Examining impact of Industry Biosecurity Plans

⁠⁠⁠Horticulture Innovation Australia (Hort Innovation) is a not-for-profit, grower-owned Research and Development Corporation (RDC) for Australia’s $17 billion horticulture industry. Hort Innovation invests around $170 million in research and development (R&D) and marketing programs annually to provide benefit to industry and the wider community.

Hort Innovation is seeking a suitably qualified, experienced and capable delivery partner for the project: Examining impact of Industry Biosecurity Plans (HA26001).

The objectives of the services being sought are to conduct an evaluation of the Industry Biosecurity Plans (IBPs) previously funded by levy through Hort Innovation Australia. These are to be evaluated against the Hort Innovation Project Investment Level Key Evaluation Questions (KEQs). The intention is to analyse the success to-date of the programs individually and through the lens of the broader Australian Horticultural Biosecurity space. Finally, the evaluator will make any relevant recommendations regarding the ongoing delivery of projects such as these. 

In particular, the evaluation will:

• Evaluate the value of IBPs for relevancy and efficiency in delivering R&D outcomes 

• Identify the target audience and whether this is appropriate to give greatest benefit to growers and industry stakeholders

• Determine relevancy of IBP objectives to the needs and priorities of their respective industries

• Assess the benefits of IBPs – success to-date against performance measures/intended outcomes and contribution of the project to changes in knowledge, attitudes, skills and aspirations

• Assess tangibility of benefits felt by industry stakeholders and levy payers

• Assess transparency and level of detail in reporting project outputs/outcomes to levy payers 

• Communicate return on investment to levy payers 

• Make recommendations for the next phase of IBPs (including on-going or new themes and activities, and any general improvements)

Hort Innovation has prepared a Request for Proposal (RFP) document that provides background information, outlines the scope of services, the procurement process and the information required from interested parties.