CEFAS21-08 RFQ BEEMS Benthic Sampling

Contract summary

Industry

• Analysis services - 71620000

Location of contract

Any region

Value of contract

£13,000

Procurement reference

tender_263794/925873

Published date

16 February 2021

Closing date

8 February 2021

Closing time

1pm

Contract start date

22 February 2021

Contract end date

30 September 2021

Contract type

Service contract

Procedure type

Open procedure (below threshold)

Contract is suitable for SMEs?

Yes

Contract is suitable for VCSEs?

No

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Description

Description of the sample collection:
The mudflat monitoring in Bridgwater bay encompass the collection of 6 replicates samples at 11 stations in Bridgwater Bay and Wick St Lawrence twice a year (February and August). The replicate samples are collected with a 0.01m2 core and the sediment is sieved through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve. All benthic organisms are transferred into 0.25L Nalgene bottle and fixed with 4 % formaldehyde. This request for quotation is for the processing of 132 sediment samples, split over 2 batches, to extract and identify all biota retained following sieving on a 0.5 mm mesh, as per the NMBAQC guidelines (http://www.nmbaqcs.org/media/1175/nmbaqc-inv-prp-v10-june2010.pdf) detailing extraction and identification protocols. In addition to this there is a requirement to ensure these data are audited as per the NMBAQC Own Samples protocol prior to submission to Cefas (Milner and Hall, 2016). http://www.nmbaqcs.org/media/1665/ownsampleprotocol_v12_ra.pdf.

Enumeration, identification and biomassing should be carried out following the NMBAQC Processing Requirement Protocol and Taxonomic Discrimination Protocol. Biomass to species level (wet weight in grams to at least 4 d.p.) is required for all countable taxa. Balances must be serviced annually, and a valid service certificate must be supplied with this tender.

A reference collection of all species/taxa identified should be returned to the Cefas laboratories in Lowestoft in an appropriate preservation liquid (i.e. 100% IDA or 70% IMS, 20% water and 10% glycerol). The reference collection should contain as a minimum the species name, name of identifier/ supervisor, station code, cruise code, date of collection and name of species identification verifier. A list of all taxa in the reference collection is also requested; in electronic form, with these details included. Notable taxa should be highlighted here such as non-native species and new or unusual records. Non-native species should be added to the Non-native Species Information Portal (NNSIP) (hosted on the Non-native Species Secretariat website, http://www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm?sectionid=81).

Summary of deliverables:
- Analysis of two survey batches of samples, 66 samples per survey (February and August).
- Externally audited, quality-controlled abundance / biomass matrices, with current nomenclature (Primary processing and Audit lab)
- A single reference collection of identified taxa covering both surveys (Primary processing lab)
- Internal Quality Control logs (Primary processing lab)
- Audited Quality Control report. One per survey. (Audit lab - which will be appointed and agreed between both parties)
- Weekly project summary updates and correspondence between primary processing and audit lab (Primary processing and Audit lab)

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Award information

Awarded date

16 February 2021

Contract start date

22 February 2021

Contract end date

30 September 2021

Total value of contract

£13,000

This contract was awarded to 1 supplier.

Hull Marine Laboratory, University of Hull

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About the buyer

Contact name

Emma Roberts

Address

Pakefield Road
lowestoft
NR33 0HT
England

Telephone

01502527766

Email

procure@cefas.co.uk

Website

www.cefas.co.uk