Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products

Tender description

The Farm Business Survey (FBS) is a long standing annual survey collecting data from a representative sample of all farm types in England. The FBS collects information on the financial, physical and environmental performance of farm businesses to inform and evaluate policy decisions. The FBS is intended to serve the needs of farmers, farming and land management interest groups, government, government partners and researchers. It currently also meets an obligation to supply data to the EU Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). This follows the PIN (PIN Reference 2016-041680 issued on 31.8.2016 (https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login,html?_ncp=1441867266908.34013-1). Defra is seeking to appoint a contractor to undertake the Farm Business Survey (FBS) in England. The FBS is an annual survey collecting detailed physical and financial data from the specified, stratified sample of representative “commercially viable” farm businesses in England. Participating farms are full-time or part-time commercial undertakings. Data collected by the contractor as part of the “core” FBS will cover all aspects of the farm business; both financial i.e. output value and costs relating to all farming enterprises; diversified activities; revenue from agricultural support and agri-environment schemes and physical as well as labour and geographical characteristics. The FBS methodology has been established over a number of years based on sound management accounting principles and in line with the requirements from the European Commission’s Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). The contractor will use data collected to construct a “Farm Account” (management account) for each farm comprising a profit and loss account, balance sheet and net worth reconciliation. Annual data will be required for 3 surveys, covering accounting periods 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21. The Contractor will be required to establish and maintain a survey sample large enough to deliver “complete” and validated records for farm businesses in England for each year of the contract. Defra reserves the right to exercise an option under the contract to require provision of additional services across 12 potential work streams as set out in the procurement documents. It should be noted that there is no guarantee of this further business and Defra is not obliged to exercise this option. Exercise of the option for additional services by Defra is dependent upon the successful contractor delivering the initial services under the Contract to Defra’s satisfaction, the availability of further capital funding and whether Defra considers that any or all of the additional services are necessary.