NCEH Call Specification 26-27

National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health (NCEH) Research Call Specifications Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................. 2 Glossary of acronyms and abbreviations .............................................................. 2 National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health 2026-27......... 3 Introduction............................................................................................................. 3 Mission ................................................................................................................... 3 NCEH Design Principles......................................................................................... 4 Research Themes .................................................................................................. 6 Broad Research Priorities for 2026-27 ................................................................... 7 Funding Principles .................................................................................................. 9 How to Apply ........................................................................................................ 10 Dates may be subject to change based on business requirements. ..................... 10 Project Outputs and Publications ......................................................................... 11 How Proposals will be Assessed .......................................................................... 11 Contact Details and Research Partner Organisational Support............................ 13 Submission Documents ........................................................................................ 14 Annex 1: NCEH Short Proposal Form .................................................................. 14 Annex 2: NCEH Long Proposal Form ................................................................... 16

Acronyms and Abbreviations Glossary of acronyms and abbreviations Acronym AI ALBs APHA CDEL CFP CSD Defra EOI FY IPM MALDI‑TOF MinION NCEH NNBCA OECD PhD R&D RBG RHS TBC UK UKRI

Definition Artificial Intelligence Arm’s Length Bodies Animal and Plant Health Agency Core Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit Centre for Forest Protection Chief Scientist Directorate Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Expression of Interest Financial year Integrated Pest Management Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization – Time of Flight (Mass Spectrometry). A laboratory technique used for rapid identification of microorganisms and increasingly used in diagnostic applications A product name rather than an acronym. A portable nanopore sequencing device used for rapid genetic analysis and pathogen identification.

National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health Non‑Native Biological Control Agent(s) Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development Doctor of Philosophy Research and development Royal Botanic Gardens Royal Horticultural Society To Be Confirmed United Kingdon UK Research and Innovation

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National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health 2026-27 Introduction The National Centre for Environmental Horticulture and Plant Health (NCEH) was announced on 12th May 2026, as a New £3 million Centre to help grow healthy gardens by researching and helping mitigate existing and emerging threats to our green spaces.

The NCEH aims to address recommendations set out by the House of Lords Horticultural Sector Committee in its report Sowing the seeds: A blooming English horticultural sector (2023). Informed by the constraints on productivity and growth identified in the Oxford Economics Economic Impact Assessment Of Ornamental Horticulture And Landscaping (2018/19), the NCEH is intended to help address these challenges by strengthening investment in skills, innovation and productivity-enhancing activity across the environmental horticulture sector.

The NCEH will operate as a UK-based virtual centre and represents one of the few coordinated mechanisms currently available for supporting research and innovation specifically focused on environmental horticulture and plant health. Drawing on a model similar to the Centre for Forest Protection (CFP), the NCEH will serve as a trusted knowledge hub for a diverse range of horticulture stakeholders, fostering learning, encouraging evidence sharing, and showcasing good practice across the sector. By addressing this gap, government support through the NCEH can help the sector minimise pest and disease risks, strengthen domestic growth and production capability, and reduce the UK’s reliance on imports.

Mission The mission of the Centre is to advance the evidence base required to protect and strengthen plant health, in the context of environmental horticulture, across the UK by delivering high-quality, interdisciplinary research and development. Through generating new knowledge, tools and approaches, the Centre enables improved understanding, prevention and management of current and emerging threats to plant health. Plant health includes the positives of supporting healthy plant production as well as tackling pests, diseases and other biotic and abiotic pressures affecting environmental horticulture, thereby supporting resilient, productive and sustainable horticultural systems.

NCEH Strategic Objectives The NCEH will provide a dynamic and productive environment, promoting high quality innovative science, interdisciplinary research and facilitating knowledge exchange.

The NCEH will: •

Further develop plant science capability at APHA and RHS to build a scientific focus and strengthen UK horticulture.

•

Review risk pathways and prioritise pest and disease threats to ornamental and amenity landscapes and trade under different climate change scenarios.

•

Explore international best practice in environmental horticulture biosecurity.

