Background
The Australian goat fibre industry including both mohair and cashmere, is characterised by a strong focus on sustainable production, fibre quality improvement and collaboration across producers and stakeholders. Strategic investment in research, development and extension (RD&E) will grow the industry’s size, reputation and value in export markets, ensuring long-term profitability and resilience for Australian Goat Fibre farming businesses and the rural communities in which they operate.
Cashmere is one of the finest commercial animal fibres valued globally for its softness, warmth and light weight and is used in high value garments. Mohair produced from Angora goats is similarly used in premium fashion. Most of the Australian mohair is exported and processed offshore with a continued focus on improving production efficiency and fibre quality to meet international market demand and achieve premium prices.
The industry is currently positioned at a pivotal point, with strong global demand for high-quality natural fibres presenting a clear opportunity for growth. However, realising this opportunity requires increased domestic production, improved on farm capability and the successful attraction and retention of new producers to the sector. Maintaining high product standards remains a core priority to ensure continued market access and competitiveness.
The AgriFutures Goat Fibre Program Strategic RD&E Plan 2021-2026 provides the framework for industry investment and identifies the priorities and activities required to support a sustainable, productive and collaborative goat fibre industry. Proposed projects must clearly align with the priorities and objectives of the Plan and demonstrate how the outcomes will deliver benefits to Australian goat fibre producers and the broader industry.
Service requirements
The AgriFutures Goat Fibre Program is seeking proposals to design and deliver a targeted producer development program to support existing, new and emerging goat fibre producers. The successful respondent will be required to:
- Design and deliver a structured mentoring program tailored to:
- new entrants to the goat fibre industry or
- existing livestock producers seeking to transition into goat fibre production or
- existing mohair and cashmere producers
Provide practical, outcomes focused knowledge transfer to enable participants to establish and grow sustainable and profitable goat fibre enterprises. This will include, but is not limited to:
- selection and management of appropriate fibre genetics
- implementation of best practice farm and herd management and
- shearing, classing and fibre handling practices to optimise fibre quality and market outcomes.
Build participant capability and support adoption of best practice, ensuring producers are equipped to make informed management decisions that improve productivity, fibre quality and overall enterprise performance.
Deliver a structured and accessible program format, including mentoring activities, learning resources and participant engagement approaches that support practical application of knowledge at the farm level.
Summary
Provide a summary highlighting how your organisation’s approach and services are a best fit for provision of the RFQs objectives.
Please provide testimonials or references from companies that you have provided a similar service.
This Request for Quote closes on Friday, 9 October 2026 at 12 pm AEDT.
Timeline
Activity |
Date |
RFQ – applications open |
Wednesday, 9 September 2026, 12pm AEST |
End of period for questions or requests for information |
Thursday, 24 September 2026 |
RFQ – applications close |
Friday, 9 October 2026, 12pm AEDT |
Intended completion date of evaluation of responses |
Friday, 9 October 2026 |
Negotiations with respondents (if applicable) |
Friday, 16 October 2026 |
Expected execution of contract or issue of agreement |
Late October 2026 |
Date of commencement of project |
Late October 2026 |
Expected project completion date |
October/November 2027 |
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 |
Complies |
Are you a government approved service provider? |
Yes/No |
Testimonials/references |
Yes/No |
Assessment Criteria |
Weighting |
Project plan |
40% |
Capability and relevant experience |
20% |
Cost and value for money |
10% |
Ability to deliver outcomes for the goat fibre industry |
30% |
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 |
|
Submitting a response
Respondents will be expected to provide:
- A detailed project plan – including timelines, how the project will be conducted and how this 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 mid October 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.
How to make a submission
Applications for this Request for Quote must be submitted online using the 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.
Contact
Questions and requests for information about the RFQ should be directed to the Goat Fibre Program Manager (for questions relating to making a submission in K2, please email ).
The Goat Fibre Program Manager will take questions via email or phone. Individual responses to questions relating to the RFQ will not be provided by the Program Manager. A response, along with the question, will be posted in the Frequently Asked Questions section.
Contact:
Stacey Lawrence
Program Manager, Goat Fibre Program
0429 562 313
Frequently asked questions
AgriFutures Australia is not providing a fixed budget envelope or indicative range for this RFQ. Respondents should propose an appropriately scaled program and provide a detailed budget covering all costs required to deliver their proposed approach. Cost and value for money will form part of the assessment.
