MLA’s Tender Process, Rules and Current Tenders
MLA invites tenders from suitably qualified organisations or individuals to deliver projects and services aligned with MLA’s strategic priorities. Each tender opportunity will specify the project scope, requirements and closing date.
Tenders must review and comply with all requirements specified in MLA’s Tender Rules and Guidelines and the associated Request for Tender Application form for each tender opportunity. You can find a copy of MLA’s Tender Rules and Guidelines here: MLA’s Tender Rules and Guidelines.
MLA reserves the right to accept or reject any tender, negotiate with one or more tenderers, or vary the process as required under its Procurement Policy and SFA obligations.
Unless otherwise agreed, successful tenderers will enter into MLA’s standard umbrella agreements. More information on and copies of those agreements can be found on the MLA’s agreements page.
Questions
All questions during the tender process should be directed in writing to tenders@mla.com.au
Current Tenders
Below are all the tenders that are currently open. Click on the title to expand out the section and find out more information on a tender.
The aim of this investment call is to fund investments that will develop improved grasses, legumes, plant-microbe symbioses and management packages for a range of pasture systems across southern Australian grazing systems. Activities to improve plant-microbe symbioses, seed collections and seed technology are also within scope for certain components of the investment call.
Specifically, these projects are to be conducted in regions represented by the Southern Australia Livestock Research Council (SALRC), i.e. NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, SA, and the ACT.
Activities are also encouraged to encompass southern WA for species that are relevant to both SALRC and Western Australia Livestock Research Council (WALRC) regions.
This tender is a re-release of a previous investment call, with a modified MLA Donor Company investment ratio of 50/50 now allowed.
Applicants should carefully review the linked tender document before completing their project proposal. Requested activities are specified on pages 13-16. The tender document also contains detailed instructions on how to complete proposals, and further links to all necessary documentation.
Request for tender form and specifications.
The Request for Tender form must be lodged electronically to projectcall@mla.com.au and copied to apeake@mla.com.au.
Submissions close 5:00pm (AEST) Friday 20 March 2026.
More information
For any questions regarding this request for tender, please contact:
Dr Allan Peake
Program Manager – Sustainable Feedbase Resources
This request for tender is in response to NABRC’s 2024 priority to reduce losses from pregnancy test to weaning. MLA are calling for proposals that focus on adoption projects that work with producers to improve calf survival from heifers in the Northern Forest and Northern Downs.
The proposed project may be funded fully through grassfed levy, co-investment through the MLA Donor Company (MDC) at a maximum leverage ratio of 50:50, or a hybrid combination of the two funding streams.
MLA applications must be lodged electronically as Word document to: projectcall@mla.com.au
Applications must be received by 17:00 AEST on Thursday 15th January 2026.
Request for tender form and specifications.
Preliminary project proposal template.
Project application guidelines.
Strict adherence to the time deadline for applications will occur. Incomplete request for tender applications without the required documentation will not be assessed
For more information, please contact:
Ainsley Smith
Project Manager – Grassfed Beef Productivity
Email: asmith@mla.com.au
Phone: 0474 199 470
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) is establishing a program within the Livestock Genetics research sector to build advanced research capabilities, alongside professional development. This program will be supported by the National Livestock Genetics Consortium (NLGC) and MLA, who are requesting project proposals to answer research questions from early career individuals working in livestock genetics research with the capability to undertake research, development and adoption (RD&A) activities in the Livestock Genetics sector. The aim is that alongside fostering development and capability in industry, the outcomes of the projects will be in line with the priorities of the NLGC and industry genetic progress.
This program is designed to target post-doctoral researchers, final year PhD candidates or early career individuals looking to pursue a research career, with a focus on livestock genetics R&D in the red meat industry. There will be four positions available within the program.
The primary aim of the NLGC is to increase the rate of genetic progress achieved for traits that drive value chain productivity and sustainability in the sheep and beef industries. The Terms of Reference (ToR) is based on the RD&A priorities from the NLGC, NLGC Strategy to 2030 as well as the MLA Strategic Plan 2030 and Red Meat 2030.
For further details, please see the TOR Livestock Genetics Early Researcher .
Applicants must include as part of their submission:
- application form – Early Career Researcher –Application Form
- CV
- preliminary project proposal
- two-minute video pitch.
Applications must be lodged electronically to livestockgenetics@mla.com.au
Applications close 11:59pm (AEST) 7 November 2025. Late proposals will not be accepted.
For any questions regarding this tender, please contact:
Clara Bradford
Program Manager – Livestock Genetics R&D
The Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Donor Company (MDC) is seeking expressions of interests (EOI) from publicly funded research organisation’s (PFRO) commercialisation entity who have technology prototype(s) that are ready to be considered for delivering benefits to the Australian red meat and livestock sector. Prototype(s) must be at least partially validated at a low-medium fidelity technology readiness level of 4 or greater and will be evaluated on a first-come-first-served basis against MLA investment decision criteria and priorities.
There is no maximum or minimum project size, only that all submissions are based on 60% participant and 40% MDC co-investment cash contribution. MLA is flexible on Intellectual Property (IP) ownership to best drive future commercial success and welcomes a clear adoption pathway for PFRO’s to engage with industry stakeholders in the build, test and launch stages.
For further details, please see the EOI Tech Funding guidelines.
Expression of interest must be lodged electronically using the EOI response template and emailed to commercisalisation@mla.com.au.
Applications close 5:00pm (AEST) 1 July 2026.
For any questions regarding this opportunity, please contact MLA IP team:
Rhys Pirie – E: rpirie@mla.com.au or Tom Dobbie – E: tdobbie@mla.com.au