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Develop new, practical ways for the UK industry to use technology to increase production sustainably and improve resilience to pests and diseases.

•

Facilitate education, knowledge transfer and the development of professional skills in the environmental horticulture sector.

NCEH Design Principles Research funded through NCEH should aim to deliver against eight core design principles: 1. Meeting business and organisational strategy needs Projects should provide evidence to support plant health policy, operational readiness and relevant strategies (i.e. Plant Biosecurity Strategy for Great Britain and Environmental Improvement Plan), addressing both immediate and emerging priority risks, alongside longer-term more-strategic needs.

2. An interdisciplinary approach Provide evidence that integrates information, data, techniques, tools, and perspectives to deliver more robust and complete evidence.

3. Delivering impact A clear rationale of how outputs and outcomes seek to improve our longer-term ability to plan for, prevent or mitigate risks to UK environmental horticulture and plant health. Work should contribute to environmental horticulture by providing evidence, knowledge, tools and solutions for Plant Health Policy and other internal and external stakeholders and beneficiaries.

4. Building capability and capacity Maintain and develop our national capability and capacity for plant health science in order to deliver current and future policy and evidence needs.

5. Cross-working between Partners Research partners should work collaboratively to provide the best value for money, research, results and impact.

6. Engagement and knowledge exchange within the partnership Promote timely exchange of information between the research partners, promoting collective capability, capacity and further innovation.

7. Engagement and knowledge exchange outside the partnership Provide evidence, knowledge, tools and solutions for Plant Health Policy, along with other external stakeholders and beneficiaries.

8. Identifying and using external expertise Attract and collaborate with suitable external collaborators where the capability of the partnership is reduced or where there are strategic opportunities.

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Definition of Research All funded activities under NCEH must meet the definition of R&D. This reflects the funding source for the programme, which is provided through Defra’s Core Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (CDEL). A core condition of this funding is that it supports eligible R&D activity only.

Applicants should ensure that proposals clearly articulate their research and innovation components, including how the work is novel, methodologically robust, and contributes to advancing the evidence base for plant health.

The recognised definition is taken from the Frascati Manual (OECD, 2015: 2.5 to 2.7). Please see below: Research and experimental development (R&D) comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge – including knowledge of humankind, culture and society – and to devise new applications of available knowledge.

2.6 A set of common features identifies R&D activities, even if these are carried out by different performers. R&D activities may be aimed at achieving either specific or general objectives. R&D is always aimed at new findings, based on original concepts (and their interpretation) or hypotheses.

It is largely uncertain about its final outcome (or at least about the quantity of time and resources needed to achieve it), it is planned for and budgeted (even when carried out by individuals), and it is aimed at producing results that could be either freely transferred or traded in a marketplace. For an activity to be an R&D activity, it must satisfy five core criteria.

2.7 The activity must be: • novel • creative • uncertain • systematic • transferable and/or reproducible.

2.8 All five criteria are to be met, at least in principle, every time an R&D activity is undertaken whether on a continuous or occasional basis. The definition of R&D just given is consistent with the definition of R&D used in the previous editions of the Frascati Manual and covers the same range of activities.

2.9 The term R&D covers three types of activity: basic research, applied research and experimental development.

Basic research is experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, without any particular application or use in view.

Applied research is original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge. It is, however, directed primarily towards a specific, practical aim or objective.

Experimental development is systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience and producing additional knowledge, which is directed to producing new products or processes or to improving existing products or processes.

To clarify: Routine/ dedicated surveillance activities or training with no research questions / hypotheses do not qualify for research funding.

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Research Themes Research priorities are consistent with the high-level research themes, captured within the Plant Health Research & Development Plan (2023 to 2028).

Each Theme is supported by a series of indicative research questions, drawn from either initial consultation or pre-existing priorities. These are not intended to be prescriptive but provide a guide to the currently identified knowledge or tool gaps.

