The Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC) is seeking expressions of interest from interested parties with the capability, proven track record and relevant links to provide evaluation trials for winter field crops to provide growers with independent information on the performance of new varieties. The resultant data from the field trials will be available to growers and their advisers, researchers and State Departments of Agriculture via an electronic database.

This EOI is supported by the Grains Council of Australia, the Australian Seed Federation, and the State Departments of Agriculture in SA, VIC, NSW and QLD. In Western Australia the State Department of Agriculture has partnered with the GRDC to finance and implement NVT.

Applications are to be received by no later than c.o.b. Friday, 14th January 2005.

Expressions Of Interest - National Variety Trials (NVT)

Guidance for Applicants

The GRDC proposes to introduce a system of National Variety Trials (NVT) for winter field crops to provide growers with independent information on the performance of new varieties. 

Key features of NVT are the separation of release and evaluation trials for commercially bred crops, equal access to all breeding programs, a national coordination of trials and the collection of trial data into a national database, for access by growers and their advisors, researchers and State Departments of Agriculture.

The GRDC has recently contracted the Australian Crop Accreditation Systems Limited (ACAS) to manage the National Variety Trials, and is now calling nationally for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from parties interested in participating in NVT with the provision of crop evaluation and/or pathology services.

Nationally the EOI relates to winter cereals, canola and pulses, except in WA where the EOI process is limited to wheat and canola.

Other relevant information that will be added during December (e.g. draft Service Contract, Trial Protocols, etc.) and January 2005.

Applicants may offer their services with regional, state, across-state or national geographic coverage. Applicants are expected to be independent of any breeding program, demonstrate their capability and capacity to undertake the services according to the specified technical requirements, and to address all selection criteria listed in Section D 16.3 of the EOI document.

The complete list of selection criteria is reproduced below as a "check-list" for applicants:
 

Following the selection process, the GRDC will enter a negotiation phase with successful applicants to determine the full details of their service contracts.  The service contracts could be for an initial period of up to four years, conditional on performance reviews. 

Subject to completing negotiations in time for planting, the NVT trials could begin with the planting season in 2005. Applicants are advised to frequently visit the GRDC website for regular updates on NVT. If it were necessary to delay the implementation of NVT trials to 2006, the current CVT arrangements would be extended by one year.

The GRDC will hold two information sessions for prospective applicants at alternative dates in December as shown in Annexure B of the EOI document.

Questions and Answers will be posted on the GRDC website.

In addition, applicants may contact the NVT Contact officer between 17 November and 07 January in writing (via email) with questions in relation to their application.

All questions will be answered on the GRDC Website, which will be updated at least once per week, except during Christmas/New Year period when the GRDC offices are closed (25 Dec’04 to 03 Jan’05).