AHDB Horticultural Levy Support

Tender description

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.