Farm Advisory Service One to Many & One to One

Tender description

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice is to inform the market of our intention to tender for the Provision of a Farm Advisory Service which will have 2 separate Lots. Lot 1 will be for FAS One to Many and Lot 2 will be for FAS One to One Lot 1: Farm Advisory Service One to Many The One to Many Farm Advisory Service will be a professional, modern, customer focussed advisory service that supports incremental and step-changes in the economic and environmental performance of farmers, crofters and land managers throughout Scotland. The service will offer structured support, through a period of change, whilst innovating and supporting future challenges, in particular the Scottish Government’s target for net-zero by 2045 and reduction of 75% of CO2 equivalent by 2030, as well as restoration and regeneration of biodiversity across the country by 2045. It will achieve this through provision of high quality advice, delivered by a range of media, tailored to a variety of customers, operating in collaboration with industry bodies, and supported by the Scottish Government’s policies related to the sector, including the promotion and communication of pertinent and topical themes and policies throughout the period of the contract. Ad hoc advice and support will be delivered as and when issues arise. The FAS will be delivered through two contracts; the One to Many; and One to One contract. Delivery will integrated through an advice line and administrative hub, with a shared helpdesk facility and website, so customers engaging with the programme should not perceive any split and be seamlessly directed to the most relevant service to meet their needs. Priorities: o supporting Scotland’s high quality food production; o producing food in a way that underpins delivery of the Scottish Government’s climate change and biodiversity targets; o fostering knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas; o enhancing the viability and competitiveness of agriculture, and promoting use of innovative farm systems, technologies and techniques; o sustainable forest management; o promoting food chain organisation, animal welfare and risk management in agriculture; o promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift toward a low-carbon and climate resilient economy in the agriculture, food and forestry sectors; and restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry. Lot 2: Farm Advisory Service One to One The One to One Farm Advisory Service will facilitate access to high quality one to one consultancy support. This will include advice to: improve biodiversity; increase awareness of habitat and carbon sequestration benefits of woodland planting; promote climate change adaptation and mitigation opportunities; improve business management and efficiency; encourage inclusivity by supporting new entrants and women in agriculture; and helping to support the industry and the Scottish Government’s policies related to the sector, in particular the Scottish Government’s target for net-zero by 2045 and reduction of 75% CO2 equivalent by 2030, and restoration and regeneration of biodiversity across the country by 2045. The FAS will be delivered through two contracts; the One to Many; and One to One contract. Delivery will integrated through an advice line and administrative hub, with a shared helpdesk facility and website, so customers engaging with the programme should not perceive any split and be seamlessly directed to the most relevant service to meet their needs. Priorities: o supporting Scotland’s high quality food production; o producing food in a way that underpins delivery of the Scottish Government’s climate change and biodiversity targets; o fostering knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas; o enhancing the viability and competitiveness of agriculture, and promoting use of innovative farm systems, technologies and techniques; o sustainable forest management; o promoting food chain organisation, animal welfare and risk management in agriculture; o promoting resource efficiency and supporting the shift toward a low-carbon and climate resilient economy in the agriculture, food and forestry sectors; and restoring, preserving and enhancing ecosystems related to agriculture and forestry.