Peat Sector Capacity RFI

Tender description

• Defra is developing plans for Peat Sector Capacity contract by initiating a Request for Information (RFI) on 29th November 2022. Dependant on feedback to the RFI, Defra may then issue an Invitation to Tender. • Interested parties are encouraged to submit a response directly to the email address listed with this RFI. Interested parties should clarify where information is commercially sensitive. Written submissions should be provided by no later than midday (12:00) 16th January 2023. Parties should not expect individual responses to written submissions. • Clarifications from the RFI will also be publicly broadcast unless interested parties can provide a commercial in confidence qualification (these submissions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis with Defra's decision on what constitutes 'commercially sensitive' as final). Defra cannot commit to answering all questions but will use best endeavours. • Thank you in anticipation of your engagement We need to develop an understanding of the size of the sector now, its current capacity to deliver, as well as the future capacity required to achieve these targets and how this growth can be achieved. There is also a need to understand green skills training routes into the peatland restoration sector, in order to meet future demands on the sector and to see the required expansion into the lowlands. Research is required to understand the makeup and capacity of the peat restoration sector in England and how it needs to change over time, considering both the Peat Partnerships that deliver the overall restoration projects and the contractor base that delivers the physical restoration. Work Package 1: Sector demographics and capacity Work Package 2: Barriers to increasing capacity for existing organisations and businesses involved in peat restoration Work Package 3: Barriers to new entrants Work Package 4: Skills gap analysis and future pipeline of skilled workers Work Package 5: Scoping lowland peat restoration training requirements Questions for response 1. Do you have expertise or experience in workforce analysis? 2. Can you undertake an analysis of demographics and size of a contractor base, and assess their need for growth? 3. Can you perform a skills-gap analysis and have the required expertise to recommend green skills training routes forward? 4. Do you have experience of working across the peatland restoration (or wider environmental restoration) sector, with respect in that sector? 5. Looking at the Context and draft Specification above do you have any thoughts or information you feel would be beneficial? The contact is Catherine at Catherine.Hacker@defra.gov.uk