NGN Post-emergent Broadleaf Weed Control in Chickpeas in Central Queensland

Reference number: PROC-9177197

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Release date:: Wednesday 08 January 2025
Closing time:: Wednesday 05 February 2025, at 05:00 PM ACT local time
Enquiry deadline:: Monday 27 January 2025, at 05:00 PM ACT local time

Summary

Broadleaf weed control in chickpeas is particularly challenging due to the lack of available post-emergent herbicides suitable for in-crop application. This issue was raised by growers at an NGN forum in Gindie, Queensland, where there was significant interest in exploring alternative options to the limited chemistry currently used by Central Queensland growers. In Central Queensland, growers face weed burdens in chickpea crops from species such as Mexican poppy, sow thistle, and wild turnip, for which the current standard grower practice of pre-emergent application of isoxaflutole, simazine or terbuthylazine are often ineffective. There is an opportunity to demonstrate the efficacy and suitability of recently registered pre-emergent herbicides within Central Queensland systems. Currently, growers in the region lack knowledge about their use. This investment will evaluate herbicides (pre and post emergent) currently registered for use in chickpea to assess their fit in the region and efficacy against local problematic weeds through replicated small plot field studies, with extension of this information to growers through field walks and presentation of results.

Offer period

Offers will remain open for acceptance by the GRDC for a period of 6 months after the Closing Time.

Document contact and enquiries

Attention: Lyndal Gordon
Grains Research and Development Corporation
Email: lyndal.gordon@grdc.com.au

Make all requests for further information or clarification in relation to this procurement in writing (email) prior to 27 January 2025.

GRDC will publish all requests and responses to requests on the GRDC website under Questions and Answers at the bottom of this webpage.

Consortia response

GRDC will not accept Tenders from Consortia.

Lodgement of Tender

Submit your Tender response electronically through the Grains Investment Portal.

AusTender

TBC.

Description

Outcome

Outputs

Output 1.

Title: Field studies for broadleaf weed control in chickpea.

Description: By May 2027, replicated small plot field studies that demonstrate the efficacy of a range of pre-emergent herbicides on difficult to control broadleaf weeds in Chickpea within a Central Queensland environment.

Deliverables include:

A desktop review to identify currently registered pre- and post-emergent herbicides for use in chickpea.
Conducting a minimum of 2 small plot replicated field studies in Central Queensland during both the 2025 and 2026 winter cropping seasons
Field study protocols will be designed to evaluate the efficacy of pre- and post-emergent herbicides not in common use in Central Queensland identified through the desktop review. Protocols may also include herbicide mixtures. Data will be collected on weed emergence, survival, and crop yield.
Weeds of focus are to be major broadleaf weeds impacting chickpea production in Central Queensland, including Mexican poppy, sow thistle and wild turnip.
Trial reports of each field study are to be uploaded to GRDC Online Farm Trials.

Output 2.

Title: Communications and Extension.

Description: By May 2027, delivery of extension and communication activities targeted at growers and advisers to increase understanding of management of broadleaf weeds in chickpea.

Deliverables include:

Conducting a webinar or similar that communicates how to incorporate newer pre-emergent chemistries into weed management programs for controlling broadleaf weeds, drawing on results from the project (Output 1).
Written content for a Factsheet targeted at growers and advisers covering the results from Output 1. This will be formatted, published, and promoted through communication platforms such as GRDC Communications and WeedSmart.
Hosting of field walks at a minimum of two trial sites per year.
Be available to provide this knowledge for GRDC Research Updates if requested.
Be prepared to jointly host a National Grower Network meeting at field day events if requested.

Proposed Budget

Proposed Contract & Term

GRDC will contract under the terms of the Services Contract.

The schedule(s) attached to the contract will detail the project details: the outcomes, outputs, milestones, budget, participating personnel and required intellectual property.

The template contract containing the proposed Terms and Conditions is available on the Application resources page on the GRDC website.

It is anticipated that any resultant contract in relation to this procurement will commence with a proposed term of 2 years, 3 months.

Conditions for Participation

The following are mandatory conditions with which a Tenderer must comply to participate in this procurement process:

The Tenderer must be a single legal entity or recognised firm of partners.
The Tenderer and any proposed subcontractor must be compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and any other applicable labour laws and standards in the jurisdiction in which they operate.
The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not have a judicial decision against it (not including decisions under appeal) relating to employee entitlements and who have not paid the claim.
The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not be named on the Consolidated List, being the list of persons and entities who are subject to targeted financial sanctions or travel bans under Australian sanction laws, as maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Minimum Form and Content Requirements

The following are the mandatory content and format requirements that the Tenderer must complete and provide to participate in this procurement process:

Submit Tenders using the Grains Investment Portal.
Write Tenders in English and express any measurements in Australian legal units of measurement.
Budget details must be submitted on the ‘GRDC Budget Template’ provided in the Grains Investment Portal.

Evaluation Criteria

In the table below are the Evaluation Criteria that the Tender Evaluation Team will use to assess the value for money of all Tenders.

No	Type	Weighting
1	Technical – Qualitative evaluation criteria related to non-price factors such as methodology, project plan, track record, experience.
1a	A detailed plan to deliver the investment outcome and outputs, specifying the: Specific information, products and/or services to be delivered. Key tasks/milestones, responsible parties and indicative timeframes. Project team structure and management arrangements, including collaborations with organisations, commercial companies and/or other projects with relevant data.	60%
1b	Evidence of the ability and experience to deliver similar investment outcomes and outputs, including details of previous relevant project/s where the organisation has: Met contractual obligations. Managed and designed experiments. Managed sub-contractors. Collaborated with relevant organisations and industry (national and/or international) to build on the work already undertaken in this area. Achieved impact. Note: include details of the impact.	40%
2	Price - The tendered budget.	N/A
3	Risk - Risks inherent in the application including the degree of compliance with the draft contract and any actual or perceived conflict of interest.	N/A
4	Australian economy - The economic benefit of the procurement to the Australian economy.	N/A