The reference to a “government approved service provider” was included in error and does not apply to this RFQ. Respondents do not need to be registered on a specific government panel. Applicants must, however, be able to enter into AgriFutures Australia’s standard Service Provider Agreement.
Yes. “Producer Development Program” is the overarching description of the program, with structured mentoring forming a key delivery component. The scope includes mentoring activities, practical learning resources and participant engagement approaches that support the application of knowledge at farm level.
The program is intended to support existing mohair and cashmere producers, new entrants and livestock producers considering a transition into goat fibre production.
No. This criterion was included in error and does not apply to this RFQ. Applications will be assessed against the relevant weighted criteria: project plan, capability and relevant experience, cost and value for money, and ability to deliver outcomes for the Goat Fibre industry
The RFQ does not prescribe a fixed number of participants or a required split between mohair and cashmere producers. Respondents should propose an achievable participant model that is appropriately scaled to their methodology and budget.
The proposal should explain how the program will support the relevant groups identified in the RFQ, including existing mohair and cashmere producers, new entrants and livestock producers seeking to transition into goat fibre production
Yes. The quoted price should include all costs required to deliver the proposed program, including any travel, accommodation, events, farm visits, learning resources and participant engagement costs. These costs should be clearly identified in the detailed budget, together with any assumptions. The RFQ requires respondents to submit a detailed project plan and budget covering how the proposed program will be delivered.
AgriFutures Australia has not identified a completed standalone industry-wide producer survey that can be provided as part of this RFQ.
Relevant background information available to AgriFutures Australia may be provided to the successful respondent where appropriate. Any producer contact information would be subject to privacy requirements and relevant permissions. Respondents should therefore not assume that a complete producer contact list will be available and should explain how they propose to identify and recruit suitable participants.
Yes. Gross margin and enterprise-planning resources were developed through the previous Goat Fibre extension and industry development project. These include a gross margin comparison between Angora goat and Merino wool enterprises, as well as producer case studies and information supporting enterprise planning.
Relevant existing resources will be made available to the successful respondent where appropriate
Yes. A range of communication, technical and consolidated information resources was developed through the previous Goat Fibre extension and industry development project. These include:
- the Goat Fibre Gateway;
- 24 podcast episodes;
- 15 technical factsheets;
- 11 webinars;
- instructional videos;
- written and video producer case studies;
- gross margin information; and
- materials supporting field days, agricultural events and producer engagement.
Relevant resources will be made available to the successful respondent to support program design and reduce unnecessary duplication.
There is not currently a dedicated Goat Fibre Industry Development Officer in place. Industry development and extension activities have instead been delivered through funded projects, including the previous extension and industry development program.
The existing RD&E Plan identified an Industry Development Officer as a proposed mechanism to coordinate industry development activities, but the available program records do not confirm that a person was formally appointed under that title.
AgriFutures Australia has not identified a completed standalone mid-term review that can be provided as part of this RFQ.
The current Goat Fibre Program Strategic RD&E Plan 2021–2026 should be used as the initial strategic reference point. The RFQ requires proposed projects to align with the priorities and objectives of that Plan and demonstrate benefits to Australian goat fibre producers and the broader industry.
The Producer Development Program should also be sufficiently flexible to align with the successor RD&E Plan once it is finalised.
Respondents may propose a milestone and payment schedule that reflects the timing, effort and costs associated with their delivery approach. Any proposed weighting should be reasonable, clearly linked to deliverables and demonstrate value for money.
The final milestone and payment schedule will be agreed during contracting. Payments will be subject to acceptance of the relevant milestone deliverables and receipt of a valid invoice in accordance with the final agreement.
Levy-paying producers, mentors, technical specialists or other subcontractors may be included in the proposed delivery model where they are providing legitimate services required to deliver the program.
These arrangements should be:
- clearly identified in the project plan and budget;
- supported by clearly defined roles and deliverables;
- appropriately costed and demonstrate value for money;
- managed in accordance with applicable laws and the final contract; and
- supported by appropriate conflict-of-interest identification and management.The respondent must disclose any actual or perceived conflicts of interest when submitting its application and advise AgriFutures Australia if circumstances change during contracting or delivery.