Establishment of a panel of individual external experts to provide expertise in agriculture, food and sustainability systems

As a producer of the highest-quality food and drink, the vast majority of which is exported around the world, Ireland has developed robust and integrated systems governing its agriculture (including aquaculture) and food. In areas like food safety, traceability, animal health and welfare, productivity and breeding, sustainability and innovation, Ireland’s government-sponsored services are world-class. Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI) is a consortium of public bodies that are responsible for the agriculture (including aquaculture) and food sectors in Ireland. Covering diverse technical and skills domains, SFSI is charged with developing long-term relationships internationally based on the transfer of Irish knowledge, expertise and technologies, in support of the development of safe, secure and sustainable value chains in agri-food. The SFSI consortium members are: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Teagasc - The Agriculture and Food Development Authority Food Safety Authority of Ireland Bord Bia - The Irish Food Board Enterprise Ireland SFSI consortium members can co-operate internationally using a variety of inputs: • expertise in project and programme design • government-to-government advice • delivery of technical assistance • organisation of training and study tours • project and programme monitoring, reviews and evaluation • impact evaluation • creation of financing models for industry support. SFSI consortium membership provides expertise to support partner governments and organizations globally in the following areas: • formulating agricultural (including aquaculture), food and marine sectoral policy, strategies and programmes • building regulatory systems and institutional capability • strengthening food safety at all stages of the supply chain • protecting standards of animal health and welfare and expertise in veterinary services • systems for animal identification, registration and movement control • traceability in the food chain • establishing and improving research and innovation in agriculture (including aquaculture) and food • knowledge transfer, agricultural education and extension services and systems • establishment of producer groups and co-operatives • developing and embedding sustainability programmes at primary and processor levels • SME development and company funding support systems • export promotion in food or commodity sectors • creation and marketing of national or regional brands The Executive Team of SFSI undertakes business development, project preparation and delivery, project management and administration and coordination activities on behalf of the Consortium Members and is the point of contact for overseas clients - governments, agencies and other organisations. The Team can negotiate participation in international food, agriculture (including aquaculture) and rural development projects through direct business development activities and through engaging in open and restricted tenders on behalf of the Consortium members. The SFSI Executive team is a Unit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and oversees the administration of this DPS including External Expert appointments on behalf of the Consortium Members. The consortium members will use existing/internal staff resources to provide services. However, they require external experts to supplement the existing resources where necessary. SFSI wishes to invite external applicants to put themselves forward to be included on a list of prospective contract candidates under the Dynamic Purchasing System procurement rules. The purpose of this Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) is to establish a list of external experts in agriculture, aquaculture, food and sustainability for the provision of expertise to partner and client organisations.