Program 1 - National coordination, integration, synthesis and learning for pest snail management

Overview Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is seeking a suitably experienced provider to deliver Program 1, National coordination, integration, synthesis and learning for pest snail management, as the coordinating and integrating component of GRDC's broader pest snail management investment. Purpose While substantial technical knowledge and management resources for pest snail management already exist, there remains a need for more coordinated delivery, stronger regional extension, better integration between research and extension, and clearer guidance on the timing and reliability of existing management practices. Program 1 is intended to improve alignment across the investment, avoid duplication, and support practical management outcomes for Australian grain growers and advisers. About GRDC is establishing a coordinated investment, Leading practice management of pest snails in Australian grain systems, to improve the reliability, adoption and effectiveness of pest snail management in Australian grain production. The investment will be extension-led and will focus on improving decision-making and the use and integration of existing pest snail management options, supported by targeted applied RD&E, building on existing knowledge, datasets, tools, trial platforms and industry capability. Delivery will be national but regionally differentiated, reflecting variation in pest snail species, farming systems, seasonal conditions and management challenges. The greatest effort is expected in established snail-affected areas of the GRDC Southern and Western regions, with activity in other emerging or localised areas where justified by pest risk and industry need. Program structure The investment will be delivered through four separate but coordinated procurements: PROC-9177465: Program 1, National coordination, integration, synthesis and learning for pest snail management PROC-9177466: Program 2, National extension and adviser capability to support adoption of effective pest snail management, guided by national technical pest snail expertise PROC-9177467: Program 3A, Pest snail ecology, population dynamics and risk prediction PROC-9177468: Program 3B, Improved use of bait products for pest snail management Although the four programs will be delivered under separate agreements, they are intended to operate as a single coordinated investment rather than as independent activities. Program 1 will coordinate and integrate the broader investment. Program 2 will be the primary pathway for extension, adviser capability and adoption. Programs 3A and 3B will provide applied evidence to improve management decisions relating to pest snail risk, bait timing and bait performance. Scope boundaries New product discovery, early proof-of-concept development, product registration activities and development of operational variable-rate baiting systems are outside the scope of these procurements and should not be included as proposed activities or budget items. This does not diminish their potential importance, and complementary work may be progressed through separate existing or future GRDC investments where there is a demonstrated need and an appropriate investment pathway. Program 1 will maintain awareness of other relevant existing and future GRDC pest snail investments and, where useful, engage with their leads to support visibility, alignment of activities and consistency of technical messaging and communications across the broader pest snail portfolio. This does not transfer responsibility for the management or delivery of those investments to the Program 1 provider. Objectives By June 2031, Australian grain growers and advisers are implementing effective, integrated pest snail management practices that improve reliability of control, reduce crop and grain quality impacts, and increase adoption of risk-based management decisions across regions and farming systems. Scope The scope includes: Establishing and operating a Program Advisory Committee (PAC), with final membership and terms of reference to be approved by GRDC Liaising closely with the GRDC Investment Manager and the leads of Programs 2, 3A and 3B Facilitating whole-of-program planning and communication Coordinating program-level monitoring and reporting Supporting timely translation of findings from Programs 3A and 3B into Program 2 extension activities Helping ensure grower and adviser feedback informs applied RD&E priorities Supporting whole-of-investment reporting and synthesis by coordinating agreed planning, progress, output and impact inputs from Programs 2, 3A and 3B Organising at least one whole-of-program planning/review meeting each year involving GRDC and providers appointed to Programs 1, 2, 3A and 3B Supporting regular coordination meetings across the year to align seasonal priorities, progress, risks, emerging findings and extension needs Budgeting for the reasonable costs of operating the PAC and agreed whole-of-program coordination activities, including meeting administration, sitting fees for external members, and venue or catering costs where required Program Advisory Committee Tenderers should allow for a PAC of approximately eight core members, meeting at least twice per year. Membership should provide a suitable mix of independent technical/advisory expertise relevant to pest snail management, extension/adoption experience, practical grower perspectives, regional adviser/agronomist perspectives from key snail-affected areas, and supply-chain or grain receival perspective where relevant. Tenderers should allow for sitting fees for external PAC members where required. Program leads from Programs 2, 3A and 3B should be standing attendees at PAC meetings for relevant agenda items to provide updates, discuss emerging findings, identify risks and respond to advice. These attendees are additional to the approximately eight core PAC members. The PAC will be advisory only and will not have decision-making authority or authority to vary any GRDC contract. GRDC will retain responsibility for contract management, investment governance and final decision-making. Program 1 will support coordination, integration and synthesis across the investment but will not have contractual management responsibility for the other programs. Contractor Requirements GRDC is seeking a suitably experienced provider to deliver Program 1 as the coordinating and integrating component of the broader investment Each application must be submitted by a single lead legal entity that will enter into the agreement with GRDC and be accountable for delivery The lead entity may propose a delivery team involving other organisations or specialists as subcontractors Applications must clearly identify the proposed team, the responsibilities of each participant, key personnel, subcontracting arrangements and how delivery will be managed Successful providers will be required to work collaboratively with providers appointed to the other programs and participate in coordinated planning, reporting, monitoring and delivery arrangements Contract Terms and Conditions Programs 1 and 2 are anticipated to commence on 1 February 2027 Programs 3A and 3B are anticipated to commence on 15 March 2027, following completion of the current GRDC pest snail investment, UOA2205-005RTX All four programs are expected to conclude by 30 June 2031 Offers will remain open for acceptance by GRDC for a period of 6 months after the Closing Time Instructions to Tenderers Each procurement (PROC-9177465, PROC-9177466, PROC-9177467 and PROC-9177468) will be assessed and contracted separately. Tenderers may apply for one or more procurements but must submit a separate application for each, and each application must be capable of being assessed and contracted independently. GRDC may appoint the same lead entity to more than one program or different lead entities to individual programs. Tenderers applying for more than one procurement should identify any shared personnel, infrastructure, datasets, field sites, efficiencies or dependencies across their applications. Enquiries Attention: Rimaz Tot, Grains Research and Development Corporation Email: cpprocurements@grdc.com.au Make all requests for further information or clarification in relation to this procurement in writing (email) prior to 3 September 2026.