Theme Theme 1: Risk assessment and horizon scanning Theme 2: Inspections, diagnostics, and surveillance Theme 3: Management of pests and diseases Theme 4: Resilience and adaptation

Theme 5: Plant health behaviours

Theme 6: Evaluation

Brief Description Understanding pest and pathogen biology, risk factors and pathways, climatic modelling, and host vulnerability.

Modelling the distribution and spread of pests and pathogens, new approaches to surveillance such as remote sensing, exploration of new detection and identification tools and optimising citizen science.

Integrated Pest Management, nature-based solutions such as biological control, guidance and toolkits for landowners and data management tools.

Understanding how to improve the baseline diversity, health, condition and connectivity of our plants and ecosystems, to build resilient landscapes and allow adaptation against established pest and diseases.

Understanding the genetic basis for plant tolerance to pests and diseases, and the potential to use this to manage threats.

Understanding what motivates and constrains individuals and groups to change their behaviour in support of positive outcomes for plant health, resilience and adaptation, overcoming the knowledge to action gap and improving our understanding of the values of plants and the role that values play in shaping people’s choices and behaviours.

Developing evaluation frameworks, indicators and metrics and carrying out high quality evaluation to help us measure the success of our interventions to improve plant health and resilience.

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Broad Research Priorities for 2026-27 These priorities have been determined from the initial NCEH workshop at RHS Wisley in June 2026. We are also interested to hear your proposals on other lesser known and emerging risks to help improve our critical knowledge base in these areas.

We look forward to seeing how your ideas come together.

Priorities for Theme 1: Risk assessment and horizon scanning Understanding pest and pathogen biology, risk factors and pathways, climatic modelling, and host vulnerability to allow us to better understand likely impacts and behaviours of known pests and novel threats and to prepare for them.

• • • • • • • • • •

Is it possible to predict/detect rising new trends in plants/produce and the associated risks, e.g. increased imports, new species, new hosts or changing trade routes?

Can an environmental horticulture-specific priority list of pests and diseases be developed and mapped across the supply chain?

How can imported plant material be better assessed for biosecurity risk where origin is uncertain (re-exporting/re-labelling)?

How will climate change affect pest and disease emergence, spread and host susceptibility in UK environmental horticulture?

Which plants, species or systems are most vulnerable or resilient under future climate and pest pressures?

What are the most important pest and disease pathways and how do these interact?

What are the risks from known exotic plant pests and pathogens to environmental horticulture and what are their likely pathways to, and establishment in, the UK? What are the risks associated with different plant materials or commodities, in particular seeds and plant products?

Are there specific risks or benefits associated with new strains of pests and pathogens arriving or mutating?

How might climate change and other stresses combine to affect the introduction and establishment of plant pests and diseases, and the range and susceptibility of priority host species, or the cumulative impact on priority host species in the UK?

Priorities for Theme 2: Inspections, diagnostics, and surveillance Detecting, monitoring and modelling the distribution and spread of newly emerging and existing pests and pathogens. New approaches to surveillance such as remote sensing, exploration and validation of new detection and diagnostic methods and use of modelling to optimise sampling.

• • • • •

What practical early-warning systems can be developed for growers and the wider sector to detect emerging pest and disease threats?

What are the most effective surveillance and reporting mechanisms across the environmental horticulture sector?

How can diagnostic technologies (e.g. MinION, MALDI-TOF) be applied for rapid, in-field pest and disease identification?

How can citizen science and grower reporting be optimised to improve pest and disease monitoring?

How can data be used to model pest and disease spread, risk and distribution across supply chains and landscapes?

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• • •

What inspection regimes are most effective without damaging plants or missing risky plant material?

How can in-field automated detection, for example drones or unmanned aerial vehicles, be used to improve inspection, surveillance, and early detection of pests and diseases across environmental horticulture systems?

How can synergies between methods be exploited (for example, using genomic and isotope analysis to investigate origins of an outbreak)?

Priorities for Theme 3: Management of pests and diseases Better management of pests and diseases, including integrated pest management, nature-based solutions such as biological control, guidance and toolkits for landowners and data management tools.

• • • • • • • • •

What integrated pest management approaches are most effective for controlling pests and diseases and how can they be improved?

