Horizons Regional Council (Horizons) are seeking experienced possum control contractors to deliver Possum Control Operations (PCOs) across the region over the next three years (2024-2027) with the possibility of a plus one year (2027-2028) rollover.

The process will be a two-staged open market process.

• Registration of Interest (ROI)
• Request for Proposal (RFP)

This ROI is the first formal step in the process and is intended to be of minimal effort for respondents and allow Horizons to create a shortlist of suppliers to invite to enter the RFP process.

Horizons has a large PCO programme covering 1.57 million hectares. The PCO is broken down into 153 separate operational areas. Each year 90-95 operations will be worked, the remaining operations will be 'deferred' from control for a year, the deferral being dependent on monitoring results. Approximately 66% of the PCOs are delivered by the Horizons internal team (the Regional Response Team (RRT). This contract is for the same services over and above those delivered by the Horizons RRT.

The use of toxins in bait stations is the main method of possum control in the Horizons Possum Control Operation (PCO). Recording of the field work is done by using ESRI Mobile apps (Field Maps) and related products.

The outcome for this procurement will be a panel arrangement of contractors with enough resource to do the first year's PCOs. As such, the number of contractors on the panel will depend on outcomes of the process. The panel will have the following features:

- the panel is open, other contractors could be added to it if demand was too great for the contractors or a contractor went out of business

- PCOs will be allocated for year 1 based on the outcomes of this procurement process

- the PCOs for years 2 and 3 have yet to be confirmed, these are decided annually based on the monitoring results and contractor performance.

- PCOs for the next financial year will be allocated on the basis of:

- the number of PCOs required

- the existing resource available from contractors on the panel

- who did the PCO the previous year

- performance of the contractors from the previous year

- pricing

The location and quantum of work available in year 2 and 3 of the contract for external contractors may vary due to operational deferrals etc. Horizons will endeavour to supply a similar quantum of work to individual contractors as awarded in year 1, however in some situations this may not always to possible.