Background

AgriFutures Australia invites applications for the development and delivery of the Feasibility study – Commercial bee hive and honey traceability system.

The AgriFutures Honey Bee & Pollination Program invests in research, development and extension, to foster a more productive, sustainable and profitable Australian beekeeping industry. The Program works with the honey bee and pollination industry to ensure research priorities meet industry needs and are also informed by Australian Government priorities. Further, AgriFutures continues to work with industry and government stakeholders to ensure research investment is made in knowledge that is useful and adopted by end users.

Developed with a deep understanding of industry challenges and stakeholder needs, this project has been funded by the National Agricultural Traceability Grants Program. The National Beehive Traceability System Feasibility Grant is a part of the Australian Trade System Support – Cultivating Australia’s Traceability – Promoting and Protecting Australian Premium Agriculture measure. The measure supports ongoing development, implementation and improvement of supply chain traceability systems and arrangements for Australian agricultural exports, and to enable market access.

Bee hive traceability aims to enhance the preparedness of the honey bee industry for exotic bee pests, provide support for international trade and protect the pollination reliant industries from the impacts of an exotic bee pest incursion.  Investment into the viability of a national bee hive traceability system is key to addressing:

• Resilient supply chains in the face of climate change, and to respond rapidly to biosecurity incursions and broader economic shocks,
• Data standardisation to enable interoperability of systems, including consistency issues of location identifiers across jurisdictions
• Enabling efficient tracing of provenance to increase trust in the brand of Australia.

This project will conduct a feasibility study to understand the implications of implementing a national Australian commercial bee hive and honey traceability system and contribute to the improvement of the national biosecurity system and the resilience of Australian agriculture against pests and diseases. Project outcomes include:

• A feasibility study for a national bee hive traceability system that includes proof of concepts that are fit-for-purpose including whether a national Australian beehive and honey traceability system is viable.
• A review and analysis of current and potential traceability proof of concepts used in bee hives which could identify any gaps or issues that need to be addressed for system uptake.
• An assessment of technical, financial, and legal considerations of a national traceability system.

Further details on the expected project outcomes are outlined in the full Request for Quote document below.

Applications close at 12 noon (AEDT) on Wednesday, 13 August 2025.

Download full Request for Quote document

Timeline

Evaluation criteria

A respondent’s response will be evaluated against:

1. The evaluation criteria identified in the tables below; and
2. The overall proposition presented in the respondent’s response.

Submitting an application

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 – including a clear description of the objectives you are applying for, timelines, how the project will be conducted and how this will meet the requirements of the RFQ.
• A detailed budget – please include a detailed attachment describing the budget for your proposed approach.
• Examples of similar work the respondent has completed.
• Capability and relevant experience.

The resultant Contract is expected to commence prior to 1 October 2025.

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 with your application in K2 if necessary.

Click here to login to 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.

K2 guides and login

If you require assistance, please contact

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 Stephanie-Kate Bratton, General Counsel via email: .

Contact

Questions and requests for information about the RFQ should be directed to the Coordinator, Levied Industries prior to Wednesday, 6 August 2025 (for questions relating to making a submission in K2, please email ).

Individual responses to questions relating to the RFQ will not be provided by the Coordinator or Manager. A response, along with the question, will be posted in the Frequently Asked Questions section, below, within 24 hours of receival.

Contact:
Mia Lorber-Hughes
Program Coordinator, Levied Industries – Honey Bee & Pollination Program
Email: