Grain Automate Extension Program 27-28

The Grains Research and Development Corporation is calling for a delivery partner to design, coordinate and implement the next phase of the Grain Automate Extension Program for 2027–2028. The program builds on earlier Hub activities to expand national reach, strengthen regional delivery and create new learning pathways that enable grain growers to adopt automation, autonomy and related digital farming systems. The awardee will be responsible for planning and executing at least 15 major events and additional targeted sessions that align with regional needs while ensuring a cohesive national impact.

The scope of the work includes developing nationally consistent learning materials, delivering tiered workshops and hands‑on demonstrations that cover pre‑adoption, foundational and intermediate capability development, operating onboarding and follow‑up learning pathways, refining grower readiness tools, and embedding rigorous evaluation and reporting. The partner must engage a diverse stakeholder network—including agronomists, consultants, service providers, grower groups, dealers, OEMs and technology partners—and design a co‑contribution model of approximately 50:50 with GRDC to scale impact and secure independent investment. Consortia are encouraged when they strengthen national reach, regional delivery capability, technical depth, stakeholder access or value for money.

All delivery must be aligned to national standards for digital agriculture interoperability, data management and decision support, and include rigorous outcome measurement.

GRDC is seeking a suitably qualified delivery partner to design, coordinate and implement the next phase of a national extension program that builds grain grower capability and readiness for automation, autonomy and related digital farming systems. The program builds on the initial establishment of the Grain Automate Hub and earlier extension activities, and is intended to expand national reach, strengthen regionally relevant delivery, and support additional learning pathways for growers.

GRDC encourages tenderers to propose innovative and non-traditional delivery approaches that enhance engagement, accelerate learning, and improve adoption outcomes, while maintaining alignment with the program’s national objectives and quality expectations. Tenderers are expected to demonstrate an ability to engage and coordinate a diverse stakeholder ecosystem, which may include agronomists, consultants, service providers, grower groups, dealers, OEMs and technology partners. Responses should outline how these stakeholders will be convened to support delivery, and how co-contribution will be leveraged to enhance the scale, independence and impact of the program. As a general guide, GRDC anticipates co-contribution in the order of 50:50 relative to GRDC investment, noting that the level and structure of co-investment may vary depending on the proposed delivery model, partners and context. Proposals that demonstrate an ability to attract and align co-investment, including relevant commercial funding, will be viewed favourably.

Consortia responses are encouraged where they strengthen national reach, regional delivery capability, technical depth, stakeholder access or value for money.

The procurement will support delivery of a minimum of 15 major Grain Automate events across 2027 and 2028 and GRDC growing regions, with flexibility to include additional smaller targeted sessions where this improves reach, regional fit and value for money. Required services include development of nationally consistent learning materials; delivery of tiered workshops and demonstration activities covering pre-adoption, foundational and intermediate capability development and applied demonstrations; operation of onboarding and follow-up learning pathways; refinement of grower readiness tools; and embedded evaluation and reporting. The program should also help growers and advisers build practical capability to assess the return on investment of automation and autonomy, including understanding costs, value drivers, adoption pathways and whole-farm fit across different production systems.

Tenderers must demonstrate the capacity to deliver education-led, regionally relevant activities that integrate machinery, data, digital workflows, interoperability and decision support, while maintaining nationally consistent quality, scalable delivery processes and robust outcome measurement.

Location: ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, QLD, NT, TAS Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart Multi Agency Access: No Panel Arrangement: No Multi-stage: No Other Instructions: The following are the mandatory content and format requirements that the Tenderer must complete and provide to participate in this procurement process: 1 Submit Tenders using the Grains Investment Portal. 2 Write Tenders in English and express any measurements in Australian legal units of measurement. 3 Budget details must be submitted on the ‘GRDC Budget Template’ provided in the Grains Investment Portal. Conditions for Participation: The following are mandatory conditions with which a Tenderer must comply to participate in this procurement process: 1 The Tenderer must be a single legal entity or recognised firm of partners except where the Tender is submitted by a consortium and the Tender specifies that each member of the proposed consortium will be party to the contract. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. Timeframe for Delivery: Approximately October 2026 to December 2028 Estimated Value (AUD): From $2,000,000.00 to $2,500,000.00 Address for Lodgement: https://access.grdc.com.au/