Published date: 17 May 2023

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


Closing: 31 March 2023, 12pm

Contract summary

Industry

  • Marine research services - 73112000

Location of contract

DT4 8UB

Value of contract

£600,000

Procurement reference

CF-0080200D8d000003VQwdEAG

Published date

17 May 2023

Closing date

31 March 2023

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

1 April 2023

Contract end date

31 March 2025

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Single tender action (below threshold)

A direct contract with a single supplier, without competition.

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

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

Description

As part of the Blue Belt Programme, a Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) network has been established across the UK Overseas Territories. The supplier is contracted to provide unique BRUV systems, along with associated services.

Since the start of the programme in 2020, BRUVS kits have been delivered to thirteen OTs, held in person
and online training sessions, supported survey design, visited some of the OTs to provide
fieldwork support, completed analysis, shared results and knowledge within the BRUVS network,
and upgraded some of the BRUVS equipment with deeper water capabilities.

During the next phase of the programme, the focus will be on survey delivery, analysis, continual
improvement, knowledge sharing, increasing the reach of the network, and to begin to provide
educational support to the current OTs.
There is the possibility that South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and Sovereign Base Areas
of Administration for Cyprus may join the programme, which would require new BRUVS equipment,
training and potentially visits to support initial survey fieldwork in these OTs.

Contract is awarded without prior publication as there is only one economic operator due to the protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights.

The rig design, software and associated AI analysis rights are owned by Blue Abacus and Cefas would not be able to purchase software / AI analysis compatible with this elsewhere. BRUVS supplied by the Blue Abacus are already used in certain Overseas Territories and this purchase for Cefas would ensure that by buying the same equipment, software and AI analysis services, the data will be collected and analysed consistently with data already collected and analysed in the other Overseas Territories. Purchase of these BRUVS would support the ability to create a cross territory BRUV network as part of the Blue Belt Programme. It is therefore critical that the data informing the management and conservation of a range of species and habitats is collected in a consistent, comparable and statistically robust manner.

More information

Attachments

Award information

Awarded date

1 April 2023

Contract start date

1 April 2023

Contract end date

31 March 2025

Total value of contract

£600,000

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

Blue Abacus Ltd

Address

30 de Castro Ct, Wickhams Cay 1 - PO Box 4519, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands VG1110

Reference

None

About the buyer

Contact name

Holly Power

Address

Pakefield Road
Lowestoft
NR33 0HT
UK

Email

procure@cefas.co.uk