AHDB Horticultural Levy Support Services

AHDB require independent economic and financial expertise to support and advise AHDB in achieving its objectives outlined below. The Horticulture sector is much more heterogeneous than the other sectors with a much greater variety of crops, and supply chain models than other sectors. Various options are currently being reviewed by AHDB with grower input including a revised formula calculation and an area based payment. AHDB require the successful bidder to develop these options through undertaking the following activity: a) work with AHDB Finance team to review the alternative calculation mechanism(s) b) Peer review the work carried out by the AHDB finance team and propose any amendments or alternatives which might improve the options. c) Agree the options to be tested with AHDB d) Interview a broadly typical sample of levy payers from each of the 6 groups, seeking their views on the pros and cons of the different possible levy mechanisms e) Calculate (where possible) indicative differences between the amount of levy paid under different mechanisms f) Include the outputs of the review in a final report recommending the strongest mechanism options for each of the different panels. Support Defra and AHDB in implementing accepted recommendations from the review in revised text for the Statutory Instrument.

Throughout the delivery of the activity identified within the scope AHDB require the successful supplier to facilitate confidence in this exercise achieving independent views. In undertaking this work, the successful supplier may draw upon the work already carried out and any other sources they wish e.g. overseas horticulture levy collection mechanisms. AHDB are open to proposals on the exact methodology of seeking growers views. AHDB require the successful supplier to rely upon their well-developed network of contacts in the horticulture industry and not be reliant on AHDB introductions. The successful supplier is expected to draw upon their expertise in the different horticultural crops to be able to propose a methodology that ensures good coverage of the crop panels.

Additional information: Suppliers Instructions How to Express Interest in this Tender and respond to the opportunity: 1. Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once) - Browse to the eSourcing Portal: https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk and click the link to register - Accept the terms and conditions and click 'continue' - Enter your correct business and user details - Note the username you chose and click 'Save' when complete - You will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure) 2. Express an Interest in the tender - Login to the portal with the username/password - Click the ITTs Open To All Suppliers' link. (These Invitations to Tender open to any registered supplier) - Click on the relevant ITT to access the content. - Click the 'Express Interest' button at the top of the page. - This will move the ITT into your 'My ITTs' page. (This is a secure area reserved for your projects only) -You can now access any attachments by clicking 'Buyer Attachments' in the 'ITT Details' box 3. Responding to the tender - Click 'My Response' under 'ITT Details', you can choose to 'Create Response' or to 'Decline to Respond' (please give a reason if declining) - You can now use the 'Messages' function to communicate with the buyer and seek any clarification - Note the deadline for completion, then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the ITT - There may be a mixture of online and offline actions for you to perform (there is detailed online help available) You must then submit your reply using the 'Submit Response' button at the top of the page. If you require any further assistance please consult the online help.