Published date: 16 October 2019

Awarded contract - This means that the contract has been awarded to a supplier.


Closing: 8 August 2019

Contract summary

Industry

  • Marine research services - 73112000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£23,040

Procurement reference

tender_216103/806166

Published date

16 October 2019

Closing date

8 August 2019

Contract start date

6 September 2019

Contract end date

31 March 2020

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (below threshold)

Any interested supplier may submit a tender in response to an opportunity notice.

This procedure can be used for procurements below the relevant contract value threshold.

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

Description

Natural England is currently exploring applications of DNA technology in survey and monitoring of terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity, with a view to increasing efficiency in our monitoring programmes.

Inshore fish communities are poorly understood. There is still a considerable lack of understanding of inshore fish community composition, community health, population status, and the scale and footprint of critical pressures and the efficacy of management measures. Filling this evidence gap is a priority for Natural England, as it impacts on the confidence that can be attributed to the efficacy of potential management measures, on estimations of Natural Capital values and on their Ecosystem Service and Societal Goods and Benefits values, and on the UK's ability to develop and evidence a world class marine monitoring system post-EU exit. When combined with commitments to improve the state of our marine environment identified in the 25 Year Environment Plan and the UK Marine Strategy, there is a clear evidential need to understand the nature and status of our inshore fish populations. This project will take this work forward to the stage of full operationalisation and integration with traditional approaches, by identifying the spatial scales and frequency of sampling that is required to effectively monitor inshore fish communities, and by adjusting programmable eDNA collection to better understand the relationship between fish communities and underlying habitats, and potentially also fishing activity.

To further validate and operationalise the use of a large volume programmable marine eDNA sampler for use in routine monitoring of inshore fish communities, this project has the following objectives:
1. To test the feasibility of a large-volume programmable marine eDNA sampler in monitoring the composition of fish communities across a range of habitat specific deployments in the south west.
2. To assess the eDNA data for its ability to assess the presence and scale of breeding populations.
3. To statistically analyse the data to determine the sampling frequency needed when using a large-volume programmable marine eDNA sampler for measuring changes to the inshore fish communities in each habitat location.
4. To determine the spatial scale of sampling necessary to measure and infer changes to the inshore fish communities that would assist NE and IFCAs in developing appropriate advice.
5. To determine the presence and distribution of marine Species of Conservation Interest (SOCI) [and non-native species (NNS)], within the survey area.
6. Desirable subsidiary requirement: to test (in a restricted set of locations) the potential ability of eDNA data to assess species fidelity to key protected habitats by manipulation of the temporal sampling regime. For example, at a particular location comparing the eDNA signatures from samples collected during slack and peak tidal flow periods.

More information

Links

Additional text

The Contracting Authority used an eTendering system in this procurement exercise. Suppliers instructions how to express interest in similar tenders are available on the eSourcing Portal.

1) Register your company on the eSourcing portal (this is only required once):

- browse to the eSourcing Portal: https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk and click the link to register,

- accept the terms and conditions and click "continue",

- enter your correct business and user details,

- note the username you chose and click "Save" when complete,

- you will shortly receive an email with your unique password (please keep this secure).

Award information

Awarded date

20 September 2019

Contract start date

6 September 2019

Contract end date

31 March 2020

Total value of contract

£23,040

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

Applied Genomics

Address

Brixham Environmental Laboratory, Freshwater Quarry, Devon, TQ5 8BA

Reference

None

Supplier is SME?

No

Supplier is VCSE?

No

About the buyer

Contact name

Garry Raisbeck

Address

17 Nobel House
London
SW1P 3JR
England

Email

garry.raisbeck@defra.gsi.gov.uk