Program 3A - Pest snail ecology, population dynamics and risk prediction

⁠⁠⁠Overview

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) is seeking a suitably experienced provider to deliver applied RD&E under Program 3A, Pest snail ecology, population dynamics and risk prediction. The successful provider will build on existing GRDC investments, datasets and tools to develop practical, regionally relevant decision rules for snail activity, bait timing, harvest contamination risk and feasible harvest-phase mitigation options, with findings developed for extension and decision support through the broader coordinated pest snail investment.

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. While substantial technical knowledge and management resources 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. The investment will be extension-led and will build on existing knowledge, datasets, tools, trial platforms and industry capability.

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.

Delivery will be nationally coordinated 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.

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:

• Delivering applied RD&E to improve understanding of pest snail ecology, population dynamics and the drivers of management risk
• Converting existing and newly generated evidence into practical, regionally relevant decision rules for growers and advisers covering snail activity and bait timing, movement onto plants, population and seasonal risk, harvest contamination risk, and feasible harvest-phase mitigation options
• Building on relevant datasets, methods, tools, trial platforms and capability developed through previous GRDC investments, including UOA2205-005RTX
• Combining field observation, experimentation, data analysis and modelling that account for differences between pest snail species, regions, farming systems and seasonal conditions
• Validating findings and converting them into practical indicators, decision rules and risk guidance rather than stand-alone research results
• Working closely with Program 3B so that ecological and activity findings inform bait timing and interpretation of bait performance
• Working with Program 2 to ensure outputs are developed in forms suitable for adviser and grower use, and that regional experience and extension feedback inform research priorities
• Providing timely planning, progress, output and impact information to support whole-of-investment coordination, synthesis and monitoring led through Program 1
• Preparing and submitting contractual milestone reports to GRDC
• Making appropriate personnel available to participate in whole-of-program planning, coordination, monitoring and review activities led through Program 1, and meeting associated personnel and travel costs

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 this procurement and should not be included as proposed activities or budget items. Consideration of variable-rate baiting principles may be included where it directly supports monitoring, spatial risk assessment or practical management guidance, but development of an operational variable-rate baiting system remains outside scope.

Contractor Requirements

• Suitably experienced in delivering applied RD&E relevant to pest snail ecology, population dynamics and risk prediction
• Able to identify existing outputs, datasets, methods, tools and trial platforms from previous GRDC investments, including UOA2205-005RTX, that will inform the proposed work
• Able to propose a prioritised and achievable program within the indicative budget range, clearly distinguishing essential activities from desirable additional work
• Able to explain how findings will be validated and converted into practical indicators, decision rules and risk guidance
• Able to work collaboratively with providers appointed to Programs 1, 2 and 3B and participate in coordinated planning, reporting, monitoring and delivery arrangements

Contract Terms and Conditions

• Program 3A is anticipated to commence on 15 March 2027, following completion of the current GRDC pest snail investment, UOA2205-005RTX
• All four programs, including Program 3A, are anticipated to conclude on 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 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.

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.

Tenderers applying for more than one procurement should identify any shared personnel, infrastructure, datasets, field sites, efficiencies or dependencies across their applications. 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.

Tenderers should propose a delivery model that makes effective use of available seasonal opportunities and provides sufficient regional and seasonal validation to support practical decision-making. The proposed scale and location of activities should be justified by pest risk, existing evidence, likely industry benefit and available resources.

Enquiries

All requests for further information or clarification in relation to this procurement must be made in writing (email) prior to 3 September 2026.

• Attention: Rimaz Toto
• Organisation: Grains Research and Development Corporation
• Email: cpprocurements@grdc.com.au