Published date: 13 September 2024

Last edited date: 2 October 2024

This notice was replaced on 8 November 2024

This notice does not contain the most up-to-date information about this procurement. The most recent notice is:

Awarded contract (published 8 November 2024)

Closed opportunity - This means that the contract is currently closed. The buying department may be considering suppliers that have already applied, or no suitable offers were made.


Contract summary

Industry

  • Surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic and hydrological instruments and appliances - 38290000

  • Laboratory services - 71900000

  • Research and development services and related consultancy services - 73000000

    • Survey analysis services - 79311300

Location of contract

United Kingdom

Value of contract

£30,000

Procurement reference

C24-0810-1948

Published date

13 September 2024

Closing date

3 October 2024

Closing time

4pm

Contract start date

14 October 2024

Contract end date

28 February 2025

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?

No

Description

2. Contract Summary
JNCC wishes to commission a contract to undertake analysis of benthic DNA samples that will be collected during the COR0924 survey to a region offshore of St Kilda in Autumn 2024.
Bidders are invited to provide a quote to include:
• Cost of analysis per sample for up to 80 DNA samples;
• Cost of reporting; and
• Cost of storing actual samples for one year in case of future analyses dependent on funding.
The contract, with any remedial actions following JNCC's quality checks, will need to be fully completed by March 2025.
3. Project Background and Aims
Metaprobes have been increasingly used in recent years to passively collect DNA from marine habitats. They have the potential to provide a relatively cheap and minimal extra effort method of sampling DNA in marine ecosystems, complementing existing traditional survey methods. Metaprobes have been deployed in inshore waters but there is limited understanding of their use in offshore waters. JNCC aim to address this research gap by asking the overarching question: Can we detect benthic species offshore using eDNA collected with metaprobes?
JNCC will be collaborating with Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute (AFBI) to undertake an offshore survey aboard the RV Corystes to a region offshore of St Kilda (survey code COR0924). The survey will depart Belfast Harbour on 26th September 2024 and return to the same port on 11th October 2024. During the survey, 36 sledge camera tows (Figure 1) will be conducted, providing an ideal opportunity to test collecting eDNA using metaprobes in the offshore benthic environment and to compare findings with benthic imagery.
There is a risk that metaprobes may become clogged with sediment, impacting the ability to passively filter water and collect eDNA. This will be investigated through the study's experimental design by placing mesh around half of the metaprobes deployed.

From outputs of the DNA analysis and camera sledge tows, JNCC aim to answer the following questions:
1. Does the species richness of benthic organisms detected vary between eDNA and imagery?
2. Does community composition of benthic organisms detected vary between eDNA and imagery?
3. Does species richness differ between metaprobes deployed with mesh and no mesh?
4. How many metaprobes are required to achieve a complete dataset?

More information

Attachments

  • C24-0810-1948 COR0924 Survey DNA Analysis.zip
  • Tender notice
  • This project will undertake the analysis of benthic DNA samples that will be collected during the COR0924 survey to a region offshore of St Kilda in Autumn 2024.
    Bidders are invited to provide a quote to include:
    • Cost of analysis per sample for up to 80 DNA samples;
    • Cost of reporting; and
    • Cost of storing actual samples for one year in case of future analyses dependent on funding.
    The contract, with any remedial actions following JNCC's quality checks, will need to be fully completed by March 2025.

Additional text

You are invited by JNCC Support Co (JNCC) to submit a tender for the supply of works or services required under the above project. If interested, you should download and carefully read the documents contained within the zip file.

About the buyer

Contact name

Unique Onyewueke

Address

2 East Station Road,Fletton Quays
PETERBOROUGH
PE28YY
England

Telephone

01224083515

Email

unique.onyewueke@jncc.gov.uk