Background
AgriFutures Australia has long-term, established relationships and strong networks with the Australian honey bee industry. The AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program invests in research, development and extension to foster a more productive, sustainable and profitable Australian beekeeping industry.
Within this program, AgriFutures Australia also supports the pollination of Australia’s horticultural and agricultural crops. About two-thirds of Australian agricultural production benefits from insect pollination, most of which is provided by honey bees. Apiarists across the country produce almost 40,000 tonnes of honey per year, with the commercial and recreational sectors contributing $623.8 million to the Australian economy. The value of pollination services provided by honey bees is estimated to contribute $4.6 billion to the Australian economy each year.
The AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program RD&E Plan 2026-31 identifies five investment priorities for the industry, alongside the strategies to achieve them. In addition, in response to the detection and establishment of Varroa destructor in Australia, the industry developed the Varroa destructor Research Strategy 2024-2027. This strategy outlines research areas that could mitigate the impact of varroa on the industry.
AgriFutures invites proposals that address one or more of the priorities and strategies outlined within the AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program RD&E Plan 2026-31, or within the Varroa destructor Research Strategy 2024-2027. Proposals should focus on delivering short-term research projects, extension or training (~18 months) with immediate practical implications for industry.
Where applicable, proposals should clearly indicate the following:
- The project benefits and impacts for the Australian honey bee and pollination industry.
- The objectives and outcomes of the proposed project and the link to the RD&E and/or Research Strategy objectives.
- Who will be undertaking all aspects of the work (it must be clear if new staff and/or students are to be employed to undertake the work).
- The plan for extension and adoption of research outcomes from the project activity work, i.e. beyond distribution of summaries, journal papers and conference presentations.
- Where relevant, any proposed collaboration with experts in the field.
- The researcher’s understanding of past research in this field.
The indicative budget for all projects included in this round of funding is up to $230,000. The expected timeframe for completion from commencement is up to approximately 18 months.
This Request for Quote closes on Tuesday, 22 September 2026 at 12 pm AEST.
Timeline
Activity |
Date |
RFQ – applications open |
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 12pm AEST |
End of period for questions or requests for information |
Wednesday, 26 August 2026, 5pm AEST |
RFQ – applications close |
Tuesday, 22 September 2026, 12pm AEST |
Intended completion date of evaluation of responses |
Monday, 19 October 2026 |
Negotiations with respondents (if applicable) |
Monday, 26 October 2026 |
Expected execution of contract or issue of agreement |
Thursday, 16 November 2026 |
Evaluation criteria
A respondent’s response will be evaluated against:
(a) The evaluation criteria identified in the tables below; and
(b) The overall proposition presented in the respondent’s response.
Mandatory Requirements |
Weighting/Complies |
Project plan |
50% |
Capability and relevant experience |
20% |
Ability to meet requirements |
20% |
Cost and value for money |
10% |
Testimonials/references |
Yes/No |
Desirable requirements |
Complies |
Provide examples of your Organisation’s ability to provide a similar service. |
Yes/No |
Other Evaluation Criteria |
|
(a) Professional Expression of Interest Proposal |
|
(b) Organisation’s capability and resources |
|
(c) History of providing similar service |
|
(d) Availability to conduct audit and proposed completion date for report |
|
Submitting a response
Applications for this Request for Quote must be submitted online using the application in K2.
Respondent’s will be expected to provide:
- A detailed project plan describing how the proposal will meet the requirements of the RFQ
- A detailed budget – attachments may be included.
- Examples of similar work the respondent has completed.
- Capability and relevant experience.
The resultant contract is expected to commence in November 2026.
It is expected that a contract will be awarded based on how well a respondent addresses the objectives of the open tender. Selection will be based on the evaluation criteria. A detailed response will be beneficial. There is the opportunity to include additional attachments if necessary with your application in K2.
Users must create a K2 account before submitting a proposal. To set up a secure account before submitting a proposal, please visit the login page below to access our new user or new company request forms.
Usernames and passwords will only be issued while the applicable round is open.
Terms of Reference
AgriFutures Australia uses standard form contracts and agreements for projects and research procured by AgriFutures Australia (please refer to https://www.agrifutures.com.au/contracts-and-agreements/). These contracts and agreements set out the terms on which AgriFutures Australia will engage successful applicants to carry out the project.
Applicants must be familiar with the contracts and agreements before submitting a response, and are advised to seek legal advice beforehand.