How can early-season pest control be improved at a time when biological controls can be less effective in low temperatures?

What biological control solutions are effective in outdoor environments where containment is difficult?

Can new control methods (e.g. drone application, novel biological agents, fungal screening) improve pest management outcomes?

What guidance, tools and decision-support systems are needed to implement IPM effectively?

What further preparation is required for high-risk quarantine pests and diseases not currently present in the UK, such as Xylella fastidiosa?

What new cost effective management methods would be useful or required within environmental horticulture?

What management methods may be unavailable in future and how might they be substituted?

How can we encourage better uptake of effective management options, and ensure that they are acceptable and practicable in the long term?

Priorities for Theme 4: Resilience and adaptation Improving diversity, health, condition and connectivity of plants and ecosystems, understanding genetic variation and the genetic basis for plant tolerance to pests and diseases, enabling the planting of more resilient populations.

• • • • • •

How can environmental horticulture systems adapt to plant health impacts from water scarcity, extreme weather and changing seasonal patterns?

How can the industry transition successfully to peat-free systems & improve productivity without increasing plant stress, pest & disease numbers or failure rates?

How can plant selection, breeding and system design improve tolerance to pests, diseases and environmental stress?

How can landscape-scale resilience be improved through better design and maintenance?

What are the most important considerations for limiting losses of newly established plants?

Are there trade-offs or complementarities between tolerances to different pests and diseases and/or other adaptive traits?

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Priorities for Theme 5: Plant health behaviours Understanding what motivates and constrains individuals and groups to achieve positive plant health outcomes and good biosecurity. Overcoming the knowledge to action gap and improving our knowledge of the economic, environmental, and social and cultural values of healthy plants.

•

What motivates or prevents consumers from adopting biosecure behaviours (e.g. buying responsibly, navigating the risks associated with informal trade)?

How can communication improve understanding of biosecurity and plant health risks across audiences?

How can consumer behaviour be shifted towards more sustainable and resilient plant choices?

How do consumers understand native vs non-native plants and what are the implications for plant health?

How can certification, labelling and assurance schemes influence behaviour (e.g. Plant Healthy)?

What interventions are most effective at changing behaviour among local authorities, landscapers and supply chain actors?

How can we close the knowledge-to-action gap and create more effective exchange between scientific and practitioner communities?

How can we measure and communicate the value of healthy plants and how can we use this knowledge of values to shape positive choices and behaviours in support of plant health and resilience?

• • • • • • •

Priorities for Theme 6: Evaluation Developing evaluation frameworks, indicators and metrics to help us measure the effects of our plant health policies, programmes and projects What are the positive impacts of environmental horticulture and how can they be measured?

What are the long-term costs and impacts of pest and disease outbreaks under different scenarios?

What are the costs and benefits of biosecurity measures, certification and compliance?

How effective and available is training for members of the sector?

• • • •

Funding Principles •

•

• • •

Anticipated start dates for projects are 1st November 2026 and may run up to 31st March 2028. Exceptions to this may be given for necessary exemptions by agreement with Defra on a case-by-case basis (e.g. for a PhD).

We particularly encourage research that is strongly grounded in applied science, delivering practical solutions and outcomes that can be readily translated into real-world horticultural practice.

Projects requesting over £250,000 will be subject to additional peer review and may need to start later than November.

Projects may request a maximum of £500,000 for this period. Exceptions to this may be agreed on a case-by-case basis in advance but will be subject to strict review.

If there are any queries, please contact NCEH@defra.gov.uk.

Each project is expected at a minimum to: 9

• • • •

Supply written quarterly updates of milestones and deliverables, this may be in the form of a meeting in addition to the written summary.

For each year the project is active, an annual report using supplied templates summarising the work carried out, key results and issues should be submitted by the end of March.

At the end of a project a final report should be submitted using supplied templates, this should include results from previous annual reports collated into one final document for publication.

It is heavily encouraged to consider extra deliverables that expand on the reporting as knowledge exchange.

