Background
The Australian honey bee and pollination industry plays a critical role in supporting agricultural productivity, food security and biodiversity. Managed honey bees contribute directly to honey, beeswax, queen bee and pollination service production, while also providing essential pollination services to a broad range of Australian horticultural and agricultural industries.
The industry contributes significantly to the Australian economy through both hive products and pollination services, with pollination underpinning billions of dollars of agricultural production annually.
The industry is currently facing a range of workforce-related challenges which have intensified following the establishment of Varroa destructor in Australia. These include:
- Shortages of skilled beekeepers and apiary workers.
- Increasing technical capability requirements associated with Varroa management.
- Limited visibility of beekeeping and pollination as a professional career pathway.
- Challenges attracting and retaining workers in regional and remote areas.
- An ageing workforce and succession planning concerns.
- Limited workforce data and understanding of workforce composition.
- Limited training pathways and inconsistency in qualifications and on-the-job training.
- Workforce pressures associated with seasonal labour requirements and migration settings.
- Emerging capability requirements associated with biosecurity, technology adoption, queen breeding and pollination management.
Recognising these challenges, AgriFutures Australia is seeking a suitably qualified provider to develop an evidence-based, industry-informed workforce strategy to support the long-term sustainability, growth and resilience of the Australian honey bee and pollination industry
The workforce strategy should align with the AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program RD&E Plan, the National Agricultural Workforce Strategy, and broader Australian workforce development priorities.
The indicative budget for the project is $120,000 and timeframe of completion from commencement is up to 12 months.
This Request for Quote closes on Thursday, 20 August 2026 at 1 pm AEST.
Timeline
Activity |
Date |
RFQ – applications open |
Wednesday, 29 July 2026, 12pm AEST |
End of period for questions or requests for information |
Thursday, 13 August 2026, 5pm AEST |
RFQ – applications close |
Thursday, 20 August 2026, 1pm AEST |
Intended completion date of evaluation of responses |
Thursday, 3 September 2026 |
Negotiations with respondents (if applicable) |
4-10 September 2026 |
Expected execution of contract or issue of agreement |
Friday, 11 September 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 – including;
- The process/methodology to describe how the project will be conducted
- A project timeline
- Indicative consultation with key industry stakeholders and a project steering committee
- Clear articulation of the final output(s) and their dissemination to industry, this may include tools, communication materials and summaries of report findings
- Delivery of any draft outputs from the project to allow modification and refinement based on stakeholder feedback
- 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 on Friday, 11 September 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 Thursday, 13 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:
Amanda Olthof, Senior Manager
Email:
Frequently asked questions
Yes it is, as long as they can demonstrate that they can produce suitable recommendations for Australian levy payers.
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.
There is currently no comprehensive baseline workforce dataset for the Australian beekeeping industry. This strategy is intended to establish that baseline by identifying the current workforce, skills, capacity and capability needs across the industry. The resulting evidence base will provide a foundation for future workforce planning, investment and benchmarking, enabling progress to be measured over time.
AgriFutures does not have a prescribed minimum level of representation across jurisdictions, industry sectors or participant types. However, it is important that the strategy is informed by a broad and representative cross-section of the Australian beekeeping industry. Proposals should outline an appropriate engagement approach to capture diverse perspectives and ensure the findings are robust and relevant. This may be achieved through a combination of approaches such as an industry-wide survey and targeted consultation, as justified by the methodology.
Sourcing and engaging stakeholders will be the responsibility of the provider. AgriFutures Australia can assist by facilitating introductions to key industry organisations and stakeholder groups where appropriate; however, proponents should outline their approach to stakeholder engagement and demonstrate their ability to secure participation from a broad cross-section of the industry.
The Steering Committee will be convened by AgriFutures Australia and is expected to include representatives from AgriFutures Australia and key industry stakeholders. The committee’s role will be to provide strategic guidance, monitor project progress and support industry alignment. Meeting frequency will be determined in consultation with the successful provider but is anticipated to occur at key project milestones, with additional meetings scheduled as required.
No specific travel requirements have been prescribed for this project. Proponents should propose an engagement approach they consider appropriate to deliver the project objectives. Any anticipated travel should be included within the proposed budget. AgriFutures Australia is open to both in-person and virtual engagement methods, provided the approach supports effective stakeholder participation and robust project outcomes.
The Peak industry Body is ware of the proposed project. Identifying and engaging stakeholders will form part of the successful provider’s methodology. Proponents should outline their proposed approach to workforce data collection and stakeholder engagement, including how they will secure participation from a representative cross-section of the industry. AgriFutures Australia may assist with introductions to key industry organisations and stakeholder groups where appropriate.
Coordination of stakeholder consultations, including invitations and scheduling, will be the responsibility of the successful provider. AgriFutures Australia may assist by facilitating introductions to key industry organisations and stakeholder groups where appropriate. As stakeholder availability may vary, proponents should allow sufficient lead time when planning consultations and demonstrate a flexible engagement approach within their methodology.
The proposed 12‑month project timeframe reflects the urgency of the workforce challenges currently facing the Australian beekeeping industry and the importance of delivering a workforce strategy within a timeframe that supports industry decision-making. The industry is undergoing a period of significant transition, and AgriFutures Australia considers it important that a robust evidence base and workforce strategy are developed and made available to industry as soon as practicable to help inform future workforce planning, investment and capability development.
The indicative budget of $120,000 is exclusive of GST. Proponents should provide their budget exclusive of GST and clearly identify GST separately where applicable.
For the purposes of this project, AgriFutures Australia considers the Honey Bee and Pollination workforce to include the broader industry ecosystem. While commercial beekeepers and apiary workers are a key focus, proponents should consider the roles and occupations that support the industry’s productivity, sustainability and future workforce needs. This may include, where relevant, queen breeders, pollination service providers, packers and processors, researchers, trainers and educators, biosecurity personnel, seasonal workers and other supporting occupations. Proponents should clearly define the scope of the workforce considered within their methodology and justify their approach.
AgriFutures Australia expects the project to establish a baseline understanding of the current Honey Bee and Pollination workforce and identify key workforce challenges, opportunities and future needs. Given the absence of a comprehensive workforce evidence base, proponents are encouraged to propose a fit-for-purpose approach to workforce analysis and forecasting that supports the development of a practical, evidence-based strategy. The emphasis should be on producing a workforce strategy that is practical, actionable and valuable to industry.
The final Workforce Strategy is expected to move beyond identifying workforce challenges and opportunities and provide a practical roadmap for industry action. Proponents are encouraged to outline clear priorities and recommendations, supported by implementation considerations where appropriate.