REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ)
Project Title: AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT VALIDATION PROJECT
Start Date:
September 2015
Finish Date:
December 2015
INFORMATION
A. The Rural Industries R&D Corporation (RIRDC) is seeking Quotations for the above project.
B. Each respondent to the RFQ is expected to:
i.
Be fully informed of all aspects of the work required to be performed;
ii.
Submit a Quotation in accordance with RFQ Schedule 1 – Statement of Requirement; and
iii.
Submit a Quotation on the template provided at RFQ Schedule 2 – Quotation.
C. Each respondent, by submitting a Quotation, agrees that the Quotation is subject to the RFQ
Schedule 3 – Provider Agreement and agrees to comply with the conditions of the Agreement.
The Respondent agrees that RIRDC may accept or decline to accept the Respondent’s Quotation
in its discretion. No commitments or contract exists until a contract in the form of the Provider
Agreement is executed by both parties. The Respondent agrees that RIRDC is not required to
enter into any contract in connection with the RFQ.
The Respondent agrees that participation in any stage of the RFQ process is at the Respondent’s
sole risk and cost.
D. Acceptance of a Quotation will occur only when an Agreement is issued or a contract is
executed.
E. RIRDC, at its discretion, may discontinue this RFQ, decline to accept any Quotation, decline to
issue any contract or satisfy its requirement separately from this RFQ process.
Rural Industries R&D Corporation
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RFQ: Agricultural Product Validation Project
RFQ Schedule 1 – Statement of Requirement
KEY DATES AND DETAILS
29th August 2015
17:00 hours, Friday 18th September 2015 Canberra Local Time
The Services are required to commence as soon as possible.
RIRDC believes that the project should be completed by the
end of the calendar year.
If a longer timeframe is required, the Tenderer should explain
why that is the case.
For all matters relating to this RFQ, the RIRDC Contact Officer
will be:
Simon Winter
External Research Manager
0419 720 700
[email protected]
Quotations should be lodged with Simon Winter at
[email protected] by the closing time and date specified
above.
Issue of RFQ
Closing Time
When Services are required
Contact Officer
Lodgement method
THE SERVICES
RIRDC is seeking Quotations for Agricultural Product Validation Project.
Terms of Reference
Background
There is currently strong and growing interest in establishing a national
brand to underpin the provenance and authenticity of Australian
agricultural products, especially in overseas markets. However, a brand
or logo, by itself will do little to guarantee quality or assure consumers
that they are getting what they want. There are various views on the
components of a successful brand but, in terms of a national brand
(from a supply-side perspective), there are three major components
that need to be considered:
1. Positioning – how do you want consumers to perceive the brand
and the products? What is the story that the brand is trying to
convey?
2. Product assurance – how do we know that all parties of the supply
chain have contributed what is needed to deliver the promise the
brand is making?
3. Validation – how can we demonstrate that the product is what it is
claimed to be?
In relation to the current consideration of a national brand being
developed to underpin exports of a broad range of agricultural
products, a significant amount of work has already been undertaken to
address some of these components. The positioning is building on
Australia’s ‘clean, green’ image of safe and wholesome products
produced in rural surroundings. This is all underpinned by regulatory
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RFQ: Agricultural Product Validation Project
and industry-based systems that ensure products are produced and
processed in a safe environment that maintains high standards
(assuring quality) and, to some extent, identify what the product is.
However, it is currently impossible to validate the authenticity of most
agricultural products. This is particularly true for exported products,
especially in relation to:




The region of origin
The specifications of the primary product
The supply chain the product has passed through
The standards of handling and processing
Without the necessary systems in place to address these issues, there
will always be a risk that the brand value will be undermined.
Project requirements
The term ‘traceability’ has been used within various sectors of
agriculture for many years in relation to demonstrating the course,
development or history of a product for a range of reasons such as
market access and biosecurity. It is a production-driven, backward
looking term. As an alternative to this in relation to underpinning a
national brand for Australian agriculture, the term ‘validation’ is
proposed as it indicates substantiation or confirmation of relevant
attributes. It is a consumer-focused, forward looking term. It also
offers a point of differentiation from previous traceability work.
Current traceability programs could actually be incorporated as subsets
of the validation system.
In support of the development of a national branding system for
Australian agricultural products, RIRDC is seeking to engage
appropriately qualified and experienced expertise to deliver the
following:
1. To work with the eight largest agricultural exporting sectors to
determine the validation needs for each of these sectors in terms
of what their customer’s needs and the major supply chain risks to
those sectors.