Where progress has been made in terms of completion or partial completion of a milestone, an assessment of appropriate remuneration based on staff time and actual expenses evidenced shall be made and agreed between the parties.

A withholding of project payment by Defra may take place if there is a failure to perform the project key objectives.

How to Apply Dates may be subject to change based on business requirements.

• •

Launch of Call – by 17:00 3rd July 2026 Researchers from APHA and RHS are invited to develop and submit their ideas using Annex 1: NCEH Short Proposal Form’. Central submissions should be received from each organisation by 17:00 Tuesday 4th August 2026. The NCEH may invite later short proposals if need arises.

•

We intend to return short proposal feedback by 17:00 Tuesday 25th August 2026.

Applications thought to be potentially appropriate for NCEH funding will be invited to submit using Annex 2: NCEH Long Proposal Form, providing greater project detail whilst also taking on board initial feedback and steer.

•

The launch call for the long proposals is planned for 25th August 2026. The closing date for the long proposal submissions will be 17.00 24th September 2026, with assessment taking place shortly after.

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Final NCEH funding announcements will be made following this, with Work Orders distributed as soon as possible. Anticipated start date of projects is 1st November 2026.

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If there are extenuating circumstances and a need for extension is to be requested, please contact NCEH@defra.gov.uk.

•

Submissions will be collated centrally by each of the research organisations into a single submission. This will be via a template which will follow through all stages of moderation and feedback.

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Application notes: • •

•

•

• •

Your internal processes might include earlier deadlines for checking submissions, please factor these into your planning.

We encourage the research organisations to not filter out proposals too heavily prior to submission unless they clearly do not fit NCEH aims. The Short proposal/ EOI process will do a lot of the screening necessary and one of the important foundations of the procurement of this contract is that it is competitively scored.

Please only use the forms in the annexes / attached to the call and do not change the structure of the template. It is important that all proposals are consistently formatted for error checking. Failure to follow this may lead to a proposal being rejected.

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and be supported by the project lead confirming validity of the proposal. These are not factored into any scoring but give context to the sifters and moderators on usage.

Please submit Word versions of each proposal.

Please name the proposals using the following format: year_org submission code_lead author surname_key words (8 max) e.g. 26.27_Def1_Seymour_Submission process for NCEH

Project Outputs and Publications Any researchers or organisations (including sub-contractors) wishing to publish outputs (e.g. project reports, journal articles (especially pre-prints), factsheets) from NCEH projects must follow the approval process below.

The purpose of this process is to manage public communication of Defra funded work and ensure it meets required standards. Research on high priority pests and diseases can be picked up by the media, and this process is designed to give comms teams in Defra and the Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) notice of what research is due to be published and time to react.

Defra does not seek to amend journal submissions to match their policy approaches, and we respect the scientific independence of those applying. The amendments typically requested involve removing sensitive site specific information or ensuring that policy is contextualised correctly. In the majority of cases there is no need for amendments.

How Proposals will be Assessed Short proposals are assessed for their appropriateness for funding via NCEH. This is a balanced measure of the project against the four criteria; ‘Strategic case’, ‘Collaboration and Capability development’, ‘Engagement and Knowledge Exchange’ and ‘Value for Money’.

Post moderation applicants will be provided with an indication of whether the project should proceed, and any useful feedback is generated. They are not scored at this stage.

Appropriateness for funding via NCEH – Yes/No1

1 Proposals thought to likely be unsuitable for NCEH funding will be advised at the short proposal stage.

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Long proposals are assessed against five criteria, that bring together the NCEH aims and objectives and design principles: 1. Appropriateness for funding via NCEH – Yes/No 2. Strategic Case – Research outputs (40%) Meeting business and organisational strategy needs Delivering Impact Interdisciplinarity and robustness of approach 3. Collaboration & Capability development (20%) Building capability and capacity Cross-working between partners Identifying and using external expertise 4. Engagement & Knowledge Exchange (10%) Engagement and knowledge exchange within the partnership Engagement and knowledge exchange outside the partnership 5. Value for money2 (30%) The four weighted criteria will each be given an individual satisfaction score to provide an overall proposal score. Final selection is then based on strategic need, available resources and a portfolio approach.

