Scottish Government Centres of Expertise x 4 Lots

The Scottish Government has a requirement to place 4 separate, lotted contracts with external service providers for the following services: - Lot 1. Centre of Expertise on Climate Change Lot 2.

Centre of Expertise on Animal Disease Outbreaks Lot 3. Centre of Expertise on Nature, Water and Environment Lot 4.

Centre of Expertise on Plant Health Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division (RESAS) is commissioning a new Centre of Expertise on Nature, Environment and Water.

The objective is to brigade the best available expertise on nature restoration, environmental quality and protection and the management of water from across Scotland and the wider UK into a virtual centre, to simplify access to scientific advice and evidence by policy colleagues and their delivery partners, and to enhance synergy of effort and stimulate innovative thinking in support of these areas. The Centre’s purpose is to: - Deliver timely and high-quality advice and research-based evidence on nature restoration, environmental quality and protection and the management of water to the Scottish Government and its delivery partners. - Stimulate innovative thinking in support of policy development and implementation in the research area. - Enhance the coordination of research, analysis and interpretation across the subject areas, leading to high quality research and policy-relevant outputs. - Deliver an effective programme of knowledge exchange and communication with Scottish Government and its stakeholders.

Additional information: Price Quality Ratio = Quality 80%: Price 20% Total Value of Lot 3 across 3 + 2 year duration: 7048120 GBP Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) Division is recommissioning a Centre of Expertise on Plant Health.

This is required to bring the best available plant health expertise relevant to Scotland’s crops, horticulture, forestry, and natural environment into a virtual centre, to coordinate access, by policy colleagues and the Chief Plant Health Officer, to expertise, to enhance synergy of effort and to stimulate innovative thinking in support of plant health policy. This includes: - Horizon scanning to identify potential future threats and evidence needs, advising on implications for pest and disease prevention.

Enhancing Scotland’s capacity and capability to respond to emerging threats. - Strengthening resilience and emergency response plans and contributing to improved surveillance and detection to ensure robust contingency measures are operational across sectors. Providing scientific evidence to support policy decisions on outbreak management, including strategies to minimise impact where eradication is not viable. - Delivering timely and accurate research-based evidence on the mitigation of plant health risks, including management strategies, improved biosecurity, and an understanding of how new technologies and innovations can be used to help address these threats, to policy divisions, delivery agencies, and wider stakeholders. - Reducing the plant pest and disease risks associated with the movements of plants, trade, and people. Additional information: Price Quality Ratio = Quality 80%: Price 20% Total Value of Lot 4 across 3 + 2 year duration: 3569000 GBP