2. To undertake a global scan and assess systems that are currently
available that can be used to underpin a national brand for
agricultural products that will:
a. Provide validation of an agricultural product throughout
the whole supply chain in terms of:
i. The region of origin of the primary product
ii. The specifications of the primary product from
which it came
iii. The sectors of the supply chain through which it
passed
iv. The standards of processing and handling that the
product was subjected to through the supply chain.
b. Assure the customer that the product is what it is claimed
to be.
c. Minimise the risks of products being substituted or
incorrectly identified throughout the supply chain,
particularly into export markets.
3. To identify a preferred option through a robust assessment of the
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RFQ: Agricultural Product Validation Project
different systems, including assessment of the costs and benefits.
Key deliverables
It is anticipated that this project will largely be a desktop exercise, with
stakeholder engagement required in relation to clarifying the scope of
work, engaging with potential suppliers and in presenting results.
The successful tenderer will be required to provide a detailed
assessment and a summary report that can be used by stakeholders to
identify preferred options for the adoption of a system to validate
agricultural products branded with a national brand. A presentation of
results to stakeholders will also be required.
Rural Industries R&D Corporation
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RFQ: Agricultural Product Validation Project
RFQ Schedule 2 – Quotation [To be completed by Respondent]
Respondent’s Details
ACN/ARBN (if applicable
ABN (if applicable)
Respondent’s Contact Officer – For all matters relating to this RFQ
Name
Position / Title
Telephone
Mobile
Email
Respondent’s Contract Manager
Provide details of the person who is the respondent’s proposed Contract Manager, responsible for
general liaison and accepting and issuing any written notices under the contract, if a contract is
awarded.
Name
Position / Title
Telephone
Mobile
Email
Postal Address
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RFQ: Agricultural Product Validation Project
Respondent’s Quotation
1. Project Details
Project Objectives
Please provide the objectives for your project
Project Summary
Please provide a detailed summary of your project
Detailed Project Method
Describe how you will meet RIRDC’s requirements as set out in Schedule 1 – Statement of
Requirement
2. Project Team
Proven Capacity
Provide evidence of respondent’s skills and experience in providing the Services
Principal Researcher
Provide details of the principal researcher working on this project. Include name, telephone
number, email address and organisation
Other Researchers / Subcontractors
Provide details of all other participants in this project. Include names, telephone numbers, email
addresses and organisations
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RFQ: Agricultural Product Validation Project
3. Intellectual Property
Background Intellectual Property to be used in this project
Identify any Intellectual Property to be used in this project
Project Intellectual Property
Describe the Intellectual Property, if any, that will be produced from this project
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RFQ: Agricultural Product Validation Project
4. Project Tasks and Prices for Services
Task
Milestone Deliverable
Milestone Delivery Date
Payment (AU$ GST
exclusive)
Travel required over the course of the
delivery of services
Travel Costs
(AU$ GST exclusive)
Accommodation Costs
(AU$ GST exclusive)
Travel and Accommodation
Specified Personnel or Subcontractor
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RFQ: Agricultural Product Validation Project
5. Budget
Please provide details of the budget
First Year of Funding:
(eg 2015/16)
Funding Year 1
RIRDC Contribution - Direct YR1
Research Organisation - Direct YR1
Industry Contribution - Direct YR1
Other Funding - Direct YR1
Total Direct Funding YR1
Total Funding
Total RIRDC Contribution
Requested
Total Research Organisation Direct
Total Industry Contribution Direct
Total Other Funding - Direct
Rural Industries R&D Corporation
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Research Organisation - In-Direct YR1
Industry Contribution - In-Direct YR1
Other Funding - In-Direct YR1
Total In-Direct Funding YR1
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Total Research Organisation - InDirect
Total Industry Contribution - InDirect
Total Other Funding - In-Direct
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
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RFQ: Agricultural Product Validation Project
Project Budget Breakdown
RIRDC’s contribution only
Item
Salaries & On Costs
Operating
Communications and Extension
Travel (from previous page)
Capital
Total Breakdown
AU$ GST exclusive
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
6. Referees
Provide details of at least two referees relevant to this Quotation. Referees selected should have
direct working knowledge of the respondent’s capabilities and capacities in relation to similar
services. Daytime contact details for each referee must also be provided, to ensure that RIRDC will
have appropriate access to the referees listed.
Referee Name
Position/Company
Phone No:
Email Address
7. Additional Information / conflict of interest
Provide additional details, if any, that RIRDC should consider. This should be as brief as possible
and may not exceed two A4 pages. If a real or perceived conflict of interest would exist if the
Supplier entered into a contract with RIRDC for the Services in this Quotation, full details should
be included here.
RFQ Schedule 3 – Agreement
Provider Agreement
Rural Industries R&D Corporation
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