Strengthening Regional Knowledge and Capacity on Gene Editing Rice and Hybrid Rice Systems in Asia and the Pacific

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Bidding

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), intends to pre-qualify a group of organizations in a timely manner, and potentially solicit proposals from them shortly thereafter.The services/outputs being sourced are:Agricultural research servicesto assess the status, challenges, and opportunities of hybrid and gene-edited rice technologies in Asia and the Pacific, support evidence-based decision-making, strengthen national research and regulatory capacities, and promote regional collaboration.The Service Provider will produce, achieve or deliver the following outputs:Assess the current situation, key challenges, and emerging opportunities for gene editing rice in the region.Review the status, constraints, and development pathways of hybrid rice systems across Asia and the Pacific.Facilitate regional exchange and capacity building among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners on gene editing and hybrid rice technologies.Develop a policy brief with recommendation on the promotion of hybrid rice and adoption of gene editing technology in variety improvement.Activity 1: Regional assessment on gene editing riceReview the current status of gene editing research and applications in rice across selected countries in Asia and the Pacific.Analyze technical progress, regulatory frameworks, biosafety considerations, adoption pathways, and capacity gaps.Identify key challenges and opportunities for responsible development and deployment of gene‑edited rice varieties among member states, including but not limited to IP.Activity 2: Regional assessment on hybrid rice developmentReview the status of hybrid rice adoption, seed systems, and productivity impacts in the region.Assess challenges related to hybrid seed production, affordability, farmer access, and sustainability.Examine emerging innovations, including the role of gene editing and synthetic apomixis in improving hybrid rice systems.Activity 3: Regional technical exchange and capacity‑building workshopOrganize a regional workshop bringing together representatives from national agricultural research systems, universities, policymakers, and development partners.Share and validate the findings from the two assessment reports.Present experience and breakthroughs in hybrid rice and gene editing technologies.Facilitate technical discussions, experience sharing, and identification of collaboration and capacity‑building needs.Develop a policy brief with recommendation on the promotion of hybrid rice and adoption of gene editing technology in variety improvement.The service provider through LoA will deliver the following outputs:Deliverables and Due dateRegional report on the current situation, challenges, and prospects of gene editing rice in Asia and the Pacific, 6 months after the LOA signingRegional report on the status, constraints, and development pathways of hybrid rice in Asia and the Pacific, 6 months after the LOA signingOne regional technical exchange and capacity‑building workshop on gene editing rice and hybrid rice, 8 months after the LOA signingOne policy brief with recommendation on the promotion of hybrid rice and adoption of gene editing technology in variety improvement, 1 month after the workshopMandatory minimum requirementsIn order to qualify, the organizations intending to participate must meet the following requirements:- Not currently suspended or debarred by FAO, any other UN organization, the EU or the World Bank.- Able to provide legal registration certificates.- Proven record of conducting agricultural research and capacity development, particularly on gene editing and hybrid rice systems in Asia and the Pacific.- Specialized technical experience and local knowledge; Qualifications of personnel matching the expertise required for implementing the services.Selection ProcessAt this stage, FAO is prequalifying organizations potentially suitable for providing the required services. Interested parties that pre-qualify may be requested to submit an offer that will be considered in a combined technical and financial evaluation process, and they should be ready to submit such proposal within 3 week(s) from FAO's notice of prequalification.

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