Seed Collection & Associated Services

Description

Forestry and Land Scotland (the Authority) look after the national forests and land to enhance biodiversity, support tourism, and increase access to the green spaces that will help improve Scotland’s physical and mental health and well-being. The Authority also continues to provide vital timber supplies to support a sustainable rural economy. Further information on who the Authority is and what it does can be found here: https://forestryandland.gov.scot/. The Authority has a requirement to place a Framework Agreement with external Contractors for the provision of Seed Collection and Associated Services (including, Processing and Testing and Seed Supply). The Authority plants an estimated 25 million trees per annum across the National Forest Estate. Presently 28% of these trees are grown at the Authority’s owned Newton Nursery with the remaining 72% currently contract grown or purchased within the private nursery sector. The Authority also purchases a proportion of seed externally to support the production of stock from its Newton Nursery operation. However, the Authority also sells a proportion of the seed it collects and that is surplus to requirements in support of the wider UK forestry sector. Purchased seed typically includes; Scots pine, Norway spruce, Douglas fir and Alaskan Lodgepole pine, with seed sold to the sector being mainly improved Sitka spruce. Seed availability and plant demand however is subject to change due to the impact of multiple unpredictable variables; e.g., unpredictable mast years or changes in felling/restocking sites, disease etc. Purchased and sold seed may also require chemical treatment to ensure protection from pests, or indeed for seed primed or coated using new innovation technologies which can help to increase germination rates. Within this Framework Agreement specification, the Authority has a requirement for the provision of the following services: - Aerial Seed Collection; - Ground Seed Collection; - Rope Access Seed Collection; - Seed Processing, Testing and Storage; and - Seed Supply.

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