These contracts and agreements have been developed to reflect AgriFutures Australia’s statutory and other procurement responsibilities.
If you require any amendments to the standard agreement please complete the statement of non-compliance for each of the relevant clause. AgriFutures will then assess those requests.
Applicants will be taken to have agreed to all clauses in the Service Provider Agreement that are not referred to in a statement of non-compliance. The extent of any non-compliance will be a factor in AgriFutures Australia’s evaluation of the application.
If you require further information regarding these contracts and agreements please contact:
Contact
Should you have any questions about the RFQ, please direct all enquires to the AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program (details below) prior to 5pm AEST on Wednesday, 26 August 2026. For questions relating to making a submission in K2, please email ).
Individual responses to questions relating to the RFQ will not be provided by AgriFutures. A response, along with the question, will be posted in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
Contact:
Mia Lorber-Hughes, Coordinator, Honey Bee & Pollination
Email:
Frequently asked questions
Yes it is, as long as they can demonstrate that they can produce suitable recommendations for Australian levy payers.
Funding is not fixed and proposals will be assessed based on value for money. This includes consideration of the proposed budget, the capability and capacity of the project team, the research organisation and alignment with the requirements of the industry.
Program investments are funded through industry levies and matched by the Commonwealth, procurements and must demonstrate value for money in-line with the project activities and, capability and capacity of the project team. The Advisory Panel will assess the overall proposed budget, while considering the current Program budget and existing investments. At times, the Advisory Panel may provide further comments to successful applicants during contract negotiations.
The budget must be comprehensive and accurate. All relevant activities that are proposed to be conducted under the project must be budgeted for, including salaries and overheads if required.
The indicative budget of up to $230,000 represents the total funding available for this investment round. AgriFutures Australia has not set a predetermined number of projects to be funded, as all applications will be assessed on their merit, including their quality, alignment with the investment objectives, and demonstrated value for money.
AgriFutures will consider proposals led by commercial organisations, provided the applicant can demonstrate the capability and capacity to successfully deliver the project and achieve the project objectives. Where proposals involve the development of a commercial product or technology, applicants should note that AgriFutures will seek to secure an appropriate share of any intellectual property arising from the investment, in accordance with the terms of the funding agreement.
AgriFutures will consider applications led by early career researchers, provided the application demonstrates that the project team has the appropriate skills, experience and capability to successfully deliver the proposed work. Applicants should clearly outline any relevant experience in delivering similar projects and demonstrate that the proposed research is achievable given the expertise, resources and industry knowledge available within the project team. Where appropriate, applicants may also nominate additional team members or project partners to strengthen the project’s capability and delivery approach.
AgriFutures does not typically accept overheads on projects. As an RDC, our research funds are entirely derived from grower levies and the Australian Government, and the research we fund is for the direct benefit of our rural industries. It is critical that these funds are managed responsibly to ensure the sustainability and prosperity of our industries.
For this reason, AgriFutures applies a strict approach to overheads. Any inclusion of overheads will only be considered through negotiation, with a maximum allowable rate of 15%. This must be transparently detailed within the project budget submitted for consideration. Overheads will also form part of AgriFutures’ overall assessment and will be considered alongside value for money, project impact, and alignment with industry priorities as part of the review of project proposals.
By carefully managing indirect costs, AgriFutures ensures that levy payers’ funds are directed toward delivering research with greater impact at a reasonable and sustainable cost.
Yes. A sole trader may be the lead respondent for this RFQ, provided they can demonstrate the capability, experience and capacity to deliver the project outcomes and meet all contractual obligations.
Tenderers should clearly identify their business structure within their response and outline any personnel, subcontractors or partner organisations that will contribute to project delivery. The successful respondent must be able to enter into a contract with AgriFutures Australia and comply with the relevant terms and conditions, including those relating to intellectual property, insurance and project governance.
If the respondent owns relevant pre-existing intellectual property, this should be clearly described in the proposal, including how it will be made available for the purposes of the project.
No. Cash or in-kind contributions from the lead organisation or industry partners are not required for this opportunity. However, respondents may include co-investment where it strengthens the proposal and supports project delivery.
Yes. If overhead rates are typically charged by the organisation and are being waived for the purposes of the project, they may be identified as an in-kind contribution. Any in-kind contribution should be clearly described and appropriately valued within the proposal budget.
