Assessment of Deer Management Capacity and Workforce in and around the New Forest National Park

The New Forest National Park Authority, in collaboration with Natural England and the Forestry Commission, is seeking a contractor for solicitation NFNPA 0083 to assess deer management capacity and workforce capabilities within and around the New Forest National Park. This commission is designed to establish a robust evidence base to support the development of a Protected Site Strategy and Strategic Action Plan. The project is estimated to run from December 4, 2026, to March 31, 2027, with a total estimated value of 25,000 GBP excluding VAT. Key deliverables include a final report with an executive summary, relevant datasets in Excel or CSV format, a briefing session for the project group, and recommendations for ongoing monitoring metrics. Desirable outputs include spatial distribution maps and summary presentation slides. The contract will be awarded to the most economically advantageous tender based on a weighted evaluation of price (20%) and quality (80%). The quality assessment is further divided into the supplier's approach (40%), scope of services (30%), and experience or references (30%), with a minimum quality threshold of 6 points required for consideration. Bidders must provide evidence of at least two relevant case studies and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including professional indemnity, public liability, and employers liability. Submissions must be made using the provided Assessment Document, and hard copy entries must remain anonymous on the exterior envelope to avoid disqualification.