Provision of Air pollution removal by vegetation, Update and Methodology refinement and Pollination Service development

Contract summary

Industry

• Data services - 72300000

• Agricultural, forestry, horticultural, aquacultural and apicultural services - 77000000

Location of contract

United Kingdom

Value of contract

£98,079

Procurement reference

PU-22-0153

Published date

30 December 2021

Closing date

25 November 2021

Closing time

12pm

Contract start date

15 December 2021

Contract end date

31 March 2022

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Single tender action (below threshold)

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

Yes

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Description

ONS require updated calculations and methodology on air pollution and
pollination.
The outputs and methods from both of these pieces of work could be
used by UK, devolved and local governments in policy appraisal. All of
these outputs can be presented at high resolution providing both a
national and local picture.
ONS intend to use the data for the ONS statutory competencies.
Air pollution removal
UKCEH were involved in scoping and implementing the improved
methodology for air pollution removal by vegetation, and the revised
method has subsequently been widely used in the Natural Capital
Accounts. Results also been used in national accounts for Wales,
England and Scotland, and have been downscaled for use in green
infrastructure tools such as Greenkeeper. However, the underlying
methodology is complex and there is a requirement for further work to
facilitate reporting in future years:
 Updating the calculations for a more recent year, and at the
same time incorporating any updates to the methodology that
might be relevant.
 Developing a robust way to extrapolate from model outputs to
interpolate between years and extrapolate in the short-term for
future years.
ONS would not own the model used to update the core figures. The
methods used to extrapolate between years will be published openly.
Pollination
Pollination is a key ecosystem service often referenced in Natural
Capital and Ecosystem service assessment. It is not too hard to
estimate the cost to the UK of losing pollinators entirely but much
harder to estimate annual changes in the amount of pollination done.
For our accounts we need to be able to monitor yearly changes in
pollination and consider the drivers of these changes.
UKCEH contains a group of pollinator experts including both modellers
and pollinator monitoring. This unique blend of skills makes them well
placed to adapt existing modelling work to enable us to include annual
monitoring and habitat change data to produce pollination service
change estimates.
The model produced will be based on open software. As such we
would publish the full model on the same basis and not own it directly.
However we will be given bespoke training and support to run it which will upskill our own teams.

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Award information

Awarded date

25 November 2021

Contract start date

15 December 2021

Contract end date

31 March 2022

Total value of contract

£98,079

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY

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About the buyer

Address

Government Buildings,Cardiff Road
NEWPORT
NP108XG
Wales

Email

charis.lavis@ons.gov.uk