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Closed ATM View - PROC-9176001

Facilitating adoption of integrated weed management strategies for Feathertop Rhodes grass in the Northern Region, Prg 2

Linda McDougall

Phone: 0472 832 502

Email Address: northern@grdc.com.au

Web Address: https://grdc.com.au/research/applying-and-reporting/current-procurement/open-tenders

Document(s) Contact Name:
Linda McDougall

Document(s) Contact Phone:
0472 832 502

Document(s) Contact Email:
northern@grdc.com.au

ATM ID:

PROC-9176001

Agency:

Grains Research and Development Corporation

Category:

70140000 - Crop production and management and protection

Close Date & Time:

1-Aug-2019 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
Show close time for other time zones

Publish Date:

5-Jul-2019

Location:

ACT, NSW, QLD

ATM Type:

Request for Tender

Multi Agency Access:

Panel Arrangement:

Multi-stage:

Description:

Project Background

Feathertop Rhodes grass is a highly aggressive weed that, despite being a focus of several research efforts, is continuing to increase in incidence and severity in northern farming systems. The recent confirmation of resistance to glyphosate also highlights the need to manage the weed with an integrated systems approach. This proposal builds on work in DAQ00105, US00084, and NGA00004 that have investigated various strategies for managing feathertop Rhodes grass in the summer/winter cropping areas of the Northern Region.

To facilitate improved management of feathertop Rhodes grass in Queensland and northern NSW, a communication and extension campaign is required. The procurement will update the current feathertop Rhodes grass integrated weed management (IWM) publication for winter/summer cropping areas by incorporating recent research results and will be used as the focus of a targeted extension campaign.

In the winter cropping areas of southern NSW, research is required to develop a locally adapted feathertop Rhodes grass IWM plan for the prevailing farming system. This should be based on the existing IWM plan but will need to address:

1. differences in the value of residual herbicides (based on the presence of sandy, acidic, low OC soils, lower and winter dominant rainfall and crop choice) taking into account possible product registration opportunities

2. differences in the effectiveness of cultivation (based on soil type)

3. use of Site-Specific Weed Management

4. opportunities for management in the pasture phase (e.g. chemical options and with grazing as a first step in a double knock) and

5. the impact of livestock on both spread and/or control of the weed (e.g. livestock field preference and feathertop Rhodes grass regrowth).

Extension of this work to growers in southern NSW is a key component of this procurement.

Investment description

This investment consists of two interrelated procurements. The applicant may apply for one, or both of the procurements (PROC-9176000 Program 1 and this one). Where only one of the procurements is applied for, applicants should demonstrate how they will link with the corresponding program.

This investment, Program 2, will:

1. Develop and promote a feathertop Rhodes grass IWM strategy for the farming systems of southern NSW.

Expected Outcome

By June 2024, the extent and impact of feathertop Rhodes grass on grain yield in the Northern Region will be reduced through growers implementing integrated weed management strategies.

Expected Outputs

Output 1

By June 2022, a locally developed IWM strategy for management of feathertop Rhodes grass available for, and communicated to, growers and advisers in southern New South Wales

Details:

a. IWM strategy should be based on locally validated scientific evidence relevant to the prevailing climate and farming system but guided by established principles

b. IWM strategy should include the efficacy and economics of multiple control tactics

Conditions for Participation:

The investment will be offered based on a set of eligibility and selection criteria:

Eligibility criteria: the conditions applicants must fulfil to be eligible to apply
Selection criteria: the items against which applications will be evaluated. Each criterion is assigned certain points which are summed to rank the applications in each advertised investment area.

Eligibility Criteria

1. The Applicant must be a single legal entity or recognised firm of partners.

2. The Applicant and any proposed subcontractor must be compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012.

Selection Criteria

1. A clear and thorough plan to achieve the project outputs, specifying:

method to be used (including anticipated statistical analysis capacity)
proposed milestones
proposed locations of field experiments (if required to deliver project outputs)
staffing (including relevant skills, experience and availability of key personnel and proposed subcontractors)
budget (defining the funds sought in each year of the project and the potential investment from all parties)
project structure and management arrangements

2. A clear and thorough plan to deliver the project outcome, specifying:

expected steps to deliver the outcome (pathway to market)
identification of target users of the project outputs (who will the project directly deliver to e.g. grower, adviser, plant breeder, pathologist, the GRDC)
specific products and services to be delivered to target users
potential for the development of commercial IP

3. Demonstrated track record of the project team, including:

relevant achievements of the project leader in providing leadership, co-ordination, management, monitoring and evaluation and the timely delivery of high quality outputs
relevant technical knowledge and experience of all key personnel (including proposed subcontractors) in the research area
relevant achievements in the delivery of commercial IP (if relevant)
ability of the project team to collaborate with the relevant research organisations and industry personnel to build on the research (national and international) already undertaken in this area

4. Freedom to operate in regards to the provision of the project outputs to GRDC or a third party if required.

detail any Research Organisation intellectual property that is required to deliver the project outputs and any restrictions that may impact on the provision of project outputs to GRDC or a third party, if required
detail any third party intellectual property that is required to deliver the project outputs and any restrictions that may impact on the provision of project outputs to GRDC or a third party, if required

5. Demonstrated track-record of collaborating and/or working with third-parties in the delivery of aligned R&D outcomes

In addition, the following are assessed by the Tender Evaluation Team – but it is not expected that the applicant will include specific reference to these criteria.

6. The cost effectiveness and value for money of the tender response

7. Compliance with the tender requirements and draft Contract

8. Quality and effectiveness of risk controls

Timeframe for Delivery:

This three-year investment will commence September 2019 and conclude June 2022.

Address for Lodgement:

All applications must be submitted via the GRDC Grains Investment Portal https://access.grdc.com.au/ by 2 pm AEDT Thursday 1st August 2019.

To register as a first-time user, please visit https://access.grdc.com.au/ and:

• Click on the register button at the top right-hand side.

• Complete the Registration Form. Fill in all the fields: your email address, a password and the captcha. Your password must be alphanumeric with at least one special character (i.e. not a letter or number). Click register to continue the process.

• Registration is confirmed by the system sending an email to you, with details to complete the registration process.

• Once the registration process is complete, you can sign in and review all investments open for tender

Once you have located this investment, you can commence the application process by completing the details for each field available, until you reach “Submit Application” on the last page.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact GRDC Contracts Administrator Linda McDougall via email northern@grdc.com.au or use the online support function available.