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 $154 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: Biosecurity preparedness and strategy for the potato industry (PT25002).

The objectives of the services being sought are to develop key biosecurity information and planning for the potato industry, which are essential for biosecurity practices and strategic activity planning. This knowledge will ultimately enhance the industry's sustainability and resilience to pests and diseases to help maintaining market access following an incursion and further develop collaboration across industries.

Through the project, the industry will identify:

• pests and diseases of biosecurity significance

• highest risk exotic pests and diseases and their entry pathway

• current surveillance and diagnostic activities and their alignment with industry needs

• recommendation on key diagnostic improvements, potential research gaps and R&D priority

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.