Proposal assessment will be led by the Defra NCEH Theme Leads, supported by the wider Defra Plant Health Evidence and Analysis and Plant and Tree Health Policy Teams as necessary. They constitute the ‘Authority’ defined below.

Individual Criterion Satisfaction Exceptional - the response is significantly above the Authority’s requirements and provides a high degree of confidence that the supplier can deliver to an exceptionally high standard.

Score 100.00

Exceed requirements - the response exceeds the Authority’s requirements and provides confidence that the supplier can deliver a high standard.

70.00

Meets requirements - the response meets all the Authority’s requirements and provides confidence that the supplier can deliver to the required standard.

50.00

Below requirements - the response partially meets the Authority’s requirements but has weaknesses that give the Authority limited confidence that the supplier will be able to deliver to the required standard.

Unacceptable - the response fails to meet the Authority’s requirements.

The response includes errors, weaknesses, inconsistencies, omissions or general risks. The proposal provides the Authority with little or no confidence that the supplier can deliver to the required standard.

20.00

0.00

2 Value for Money is driven by public interest in economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Its assessment is a balanced judgement,

drawing on experience and available benchmarking. The Green Book issued by treasury is a useful guide for further information.

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Contact Details and Research Partner Organisational Support For questions related to submitting a proposal with one of the partners please contact either: • •

NCEH APHA Lead: NCEH-Research-Calls@apha.gov.uk NCEH RHS Lead: scienceadmin@rhs.org.uk

Dedicated mailbox for NCEH correspondence and questions: NCEH@defra.gov.uk

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Submission Documents Annex 1: NCEH Short Proposal Form Please carefully consider NCEH design principles alongside our research priorities.

Project Title:

Research Theme Addressed (Suggested)

☐ Theme 1: Risk assessment and horizon scanning ☐ Theme 2: Inspections, diagnostics, and surveillance ☐ Theme 3: Management of pests and diseases ☐ Theme 4: Resilience and adaptation ☐ Theme 5: Plant health behaviours ☐ Theme 6: Evaluation

Project Lead and Email: Lead Research Partner Organisation Collaborating Research Partner Organisation(s)

☐ RHS, ☐ APHA Please list all collaborators and include who signed off this submission from that organisation (include name, affiliation & date):

Intended Output and Impact 150 Words Max Project Description3 300 Words Max

Proposed Project Duration (Months)

3 If the project involves work with prohibited material you will need an appropriate Scientific authorisation (licence): Moving

prohibited plants, plant pests, pathogens and soil - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). If the project involves release (including glasshouses and polytunnels) of a non-native biological control agent you may need a licence: UK Plant Health Risk Register (defra.gov.uk). In either instance, please indicate in your proposal whether you have appropriate authorisation in place, or whether this is yet to be obtained. Biological control agents that are being used for research under contained conditions are not assessed by the Defra NNBCA licensing team but should be held under controlled conditions: Guidelines for holding and researching non-native invertebrate biological control agents under contained conditions in England.

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Initial Total Cost Estimate4

AI Tools

Project Lead Signoff

Please indicate which threshold is most relevant for entire project lifetime: ☐ <£50,000 ☐ £50,000 – £125,000 ☐ £125,000 – 250,000 ☐ >£250,000 AI tools can be used to improve the efficiency of your bid writing process, however they may also introduce an increased risk of misleading statements via ‘hallucination’. The questions included will not be taken into account when assessing a tender and are used for information only.

1. Have you used AI or machine learning tools, including large language models, to assist in any part of your tender submission? ☐ Yes ☐ No 2. Where AI tools have been used to support the generation of Tender responses, please confirm that they have been checked and verified for accuracy. ☐ Yes ☐ No Project lead signature and date confirming that this submission is truthful & factually accurate.

Name: Signature: Date:

4 This is intended to be indicative at this stage. No commitment is inferred.

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Annex 2: NCEH Long Proposal Form Long proposal forms should be no more than a maximum of 6 pages in total with minimum size 12 font.

