the specified timelines. Pig Census will be in October - up to 3,000 returns – 4 weeks to capture. Equine Census will be in November – up to 30,000 – 8 weeks to capture. Sheep and Goat Census will be in December- up to 28,000 – 8 weeks to capture. Post will be delivered on a daily basis and the Department will require weekly updates on the progress. The herd keeper may complete a hardcopy of the census and return it by post using the Envelope supplied to the postal address provided by the successful Tenderer (subject to change). Alternatively, Herd keepers are afforded the opportunity to submit the census electronically. Where the census is completed online the successful Tenderer will have no further role with this return. The Department envisages that the online submission facility will result in a return of approx. 20% online returns of each of the volumes stated in this RFT giving an estimated number of hard copy returns of: Sheep & Goats:30,000 Pigs: 2,500 Equine: 15,000 These hardcopy returns will require individual scanning and data extraction by the successful Tenderer in a forthcoming RFT.