AgriFutures reserves the right to negotiate the final scope, budget and deliverables of any proposed project. Depending on the quality of applications received, available funding and alignment with project objectives, projects may be refined, reduced or expanded in consultation with the successful respondent.
AgriFutures cannot commit to future investment beyond the initial project. Any follow-on work would be subject to a separate procurement process and would be considered based on project outcomes, industry priorities and the availability of funding. Applicants should ensure their proposal delivers the intended project outcomes within the scope of the current investment opportunity.
The long-term maintenance of any tool developed through a project has not been prescribed. Applicants proposing the development of a tool should consider and outline an appropriate approach to its ongoing management, maintenance and sustainability beyond the project period. Any future support or investment would be subject to separate consideration by AgriFutures and should not be assumed as part of this investment opportunity.
AgriFutures does not prescribe whether industry partners or samples must be de-identified as part of this project. Applicants should propose appropriate confidentiality, privacy and data management arrangements, including any de-identification measures required to support ethical project delivery and stakeholder participation.
AgriFutures does not prescribe specific extension and adoption activities for projects. Applicants are expected to propose extension and adoption approaches that are appropriate to the nature of the research, target audience and intended outcomes. As noted in the Terms of Reference, activities should extend beyond traditional research dissemination methods such as project summaries, journal publications and conference presentations, and demonstrate a clear pathway for translating project outputs into industry awareness, engagement and uptake.
Applicants are expected to undertake their own assessment of the current landscape as part of proposal development.
Mitigation measures for all identified risks are noted in the RD&E Plan and should be referred to.
Respondents should review the Varroa destructor Research Strategy 2024-2027, the AgriFutures project archive and other publicly available industry resources to identify existing research outputs, extension materials and related initiatives. Applicants are expected to undertake appropriate due diligence and demonstrate an understanding of the current landscape when developing their proposals. AgriFutures encourages proposals that build on existing knowledge and investments and avoid unnecessary duplication. Proposals should clearly articulate how the proposed activities complement and add value to existing or emerging resources and initiatives.
Respondents should consider all publicly available resources relevant to the Varroa destructor Research Strategy 2024-2027 when developing their proposals. AgriFutures encourages applicants to demonstrate an awareness of existing and emerging initiatives and to clearly identify how their proposed activities will add value and avoid duplication. Applicants are expected to undertake their own assessment of the current landscape as part of proposal development.
The Honey Bee & Pollination Advisory Panel is a long-standing advisory body that has provided strategic advice to AgriFutures on behalf of industry. The Panel helps ensure RD&E investments remain industry-driven and aligned with the priorities outlined in the Honey Bee & Pollination RD&E Plan. Panel members provide advice on industry research priorities, assess research proposals, monitor the implementation of the RD&E Plan, and support the dissemination, adoption and commercialisation of research outcomes. Where established, a project Steering Committee serves a distinctly different purpose. A Steering Committee provides project-specific guidance and oversight, supporting the delivery of project objectives, milestones and outcomes. This role is separate from that of the Advisory Panel, which provides strategic advice at a program and industry level.
The Honey Bee & Pollination RD&E Plan identifies Hort Frontiers as an important mechanism for collaboration across industries where there are shared interests and mutual benefits. However, AgriFutures has not prescribed a requirement for projects funded through this Request for Quote to engage through Hort Frontiers. Applicants proposing engagement with growers, pollination-dependent industries or other stakeholders should outline an appropriate stakeholder engagement and collaboration approach that supports the objectives of the proposed project.
AgriFutures would consider proposals that include appropriately scoped foundational or enabling activities, provided they align with the objectives of Request for Quote and deliver clear value and outcomes within the timeframe and budget of the current investment opportunity. However, applicants should not assume that future funding will be available. Any subsequent work would be subject to a separate procurement process and would be considered based on project outcomes, industry priorities and the availability of funding at that time. Proposals should therefore demonstrate how the requested investment will deliver meaningful outcomes within the scope of the current project, regardless of whether any future phases proceed.
Respondents should utilise the publicly available information provided through the AgriFutures project archive and other relevant sources when developing their proposals. Applicants are expected to apply their own expertise to identify appropriate extension and adoption approaches that support the objectives of the proposed project.
AgriFutures has not prescribed specific priority audiences for extension and adoption activities under this Request for Quote. Applicants are expected to identify the target audiences most relevant to their proposed project and clearly articulate how extension and adoption activities will support awareness, engagement and uptake of project outcomes.