Please carefully consider NCEH design principles alongside our research priorities.

Organisation Submission code Proposal Reference (Defra to Provide if funded)

Project Title:

Project Duration (Months)

Research Theme Addressed (Suggested)

☐ Theme 1: Risk assessment and horizon scanning ☐ Theme 2: Inspections, diagnostics, and surveillance ☐ Theme 3: Management of pests and diseases ☐ Theme 4: Resilience and adaptation ☐ Theme 5: Plant health behaviours ☐ Theme 6: Evaluation

Project Lead and Email:

Lead author signature and date confirming that this submission is truthful & factually accurate.

Project Lead Signoff

Name: Signature: Date:

Lead Research Partner Organisation Collaborating Research Partner Organisation (s)

AI Tools

☐ RHS ☐ APHA Please list all collaborators and include who signed off this submission from that organisation (include name, affiliation & date):

AI tools can be used to improve the efficiency of your bid writing process, however they may also introduce an increased risk of misleading statements via ‘hallucination’.

The questions included will not be scored or taken into account when assessing a tender and are used for information only.

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1. Have you used AI or machine learning tools, including large language models, to assist in any part of your tender submission? ☐ Yes ☐ No 2. Please detail any instances where AI or machine learning tools, including large language models have been used to generate written content, or support your tender submission (Optional: Text response required from supplier) 3. Where AI tools have been used to support the generation of Tender responses, please confirm that they have been checked and verified for accuracy. ☐ Yes ☐ No

Background to the project

Key Objectives, Incl. List of Research Questions Breakdown and Detail of Proposed Work and Methods to be Used

Expected Outputs & Impact 5

Names of Researchers and Brief Summary of Expertise (include Org.) Delivery Risks and Risk Management

As a minimum output, Defra expects an annual report for each year of the project and a final project report collating all the project research. For complex/high-value research projects, a more detailed supporting theory of change may be requested. Open access costs are available upon request and following publication guidance; they must not be costed into the project total.

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Please see the following page for supporting information. Page break included for ease of counting pages against total.

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Supporting information – The following pages are exempt from the six page limit.

Font size can be lower than 12 in this section.

Please include a Breakdown of Project Milestones & Deliverables: Please note NCEH theme leads will conduct quarterly catch ups with project leads to monitor progress and enable invoicing against works completed. These quarterly updates should be integrated within milestone planning. A project Gantt Chart may be attached at the bottom of the proposal. Milestones should be planned against quarters.

Finance required Please do not change the formatting of the template, it allows for quick error checking and faster contracting.

Is this project being co-funded elsewhere?6

☐ Yes ☐ No If yes what is the source, amount of funding and state if is this already confirmed: Name & Grade

Rate (£/day)

No. of days

Effort & Day Rate for Each Member of Study Team

Total number of days & cost of staff time: Other Costs (e.g. consumables, travel, events etc.)

Breakdown of NonPartner Costs

X days

Total value £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £

-

£ £ £ £

-

Material costs/ Consumables: Travel & Subsistence: Events: Other: Non partner costs summary and breakdown7: In kind contributions (not included in totals):

Additional Cost Considerations Incl.

In-Kind Contributions

6 For example, via internal funding, UKRI funds or other Defra funding. This is to get an understanding of wider risk

and value for money.

7 This is to get an idea of the level of subcontractor involvement on a project and to note which subcontractors are planned.

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Financial year Partner Cost per Research Partner per year8

FY 26/27

FY 27/28

FY 28/299

FY 29/30

FY 30/31

£

£

£

£

Partner total

APHA: RHS: £ Collated Total: Overall Total:

£

Annexes (Only to be used upon sifter or moderator request):

Reference list10:

8 Partner costs should include any subcontractors used, details can be added in the section below.

9 Projects beyond March 2028 by exception only.

10 Please add only relevant references to any points made.

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Gannt Chart (optional)11

11 Please insert in this document rather than as a separate file.